Blue skies, Lovely flowers in the Court, Girls chattering all around, the sea as blue as a cornflower any day. You’re at what Darrell, Sally and co. thought to be the best school in the world. The series is all about Darrell Rivers and her friends’ schooldays: how they who had been the ones to stand in awe of their seniors became fine girls who were looked upto by the younger girls in their days as seniors.
Blyton has a lovely style of writing and her best is shown in the series about the lovely school with four great towers and reputation of looking like an old castle from a fairy tale. The school itself is described by Blyton as one which was known for its tradition of doing good to others and sending out good, sensible and kindly girls into the world.
Through the years Darrell and her friends have great fun at school and learn lessons the hard way and incidents which unite the girls and bring out the best in them. Darrell, the heroine is believed to be what Blyton herself was in her school days. Bold, daring, hot tempered yet willing to accept her faults with an amiable nature Darrell is the picture of a perfect heroine though not portrayed as a saint. It is the lively and warm story of how though the girls have faults and fears they outface them and are as a set a lovable, fun loving and closely knit one.
Through the years the girls have teachers like Miss Potts and Miss Grayling, the grave headmistress to help them out in any difficulty. Darrell leaves the school as a head girl and one of Malory Towers’ best students ever. Darrell is committed to the school and when leaving hopes her young sister Felicity and her friends will carry on worthily the great traditions of Malory Towers.
A lovely series worthy of being reread will be enjoyed by girls all over especially fans of school stories. For all those who have been at boarding school and are presently at such schools it is bound to bring out the joys and wonders of schooldays. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly find yourself loving school or planning a midnight feast after completing your first time read of the series. It is after all the magic of Blyton’s wonderful pen.