The Naughtiest Girl Again (by Enid Blyton)

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Having re-read ‘The Naughtiest Girl in the School’ by Enid Blyton about six weeks ago, it was inevitable that I would want to re-read the first sequel, ‘The Naughtiest Girl Again’. I hadn’t read this book for probably thirty years or more. The notes in my very elderly paperback suggest that I read it many times as a child and young teenager; I may have dipped into it again as an adult, or read it aloud to my sons when they were little. But I have no record of that.

The story covers Elizabeth Allen’s second term at Whyteleafe boarding school. In the first book, she hated the thought of going to school and was determined to be as naughty as possible. In this book, she’s decided she will behave well, and try to avoid losing her temper. Elizabeth is a bright girl who likes lessons, and also takes part in many extra-curricular activities such as piano and gardening. 

There are three new children in Elizabeth’s class. Jenny is bright and friendly, and has a gift of mimicry so she is quickly liked and becomes quite popular. Robert and Kathleen, however, both seem dour and unfriendly. Robert, as is quickly apparent, is something of a bully and Kathleen, who is pale and spotty, wants to argue with everyone and won’t share her sweets. Elizabeth tries to be fair to them both, remembering how she was so unpleasant just a few months earlier. But then she loses her temper…

Whyteleafe is an unusual school, particularly for the era in which this was written; this book was first published in 1940. It’s a highly progressive school, governed by a council of elected monitors and two head students. It’s a school for boys and girls, which was also not normal for boarding schools in the 1940s. The two school heads, Miss Belle and Miss Best, always attend the school weekly ‘meetings’ but don’t interfere or even comment unless asked. 

There are ethical issues that are covered, in this (as with most of Blyton’s school stories) in a way that doesn’t seem too preachy or moralistic. Elizabeth is reminded to think before she passes judgement, and also before she makes decisions that older and wiser people might have done differently. A little psychology is invoked, as bullies and insecure people are taught to look at the reasons behind their behaviour and feelings. And much is made of the value of courage, as well as of kindness, and thoughtfulness and generosity.

I loved these books as a child and was pleased to find that I liked re-reading it in my sixties. Indeed, at times I could hardly put it down. I’m also pleased to see that they are regularly reprinted, though I’m not enamoured with the cartoon-style covers of the modern editions. But it’s good to see that they can be appreciated by today’s generation, eighty years after the books were first written. I am delighted that my seven-year-old granddaughter has started reading them, and likes them too. 

I can see, of course, that the writing isn’t the best, and that the solutions to problems (or reasons for bad behaviour) are rather too simplistic. But that doesn’t much matter. Children can appreciate the stories, and the humour, and the character changes that occur in a more general way. And the incidents can lead to good discussion about (for instance) bullying, or the importance of honesty. 

Most people my age who love to read grew up with Enid Blyton, at a time when there weren’t too many other interesting or exciting books suitable for children. There’s a huge variety available now, but the ‘Naughtiest Girl’ series has stood the test of time and I would recommend it to anyone, boys or girls, of about seven and upwards who are fluent readers.

They also make good read-alouds.

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