Noel StreatfeildRecensioni

have on Wishlist Biblio - there is one in England but seller only has 2 stars

Threatened with life in separate orphanages when their aunt dies, Peter and his sister, Santa, run away to search for their mysterious uncle Gus, a circus clown.

In no time at all Peter and Santa are caught up in the whirl of circus life as they travel from town to town with Uncle Gus and the rest of the Cob Circus family. The trained animals are amazing, and the star performers are astonishing. Everyone has a special talent.

This could be Peter and Santa's chance for a life under the big top. What can they do to prove they really belong?

After their grandfather buys them a money box so they can save up for tennis balls, rackets, and club memberships, the four redheaded Heath children turn their house upside down with tennis talk.

Though David's too young to play, the twins, Susan and Jim, do well in junior tennis tournaments. But the big surprise comes when the family discovers that it's lazy Nicky who's the best player of all. Nicky's never worked hard at anything. Can the Heath family convince her to try and win the big championship?

Life is tough for the Winter family in London, with little money and Dad out of work. Luckily Aunt Cora comes to the rescue with an invitation to live in California. From that moment on, talented Rachel and Tim dream of stardom in America. The family couldn't be more surprised when a movie producer picks plain peevish Jane for the lead part of Mary in "The Secret Garden". No one's ever noticed Jane before. Could this be the chance of a lifetime?

It's a stroke of great luck when Harriet Johnson's doctor prescribes skating after an illness that has left her feeling frail and listless. For on her very first day at the rink, Harriet meets orphaned Lalla Moore, who is being brought up by her wealthy aunt Claudia to be a skating champion. Although they have little in common, the girls form a fast friendship. Harriet is energized by talented, funny Lalla, and Lalla in turn blossoms under the affection of openhearted Harriet. The girls skate together more and more. But just as Lalla's interest in skating starts to fade, Harriet's natural talent begins to emerge. Suddenly Lalla and Harriet seem headed in two very different directions. Can their friendship survive?

Reverend Bell and his family leave their beloved London parish for Crestel New Town, and the Bell children--Paul, Jane, Ginnie and Angus--set out to transform this unfriendly village into a close, loving community.

Reverend Bell and his family may not have much money, but they have something special that no other family has - each other!

Paul, the oldest child, hopes to be a doctor, while Jane has her heart set on a dancing career. Even little Angus knows what he wants to do - own a zoo someday. It's only Ginnie who doesn't think about the future - she is too busy making mischief.

All the children share one goal. They look for ways to earn money and help their parents through the rough times. No matter what, there doesn't seem to be a problem the Bells can't solve - until their plans for a summer holiday are threatened.

When Margaret Thursday lands a role as a child actress at a well-known London theatre, becoming famous almost overnight, news of her success reaches her bitter enemy, the matron of her old orphanage.

Margaret knows that Matron is set on revenge, but she keeps her head held high, focusing on the play. But Matron's evil plans are well prepared, and Margaret is going to need her wits about her - and the help of her friends - if she is to escape unharmed...

Beautiful, humble story of three girls journey with performing. A gift from Pop.

After losing their mother, Rachel and her adopted sister Hilary move in with their aunt, Cora Wintle. Cora runs a dancing school in London, and she thinks that Hilary would be perfect for her dancing troupe, Wintle's Little Wonders! The only problem is that Hilary might be as good as Cora's own precious daughter, Dulcie. Still, Cora is determined to make sulky Rachel and sprightly Hilary members of her dance troupe.

But Rachel doesn't want to be a Little Wonder! She can't dance and feels silly in her the ruffly costume. Nothing seems to be going as planned, until Rachel discovers her talent for acting. . . .

This classic children's book is perfect for kids who dream of being on stage, whether it be dancing or acting.

Wonderful story, it made my eyes glisten more than I care to admit ❤️

Originally published in 1939, Sally-Ann by Susan Scarlett is a light and frothy romance that made for a quick read and reminded me of many 1930s romance movies. Susan Scarlett is the pseudonym that author Noel Streatfeild used to write a series of similar light romances that were very popular during the 1940s and today have been republished by The Furrowed Middlebrow

When a bridesmaid gets ill at a smart society wedding, Ann Lane, the beautician from Maison Pertinax is asked to take her place. After all just a few hours of high society then back to her life, but instead, she meets and all too soon falls in love with the best man, Sir Timothy Munster. Asked to keep quiet about the situation so not to arouse jealous relatives as to why they weren’t chosen to step into the bridesmaid role, Ann conceals her identity but this is a secret that is crying out to be exposed especially by the jealous Cora Bolt who wants Sir Timothy for herself.

A charming escapist read with one serious note that deals with Ann’s sickly younger brother. Although quite frivolous, it is interesting to note the insights into career women and gender roles of the day. I enjoyed my time spent with this book and look forward to reading more from Susan Scarlett and other Furrowed Middlebrow authors.

Warm, sweet, and wholesome are just some of the adjectives that apply to Susan Scarlett's (Noel Streatfeild) novels. Streatfeild is probably best known for her children's books (Ballet Shoes, et al) but her lovely, WWII, adult novels must have proved to be the kind of cozy, escapist reads that would have been embraced during wartime. In fact, they are still appealing today, even if they feel a little simplistic in their lack of nuance. Babbacombe's is the second of her novels that I've read and it was as charming as the first.

When the story opens, sweet, naive Beth Carson is graduating from school amidst a shower of compliments and despite wanting to go on and study further, she must take up a job to help her loving family, which lives paycheck to paycheck. Father George, who has worked faithfully at Babbacombe's department store for decades, has secured her a position as a junior assistant in Gowns. As Beth is starting her new job, cousin Dulcie, who is Beth's age, comes to live with the Carsons and she is also found a job at Babbacombe's. But she can't be more different than Beth. Dulcie is scheming, spoiled, and nasty, and her work ethic is non-existent. She causes stress for the family, none more so than when David Babbacombe, the son of the store owner, meets the pretty and natural Beth and continues to show an interest in her, despite her continued assertion that they have no future given their different class situation. Dulcie's machinations threaten everyone's happiness but in the end, good will triumph.

Scarlett gently highlights class difference here and plays into the trope of the cheerful working class. The story is predictable but still delightful for all that. The characters are quite one dimensional with Beth being good through and through and Dulcie being the villain at every turn but somehow this straightforward and uncomplicated rendering works for this easy, undemanding, and heartwarming, if unrealistic, read. It's a winsome book all the way around.½

What a lovely audio book! Set in 1930s England, Ballet Shoes is the story of three girls adopted by Great Uncle Matthew, known as GUM for short. They choose the surname Fossil because GUM collects fossils and he collected them. Pauline is destined to become an actress, Posey a ballerina, Petrova an airplane pilot. They grow up in a big house filled with boarders because the family needs the rent money for income. They all learn to act and dance so that they can work in the theater and earn extra money to get by.

So this is a story about surviving hard times (there are lots of scenes where they work out how to afford the things they need) and thriving in a non-traditional family setting (the three adopted girls are raised by a nanny, their guardian Sylvia, called "Garney," and the very kind boarders). I especially loved the brusque but always loving Nanny, who was wonderfully performed by the audio book reader.

Who doesn't love Noel Streatfeild's "Shoes" books? Whether you read the British version (White Boots) or the American (Skating Shoes), either is just as cute. Ten year old Harriet is a frail child, recovering from a long illness that has left her legs "cotton-woolish" and weak. Her doctor prescribes exercise to rebuild her muscles. He knows just the sport, ice skating. There at the rink Harriet meets a girl her age, skating sensation Lalla. Lalla's father was a world famous skater as well but died in an accident. His sister is tyranically determined to make her niece the next star on ice. Seeing that Harriet is a good influence on Lalla's training, Harriet soon starts taking ice skating, dance and fencing lessons to keep Lalla engaged. I think you can see where this is going.
This is a story of opposites attract. Lalla is beautiful and wealthy. Harriet is plain and poor. Lalla's skating prowess prompts her to be shallow and selfish. Harriet's lack of privilege leaves her hungry for friendship. Harriet has a loud, loving, and large family while Lalla only has her nanny, her prim and proper aunt, and a home-schooling governess.
This is also a story of acceptance. Just because you have a world class athlete for a father doesn't mean you have inherited the genes. All Lalla's life she has been pushed into believing she had to be the skater her father was. She had been given every advantage to fulfill that expectation except she lacked one thing. Talent. Along comes a nobody of a girl. No fancy clothes. No world class father. No money to buy premier lessons. But Harriet did have one thing. Ability.
As an aside, times have changed. In today's world it is incredibly rare for a sibling to start a paper route just to support his sister's recovery. What kid does that? Alec is a smart brother. He knows exactly how much he will earn from delivering papers and he also knows how much the skate rental will cost. His business sense drives him to save the two extra shillings to put towards his father's failing business. Again, what kid does that? I enjoyed the side story of the garden very much.

David and Polly Forum were determined to raise musical geniuses, so they taught their children music before they could speak. When Sebastian proves to be a prodigy at the age of eight, it's no wonder they pack up the rest of the family for an incredible adventure - his world tour!

After four long years of touring, Myra, the eldest, feels it's time to begin Operation Home. That's not easy, since Mum won't split the family up, Sebastian can't stop touring if he wants the priceless Amati violin, and worst of all, Apple Bough, their home, has been sold. How can Myra convince the family she's right?

Includes letter from the author

When orphans Sorrel, Mark, and Holly are sent to live with their grandmother, a famous English actress, she enrolls them in the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training, the same academy that made the orphans from Ballet Shoes famous so long ago. It's the chance of a lifetime, but the academy won't give the children the "proper" education their parents would have wanted. However, the children learn to love the academy when they discover that Sorrel has dramatic flair, Mark can sing, and Holly charms everyone with her adorable impish ways. Maybe talent does run in the family.

After losing their mother, Rachel and her adopted sister Hilary move in with their aunt, Cora Wintle. Cora runs a dancing school in London, and she thinks that Hilary would be perfect for her dancing troupe, Wintle's Little Wonders! The only problem is that Hilary might be as good as Cora's own precious daughter, Dulcie. Still, Cora is determined to make sulky Rachel and sprightly Hilary members of her dance troupe.

But Rachel doesn't want to be a Little Wonder! She can't dance and feels silly in her the ruffly costume. Nothing seems to be going as planned, until Rachel discovers her talent for acting. . . .

This classic children's book is perfect for kids who dream of being on stage, whether it be dancing or acting.

I read this one with my daughter because of the reference in You’ve Got Mail. I wanted to love it more than I did. It’s about three orphans, Pauline, Petrova, and Posy, adopted by a world explorer. As they grow up, they develop an interest in ballet, acting, and flying. None of the girls were particularly endearing, coming across as spoiled or petulant most of the time. I am curious if anyone else has continued the series, does it get better?½

A very comforting book that describes the coming of age and growing up of three orphaned but adopted girls who each have unique talents.

I love these old fashioned stories. Margaret Thursday is a spunky young girl who is ready to stand up for what is right. I look forward to reading more of her adventures. Wonderful characters have one hissing & booing or cheering them on. A good page turner and a quick read.

I borrowed this without realizing it was Noel Streatfeild writing under another name. It was a pleasant-enough read, although quite simply written and a little dated. The heroine was sensible and resourceful until the storyline required her to become annoyingly self-denying and dramatic. The hero patronized her lovingly (yuk!) and the class distinctions which were part of the plot troubled me a bit even at the end.½

Books like this must have been pure catnip to their original audience... imagine it: you're a not-very-well-off teen or twenty-something in the 1930's daydreaming of endless pretty frocks and handsome suitors; the closest you're (probably) going to get to it is a novel like this. And it delivers.

There's a lot to enjoy here, especially if you have a soft spot for a Cinderella-type story. The main character, Annabel, is employed in the workroom of a luxurious house of fashion. One day she is unexpectedly invited to try out as a model to show off clothes to customers. Her three co-models run the gamut from helpful to hateful, and she has a lot to learn about the seemingly easy life of modeling. Then she falls instantly in love with an aristocrat named David de Bett, whose eyes she met across the showroom.

With that initial setup, I thought this book was going to turn out to be complete fantasy/wish fulfillment (and it pretty much is), but what grounds it slightly in reality is Annabel's loving but imperfect home life. Her anxious but plays-it-cool mother, her protective and gruff father, and her kid sister who just wants to break out of poverty and be somebody.

The romance may sit a bit uncomfortably with some modern readers, as Annabel is only 17 (!) and falling in love with an older "superior" man. He's kind, but his education, wealth, and experience in life mean that the power is all on his side, with Annabel in the position of humble, grateful subordinate. Still, she has some strong moments with her family, as well as the girls at work and the catty woman who is competing with her for David's attention.

This was my first book by Susan Scarlett (a pen name of Noel Streatfeild). I'm inclined to give some of the others a try when they're re-released this August by Dean Street Press. When you're in the mood for something warm and light, these would fit the bill. (Side note: I was a bit put off by the odd punctuation at times. The comma usage was pretty distracting, but that may have been a production issue with the page scanning).

Thanks to Dean Street Press for this digital review copy!

Fluffy and fast reading, a fairly cute story about 17-year-old twins who go to work at a dress shop. One twin is earth-shatteringly gorgeous (and not very bright) and the other is just an averagely nice-looking girl with a conscience.
Which one will the owner of the shop fall in love with? Which one should he fall in love with? Meanwhile, how will the conniving manageress of the shop jealously try to manipulate everybody so that she can marry the boss? There aren't really any surprises here.

As with the other Susan Scarlett books I've read, this was an amusing little romp, but I wouldn't start with this one if you haven't read any others. It feels more blatant than in some of the other books that these are extremely young girls. Different times? For sure. The idea of being married by 18 (or before?!) wasn't seen as too surprising, I guess, and I tried to bear that in mind, even while modern me winced at some of the interactions.

What I enjoyed about this one was the shop itself and the little community that it represents. The romance in this one was kind of a miss, though.
Oh - and the ending? It just kind of stops... it wasn't properly wrapped up at all. Weird.