Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 3:47 pm
This is the 12th book in the series and was first published in 1936.
Synopsis by leahbelle.
The new term starts with a surprise – Jo has come to visit. Her idea is to spend one night at the school and return to the Sonnalpe the following day, but Jo is easily persuaded to extend her visit by a few days. Jo is pleased, as it will give her the opportunity to learn about the school from the mistresses point of view before she begins her first serious attempt at a school story.
Jo is forced to change her plans when an outbreak of measles prevents her from returning to Die Rosen. Madge and Jem forbid Jo to return home until all the children are out of quarantine. Luckily Robin, Jo’s adopted sister, is out of the danger.
Jo takes the opportunity to begin her school story – Malvina Wins Through. Within a week, she has completed seven chapters, though she begins to have doubts about the story and its characters. She becomes completely wrapped up in the story and becomes difficult to live with. Matron is the first person to read the story and she gives Jo her honest opinion of it – in fact, she advises Jo to tear it up. She then orders Jo to give writing a break and to go to spend the weekend with Frieda as she had originally planned. Matron also sees that Jo is in need of some fresh air and asks her to go to the Post on an errand.
At the Post, Jo runs into a girl of about fourteen who is delighted to learn that Jo is English. Jo discovers that the girl is alone, having left her guardians to come away by herself without leaving them any idea of where she was going. Jo is horrified and insists that the girl sends a wire immediately to relieve her guardians of their anxiety. She then takes the girl back to school with her and learns that she is known as Polly. Jo leaves Polly with Mlle and its agreed that she should remain at the school until her guardian, Mr Wilmot, arrives.
When Mr Wilmot does arrive, he thinks that school will be the best place for Polly and his ward is accepted as a pupil.
On her return from Frieda’s, Jo re-reads her story with fresh eyes and agrees with Matron’s opinion of it. Her first story meets a fiery end in the school’s incinerator and Jo determines to begin again and to succeed. She soon has nine chapters done. Borrowing Mlle’s typewriter she begins on the challenge of typing up what she has done so far.
Polly settles down at school but some of her subjects give the staff cause for concern. Its decided to turn Jo onto her for some private coaching. This has the added advantage of allowing her to see at first hand what life is like for a mistress. This grows, and Jo finds herself doing private tutoring for some other girls who are behind.
The next news from Die Rosen is not good. Rix has developed whooping cough and Jo is still barred from the Sonnalpe. The good news is that her book is completed and is just awaiting correction.
Polly is beginning to enjoy school but is a bit disappointed that life is not quite as exciting at the Chalet School as in her beloved school stories. She decides to try and liven things up a little by ringing the Ste Therese bell which had been put up to be rung in times of fire or flood. Polly is unaware that the bell is not just for the benefit of the school and succeeds in rousing the whole valley by her exploit. Needless to say, she is not popular and is ordered to take her possessions to the observation room which opened out of Matron’s room since she could not be trusted in a dormitory. Many of the girls also give Polly their unvarnished opinion of her.
Mlle is taken ill and is out of school for some time. The history mistress, Miss Stewart, is also taken ill and Jo is drafted in to take history for the whole middle school. Mlle recovers slightly and, though forbidden to teach, comes into school to take prayers and to see to the organisation. Miss Stewart also remains unwell and Jo agrees to take her classes for the remainder of the term.
Half term arrives and Jo is overjoyed when Robin is allowed to come down to the school to spend it with her adopted sister. The highlight is a sheets and pillow case party when Jo manages to enamel a halo onto Robin’s hair.
Following half term, Mlle is found unconscious in her room. She is rushed to the San in grave danger. An operation must be performed immediately if she is to live. News comes that the operation has been a success but that Mlle’s heart is weak. Slowly but surely, Mlle improves and is eventually out of danger.
Rehearsals begin for the Christmas play and the good news continues when Jo learns that her book has been accepted for publication. The Christmas play is a wonderful success.
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