Chalet school book advice please!

[Itshouldntmatter]

My DD ADORES boarding school books. In the summer she read all of Malory Towers, the Naughtiest girl in School and St Clares. She has begged me for more boarding school books, so I thought I'd see if she likes the Chalet School. I didn't read them as a child and assumed they were as safe as the Enid Blyton ones. However, a very helpful MNetter has told me they may not all be suitable, and has sent me here for expert advice!

My DD found Heidi too emotionally raw (in her defense Heidi does get anxious and depressed in the middle - this is where she gave up). She is a very good reader but she is only 6, and hates anything to do with parents dying.

I have bought her a bulk buy of the Chalet School books (first 20 I think) on eBay, and was really hoping the Chalet School experts could give me an idea of which of the books might be safe for a sensitive boarding school book fan! Thanks so much!

Have you tried the Mr Majeika books? Not boarding school but day school. DD thinks they are brilliant!

Which Streatfeilds? Ballet Shoes, white boots, And when she has read The Secret Garden , the painted garden.

The secret garden. If necessary skip the first chapter, the excellent cholera scene.

The Swallows and Amazons series. I started them at about six, and it's the same sort if comforting background.

Under no circumstances A Little Princess yet but if you can bear it, Little Lord Fauntleroy.

Has she read the Laura Ingalls Wilders? So much better than the TV.

And the green Knowe series, though distressing bits are not avoided and you should avoid an enemy at GK.

The Abbey School books are a poorer version if the chalet school. V odd author but all highly suitable.

So, a little update.

I tried the first Jennings book - the language is actually really tricky, and they have a very old-fashioned turn of phrase, so DD wasn't grabbed by them.

DD has tried Autumn Term. I have read a lot about them, and tried the first chapter myself, and decided to give it a go. I am sure she isn't getting the full AF experience (I am hopeful she will come back to these books over the years though), but she has really enjoyed it and has asked for the next one. I know that the holiday books are supposed to come in between, but I have read some reviews of people who just read the school ones, and as I understand, some of the later books are rather more obviously challenging in terms of content. So I've bought the End of Term for her (expensive!!). If the early holiday books are reasonably safe, I would try her on those too.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but the later books are probably not something that is suitable (i.e. they are more obviously challenging in terms of themes).

I'm going to try her with some more of the Noel Streatfields and some of the other suggestions, but she is just so passionately into the boarding school books at the moment, nothing is really matching up (she just re-reads what she has if she hasn't got a new one to read).

Thanks all so much for the advice thus far.

She might like Charlotte Sometimes, about a girl who goes to boarding school and there is a time shift.

V expensive but if you can track down a cheap copy if Masha, that's pre Russian revolution boarding school.

Do try the Abbey School if you can get them.

I'll look for Charlotte sometimes and the abbey school. I have Masha. Mara Kay was my favourite when I was a child :)

And thanks