Review: "Jo of the Chalet School" by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer

Jo of the Chalet School by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
Published 1926
★★★

Book 2! In which the Chalet School has grown exponentially (conveniently, every time the school grows another chalet, perfect for their needs, becomes available to let), the Middles battle the prefects about slang (and go full Elizabethan English as a result), the girls have a new singing teacher but manage not to fall in love with him, and there's a flood. Probably some other things, but I'm writing this a week after finishing it, so, you know. Some things have been lost to time.

Oh, this is also the book in which Robin shows up, and everyone immediately falls in love. Madge does collect the strays, doesn't she? In book 1, Juliet was abandoned to the care of Madge and the Chalet School; now it's Robin, who is not abandoned but is given over to the total care of Madge. I guess Brent-Dyer wanted a little sister for Joey. And of course Madge gets engaged, though with a promise that she'll be Head for some time yet.

It is all predictably Sweet and Good (any of these girls can be reformed by a good scolding) but compulsively readable nonetheless. In this one Joey makes an effort to write an Elsie Dinsmore book, and I'm almost tempted to go reread one myself—we'll see. Will definitely be rereading more of the Chalet School books, though—how could I resist?

Counts:
Pretty: 38+ (the pretty pale-green curtains, her pretty French, your pretty Christian name... count does not include "prettiest", "prettily-embroidered", etc.)
Fresh: 4 (looking very fresh and pretty, looking fresh and dainty, looked fresh and trim... count does not include "fresh wind", etc.)
Honest injun: 2. Neither of which anyone objects to, despite the injunction against slang.
Little: 255 (gregarious little soul, the little white steamer, a dear little girl, a quiet little mouse, a little sallow face—includes "little sister" and "a little freedom" and the like, but dear god)
Dainty: 5 (its dainty yellow curtains, neat and dainty, a dainty little collar)
Delicate: 6 (the delicate face, her delicate face, delicate fingers)