Gemma Alone

Third in the 'Gemma' series, the newer editions have changed the title to 'Gemma the Star'.

This story involves Gemma starting to train at a local drama school, only to be offered a film role as ‘Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm’. Lydia, meanwhile, disobeys her ballet teacher and has to suffer the consequences in the name of learning some self-discipline, and Ann, the wonderful singer, has to let her parents know that she doesn’t want to go to music college, but to study at university.

There are pleasant interludes - the holiday where they stay in Devon with another family and make new friends; the descriptions of Gemma on the film set; another holiday, a year later, in a different location. The plot, such as it is, is minimal, but it show more doesn’t matter. Streatfeild shone in her characterisation, even when - as so often - her children are all remarkably talented in different ways.

This book was originally published in 1969, so it feels dated in some ways. But family values don’t change, and it’s an enjoyable, relaxing read that harks back to simpler times.

I doubt if many of today’s teens would be interested in such a ‘tame’ family-orientated book, but it still appeals to children (primarily girls) of about eight or nine and older who read fluently, and of course their parents who grew up with these books.

Latest longer review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2024/05/gemma-alonegemma-star-by-noel.html show less

I have always loved Noel Streatfeild's books and as a child I got my library to ILL them for me or hunted through second hand book stores to find all of them. She tells the perfect "girls stories". I was always able to find one character in each book that was my favorite. They definitely stand up to re-reads.

Cute. I remember reading this series when I was a kid, I think.
From #patcbox.