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Original poster

Boarding school stories for DD(9 yo) who had devoured Malory Towers, Trebizon etc?

62 replies

runningLou · 24/03/2017 12:36

DD is a huge fan of boarding school fiction and has read all the Enid Blyton series (Malory Towers, St Clare's, Naughtiest Girl etc), including the modern additions by other authors.
She's currently on book 10 of Trebizon - I need to order the last 4 for her. She reads quite fast and is getting through a book a week, so I need to have something else lined up for when she finishes.
Are there any other good boarding school series out there?
She's 9 but happy to read about older girls and the teenage years.
Alternatively, what else could I switch her on to that has similar aspects? She's read Harry Potter but didn't like the fantasy element.
Also keen on WW1 and WW2 stories e.g. Charlotte Sometimes and When Hitler stole pink rabbit - are there more of them?

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hels71 · 04/04/2017 19:28

Notjust, Thank you!

Oh , and i also vote for Jennings...I still find them amusing now!!

iseenodust · 04/04/2017 11:26

Another vote for Jennings.

Notjustuser1458393875 · 04/04/2017 10:48

Oh yes, Jennings is brilliant, and the Bagthorpes are glorious.

hels71, there are two Kinderhotels at the lake, and if you have small children, they are the best places ever. Kinderhotel Buchau and Sporthotel Achensee. The Buchau has more English families staying so would probably work for teenagers better than the Sporthotel.

thethoughtfox · 04/04/2017 08:54

Jennings & Darbyshire are hysterical and good old Billy Bunter too

Knottyknitter · 04/04/2017 07:54

Jennings and Derbyshire?

hels71 · 04/04/2017 07:41

(sorry to go off topic, but those of you who holiday at the dear little Tiernsee, do you mind telling me where you stay? I am trying to persuade DH that we should go!!)

I also enjoyed Billy Bunter books, so maybe worth a look?

grimupnorthLondon · 03/04/2017 23:57

I must also confess to holidaying at the chalet school lake Blush

Also would like to add the Bagthorpe Saga to the suggestion list - the Grandma in those books is hilarious

Hobbes8 · 01/04/2017 23:13

Sorry I see you mentioned Harry Potter already. I was fascinated with Booms about American schools and summer camps at that age and into my teens. She might be a bit young for the sweet valley high type books, but some of the young Judy Blume (blubber, superfudge - not forever!) or Paula Danziger books are fab.

Brighteyes27 · 01/04/2017 23:09

Not boarding school but my Ds enjoyed war horse and anything by Michael
Morpurgo at that age.

Hobbes8 · 01/04/2017 23:03

I came on to say Back Home - I loved it at that age. Nina Bawden had some war ones - Carries War was her I think.

What about boy ones - I was never into Just William but I liked Billy Bunter a lot.

It wasn't a boarding school, but I loved The Demon Headmaster and other Gillian Cross books.

Is Worst Witch a bit young? I loved those. I presume she's read Harry Potter....

isittheholidaysyet · 01/04/2017 22:58

Again, not school, but what about Swallows and Amazons. If she enjoys those they'll keep her going for a bit.

therootoftheroot · 01/04/2017 22:50

not boarding school but the wardens' niece by gillian avery is a gorgeous book with that old fashioned feel

Notjustuser1458393875 · 01/04/2017 22:49

Charlotte Sometimes is stunningly good.

The Chalet School books may take over her life! We now holiday at the Austrian lake the first lot are set at. My kids love the place.

Witchend · 01/04/2017 22:41

Random some of Biggles can be gruesome, particularly when he's secret service rather than RAF.

PCargill · 01/04/2017 22:09

Not exactly boarding school books - although some of them are set there are the Robin Steven's Murder Most Unladylike series - they're fab! Has she tried them. (I write funny books for teens with my daughter so I read A LOT of kids' books!)
Perdita Cargill

BlueChampagne · 28/03/2017 13:07

Not boarding school, but my 9yo loves Cathy Cassidy's books, and Murder Most Unladylike.

Another school series would be Wimpy Kid.

NancyJoan · 28/03/2017 08:38

For Chalet School, and lots of other similar vintage stories, Girls Gone By have reissued lots, in their original jackets. Only hardback, so not cheap, but make lovely presents.

oneofthegiantsisme · 27/03/2017 16:21

How about Joan Aiken? I loved hers at the age I was reading a lot of the other suggestions - Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Black Hearts in Battersea, and so on. Not about a school, but very exciting. Some of the later ones have a slightly magical realism bent to them, but not full-on fantasy (if she didn't mind that, I'd be recommending Pratchett).

randomsabreuse · 27/03/2017 16:04

Thinking about it maybe Biggles? Both WW1 and 2 (and between). Admittedly some are very un pc but none are gruesome like many more modern books.

Tilly16 · 27/03/2017 15:35

I agree with Michael Morpurgo: WWI - Private Peaceful & War Horse; WWII - Adolphus Tips & Waiting for Anya are excellent too.

Tartle · 27/03/2017 10:40

Oh also maybe Helen cresswell. Moondial is the most famous I think.

sauceyorange · 25/03/2017 18:27

Diana Wynne jones has some great series. Try the chrestomanci books, starts with charmed life

EduCated · 25/03/2017 18:16

Michelle Magorian (author of Goodnight Mr Tom) has some really good WW2 home front type books - Back Home has already been mentioned (partly set in a boarding school). Some of her books are for an older audience, so do check the content.

Possibly also Double Act by Jacqueline Wilson.

Her taste in books is almost identical to mine at that age Grin

hels71 · 25/03/2017 18:04

At School with the Stanhopes I think...Gwendoline Courtney's books are all good I think.

Witchend · 24/03/2017 23:14

Gwendoline Courtney stories are similar sort of style. Dd2 loved Coronet for Cathy" and I think it was "School with the Sandfords"

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