The original and one of the best ( )

Found in a charity shop, pounced on with glad cries, devoured in two hours flat. You understand. ( )

This is the first Chalet school book that I have been able to finish. Fittingly it is the first of the series. And having finished it, I realised the big problem I was having with the books was all the traditions and customs that I didn't understand.

The first book deals with the independent Madge and her sister Joey who take off to Switzerland to begin/attend a boarding school. At this stage the school is small and the students engage in small adventures, while founding their school.

This is a really good beginning and it reminded me why I enjoyed the Malory Tower books so much. The episodic nature of the books sometimes annoy me - I'd like the story to be more involved, with threads going the whole way through. But overall, I'm very glad I got through it all.