Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Beverly Gray's Return

I put down a Judy Bolton book I was currently enjoying as soon as this arrived. Undoubtedly Beverly Gray books would have to be my favourite and this was the second last book I have to read. (I still need to get a copy of the hard to find at World Fair)

Originally I was only going to read the start of the first chapter to jog my memory as to where this story fit into the series. Five chapters later despite being tired I put the book down.

I marvelled at the way in which Clair Blank could sum up the series for new readers to the series in a few lines, after successfully first hooking you into what the current story was within the first few pages of the story.

If you are a Lenora fan you will love this book. Lenora would have to be one of the best side kicks because she goes against the general mould set aside for the side kick, she doesn't need to be saved she can save herself.
I was thinking why Beverly Gray is my favourite series and it would definitely have to be because of character development. I loved the early Trixie Belden books but after a while I was disgruntled that Trixie never grew any older no matter how many years went by and therefore if anything her relationships with those around her never developed. By contrast in this story
Terry proposes marriage to Lenora, and Beverly is surprised by her own jealousy when she finds Larry with Nikki. There are also several instances where she is with Jim or Jim's name comes up and she goes to say something about the way she feels about him when something comes up to interrupt the situation.