When Sylvia comes to live with her cousin Bonnie at Willoughby Chase, she’s quickly swept up in her cousin’s shenanigans and adventures. When Bonnie’s parents leave on a sea voyage almost immediately after Sylvia’s arrival, the girls’ governess quickly takes over the manor, firing the servants and dropping the two girls off at a “school” that is more workhouse than school. It’s up to the two girls to some how escape and make it to London in order to try and contact Bonnie’s parents and put an end to the plots.
I was originally introduced to this book in the fifth grade. My teacher would read aloud to us every day, and I remember a number of the books still, but this one especially, mostly because so many of the characters had really memorable names that are fun to say out loud like Slighcrap and Grimshaw. I only remembered a vague outline of the plot before rereading it, but I will admit that I wasn’t surprised by anything, even if I had misremembered the order of some of the plot points.. It was a fun adventure romp, though some elements haven’t aged well, but for the most part it was still enjoyable. The book was much shorter than I remembered though. I think it still makes a pretty good read a loud story, and I’m glad I reread it. Three out of five stars.
CBR15 Passport: Different Genres/Subgenres – Adventure
CBR15 Bingo: Nostalgia – My fifth grade teacher read this aloud to me.