Five Go Adventuring Again - Enid Blyton

Published by Hodder Children's, 2013. Originally published 1943.
Audiobook released 25-07-2013 by Audible. Narrated by Jan Francis.
Book 2 in 'The Famous Five' series. Preceded by 'Five on a Treasure Island'; followed by 'Five Run Away Together'.

The second book in the Famous Five series picks up a term after the end of the first. George has been at boarding school with Anne, but as this is her first time at 'actual school' she is behind her age level. In order to catch up, a tutor, Mr Roland, is hired, and comes to spend the Christmas holidays tutoring George at Kirrin Cottage. The mother of the other three children has contracted scarlet fever, so they also are at Kirrin Cottage, and the boys are also to be tutored. Mr Roland is quickly accepted by Julian, Dick and Anne, but Timmy (the dog) takes a disliking to him, and George follows suit, not trusting anyone that Timmy dislikes, and also reacting to Mr Roland insisting on calling her Georgina.

For much of this book the 'adventure' is a little obscure. The children find a piece of paper with words written on it in Latin, but are unable to make much headway in solving the mysterious paper reveals. Much more important to the plot is the way George is sidelined by her dislike of the tutor, and it is fitting that George should be the one to uncover the main plot breakthroughs that do increase the level of adventure and excitement towards the end of the novel. Still definitely a children's book, Five Go Adventuring Again nevertheless had enough excitement to hold our interests as well - even if some of that excitement is fairly low stakes, even compared to the previous book.

Once again, everything is resolved well by the end, and the children manage to defeat the dastardly adults who are seeking to do wrong.

And once again, Jan Francis is the perfect narrator for this style of old-school adventure series.

Not as thrilling as Five on a Treasure Island but a fun read nonetheless.

Completed with Elise, 6 September 2021.



(Elise Books)

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