Carnation of the Upper Fourth
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#1: Carnation of the Upper Fourth Author: Rachael,  PostPosted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:56 am

Please discuss here:

 

#2:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:28 pm

I seem to be about the only person who's read this one, so here is a detailed synopsis of it. Keep in mind that it's a very long book! Carnation is, in my view, one of EBD's better single-school books. There is the typical new girl, in this case Carnation, who shocks her whole Form when she arrives at school by having completed her holiday task, even though she doesn't have to. (Carnation has an international background - she is born in China, moves to New Zeland, wanders through the South Seas and then around France. From there to the West Indies, then sailing around on a steam yacht. In some ways she reminds me of Lavender in her self-assurance. Presumably EBD thought that this was the result of much travel. She speaks without slang and very primly, in a similar fashion to Verity Anne when she arrives at the CS. She does thaw as the book goes on, though, in quite a realistic manner.) (One point that never failed to amuse me while reading this is that her aunt's name is Nancy Drew. Nancy is only seven years older than Carnation, but keeps house for the three of them, including Car's father.) A major feature of this book (and done better than in Judy the Guide, IMHO) is that the school has a Guide company and EBD's Guiding knowledge comes to the fore as it does in the CS series. Folk Dancing and EJO also get a good mention. Naturally, Carnation must have an enemy, and in this case, it's a girl called Birdie (her proper name is Bertha). Birdie and her friends (and a number of others at the school) think Carnation is stand-offish and conceited, because, apart from anything else, she speaks English more purely than they do. Birdie also has her own pet grievance - Carnation is as clever at school work as Birdie is and Birdie must learn to work in order to keep up with her. (Gee, we haven't heard that storyline before, have we?) Birdie, incidentally, is not a particularly nice character. One of the girls who is not friends with her suggests that 'Birdie doesn't like anyone to be chummy with anyone but her own sweet self!'. Birdie also has some of the class snobbery that has appeared in other books, such as Feud in the Fifth Remove. Birdie herself breaks up the conversation that is taking place about her when she comes over to take two girls away from one she doesn't particularly like. Birdie is, incidentally, a brilliantly drawn character! In the summer term (the book isn't just about one term), the issue of tennis creates further divisions as Carnation is a brilliant player. (In fact, for all its good storylines, Carnation is verging on perfect. I think, in this case, EBD should have borrowed a little from Matey's advice to Jo.) This is further exacerbated by an idea of the Prefects that, as many of the Sixth Form have exams, they will leave the school teams to be made up of members of the Fourth and Fifth. The school (and particular the Upper Fourth) seems rather divided on the issue, but eventually agree to go in with the Prefects' plans. A new girl called Fredrica ('you can call me Fred if you'd prefer it') Hansen arrives, and she seems rather Mary-Louish in her self-confidence. Fred is competition to Carnation on the tennis side of things. Birdie, who had been the form tennis champion for two years, has someone else to dislike. Birdie begins to stir up trouble about the new Games arrangements. Two of her friends jump to the (correct) conclusion that Birdie is afraid that, with Carnation and Fred at the school, she won't be chosen for the Tennis Four, however neither have enough of their own characters to argue with her. They create a petition against the idea and Birdie gets a number of girls who live near her to sign it, going on to get a large number of girls from the lower forms involved, too. In the end, the Prefects manage to diffuse the situation (no 'behind closed doors' scenes here!), but Birdie is still resentful. In the end, the decision is made to choose six girls from each year level, and the Fourths choose Carnation, Fred, Birdie and three others. Birdie is not in the first pair (Carnation is) and is so unhappy about this that she doesn't practice at all until the day of the trial. Naturally, her pair loses and she doesn't even turn up the next day for the next session as she is so stiff that she can barely move. The school's Games Prefect is furious and doesn't spare herself in the message she sends via Birdie's brother. Carnation makes the team and earns colours for her tennis. Fred doesn't, as she is considered not to be a careful enough player. Naturally, this is a shock to her, but she vows to pull up. Oh yes, and Carnation helps the school to victory. But we all guessed that would happen, didn't we? Just as a small side note, Carnation's best friend, Madge, has a brother, Jim, who is about seven years older than Madge and Carnation. This will be important in the test I'm setting you all later! *lol* The Guides get ready to go for a day in the country. Birdie fails to turn up. Her friend, Joan, is grievously disappointed, as they had planned to meet up with Joan's brother and go to see the Dark Lake. *insert spooky music here* The Guide outing is as lively as EBD's descriptions in Camp, complete with exploding sausages. The girls do some tracking, but Carnation and Madge find themselves following a strange trail that ends up leading to - The Dark Lake. (Five bonus points if you guessed that one was coming!) In the waters of the Dark Lake is Joan, and Carnation and Madge must do life-saving to start her breathing again. They also summon some older Guides who help bring Joan back to life. (Incidentally, if you're interested, Birdie failed to turn up because she was unexpectedly taken to London by her father. Birdie is furious that Joan let herself get into the situation and her feelings are only worsened by the fact that Madge and Carnation are commended for their efforts.) A change comes over the Upper Fourth, with Birdie no longer being as popular as she was, most of the other girls believings that her feelings towards and treatment of Carnation are unreasonable. (Joan even goes so far as to move her seat away from Birdie's in class.) It is suggested that Birdie is by now 'slightly possessed' about Carnation. EBD says that 'there are girls like this. They brood over things till small matters become so magnified in their eyes that they assume the stature of mountains. They do not, as a rule, realise just how dreadful their attitude is, and would be horrified indeed if it were set plainly before them. They are generally under the impression that they are the ones who are suffering that whatever they may do to harm those who they consider their enemies is only rightful vengeance - as though any vengeance could be called "rightful"!' Sounds mighty familiar... Joan and Birdie have a stand-up fight, with Birdie shaking Joan violently. The Prefects see what is going on and prepare for a Court of Honour (Guide-related, it is mentioned in the CS, too) to decide whether Birdie is fit to be a Guide. Birdie decides to get her revenge on Carnation and, in a scene right out of the CS, Carnation gets a message to go to the art room. She is, naturally, locked in. She realises (it is not quite clear how) that Birdie is behind it and that no one knows where she is, as the Junior who gave her the message has gone home. Luckily for our heroine, the school's Art mistress comes into the room just in time. Carnation bolts for the tennis court, but in the meantime, the reserve has slipped on the stairs and sprained her wrist. The other reserve has lost two strings on her raquet and torn the side of her tennis shoe. Luckily, and just in the nick of time, Carnation turns up! And, after an incredibly hard-fought match - guess who wins? *lol* Carnation is forced to tell the Prefects what happened to her and they all decide to wait and find out just who gave the Junior the message sending Carnation to the art room. To no one's surprise, it's Birdie. A Court of Honour is called for all the Guides. The school/Company is told what happened to Carnation and that Birdie has been questioned about it by the Head already. As a result of the Court, Birdie is suspended from Guides, and also from school for a week, as she failed to show any sorrow for her actions. At the same meeting, Carnation is awared the silver medal for saving life at the risk of her own when she went into Dark Lake. (Madge's actions seem to be ignored on this point.) Birdie never returns to Shapcott High School and goes to live with her cousin in Geneva. Carnation is a bridesmaid at Nancy Drew's wedding to Jim Harley, Madge's brother when Car and Madge are in the Sixth Form (no mention of what took place in the Fifth). And they all lived happily ever after...

 

#3:  Author: Kirsty, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:35 pm

I liked this one. As KB has so wonderfully summarised, it is full of CS-style incidents and characters. I also found it odd in an amusing way (and awfully hard to reconcile!) that the aunt was called Nancy Drew. My brain kept flashing "red-haired American detective" over the top of the words.I liked, if that is the right word, the character of Birdie. She was interesting, and mostlt believable.Carnation was a bit too perfect for me, I much preferred Madge, and Fred as well. Why is it that I almost always like the supporting cast over the "star"? Confused More later when I wake up a bit

 

#4:  Author: joelle, Location: lancashire, england PostPosted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 6:22 pm

its funny how you like birdie and fred kirsty,cos i dont like them! birdie reminds me of val gardner (i think thats her surname) particularly in redheads when she seems like a spoiled brat. birdie seems a spoilt bit if work and fred is very mary-lou-ish as you say kb, its funny how that doesnt seem a good thing in this book! Rolling Eyes carnation is quite a dull main character (i mean who really does the holiday work unless they have to? Wink ) but it was a pretty fun book. know im too accustomed to girls own style books cos i was shocked at carnation being locked in art room! joelle

 

#5:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:27 am

I enjoyed this, in spite of the EBD plot-lines. Mind you, I wasn't expecting anything else.Yes, Carnation was a bit of a goody-goody, but she had never had the chance to be anything else, travelling the world with a handicapped father. On the plus side, she was honest, good-natured and never willingly gave offence to anyone else, and I think that she genuinely did not understand Birdie's antipathy to her, never having met many girls before.One very strong point in Carnations's favour is that she enjoyed the family life that she had with Madge's family. She fitted in well with them and did not cause any Eustacia - like problems for them. Birdie was a typical EBD anti-heroine, allowing things to fester in her mind until she was obsessed by them. I think EBD was lenient with her, she was not expelled, but taken away and sent to another school. I think that Birdie was one of EBD's examples of bad parental training.Frederika Hansen reminded me of some of the girls in EJO's Hamlet Club. Her family were not as rich as other girls' and she had to do a lot for her siblings, which may account for her rather cavalier attitude towards games and tennis - 'I'll play if I can, but I may not be able to because of home duties.'Although there were some standard plot-lines, I enjoyed this book because it covers an academic year, not just a term.

 

#6:  Author: JustJen, Location: waiting for a bus PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:42 am

This sounds like such an interesting book. sigh maybe it wil get published one...

 

#7:  Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:21 am

Jen - Carnation is on the transcript site. There is a link to the site on the first page of the 'transcripts' thread in "What I Really Want".

 

#8:  Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 12:44 pm

I thought this was one of EBDs better stand alone books - so much so that, after reading it in transcript, I snapped it up when I saw it being sold at a price I could afford Smile Yes, Carnation does come across as being a bit too good to be true, but so does Adult Joey and Mary Lou. Carnation is nicer than both these characters. considering her father, who comes across as being a whiny-piney invalid type, she is a saint! I'd have snapped before now and told him where to put his whims and fancies! She matures and changes in a very believable manner from her almost hermit-like existence to a normal schoolgirl. Personally I think she comes across as very confident from the beginning, as I'd have been a quivering wreck on my first day at school after a life such as hers. Birdie is a thoroughly nasty piece of work, but it is refreshing to see that she doesn't reform in one term, as she would if she had been at the CS. This storyline also shows how influential such people can be on their peers and how some people cannot resist a strong personality. It shows just how strong a hold Birdie has on Joan that Joan still goes to the Dark Lake even though Birdie isn't present. And i agree with EBD, she has been punished enough. After all she is a teenage girl (even if teenagers hadn't been "invented" then) and teenage girls do do silly things from time to time. As for Birdie, her punishment was one of EBD's better ones (in the books that I have read anyway), she was rightly suspended from Guides and school and her punishment reflected that she showed no remorse. I just feel sorry for her school in Geneva! As an aside, does anybody agree that this has some of EBD's better examples of silly names (not counting A THrilling Term at Janeways). Carnation, and how yukky is 'Car'? Birdie? Were these names really around at the time or did EBD make them up? I do know that my Great Aunt, who would have been at school in the 20s/30s, had a friend called Bunty!

 

#9:  Author: JustJen, Location: waiting for a bus PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 8:45 pm

Chelsea I did go to the transcript and dl it. When the kids go off ofr their naps I plan on having a good read. Hopefully I be able to give my thought s on the book by nextMonday or Tuesday

 

#10:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:07 pm

Lulie wrote:
As an aside, does anybody agree that this has some of EBD's better examples of silly names (not counting A THrilling Term at Janeways). Carnation, and how yukky is 'Car'? Birdie? Were these names really around at the time or did EBD make them up? I do know that my Great Aunt, who would have been at school in the 20s/30s, had a friend called Bunty!
Oh, I don't know. I think Feud in the Fifth Remove did pretty well: Philathea, Dorinda, Adeline!

 

#11:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:25 pm

Theres a Dorinda, ooooooohh. I actually know two Dorinda's (mother and daughter) I may yet get them reading the books now!!! Wink

 

#12: abridged? Author: Jennie Kelly, Location: Darlington UK PostPosted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 12:05 am

Is it true that the Lutterworth ed of Carnation is abridged? And if so, how much?

 

#13:  Author: Kirstie, Location: Ayrshire PostPosted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 5:17 am

When I first saw this title my first thought was 'milk'. Carnation - what is that all about?

 

#14:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 6:51 pm

Great summary KB, I almost wish I hadn't sold my copy Smile This was the first non CS EBD I ever read, and I did enjoy it, particularly the mixture of home life and school life, but it might have been better if I hadn't read it directly after 'Wrong' the getting locked in the art room plot line was a bit repetitive when it was in two books in a row. I won't say that I liked Birdie as such, she wasn't a likeable character, but agree she was well drawn. I did like Frederika though, but agree that Carnation herself was a little too perfect, but I could, just about, forgive her for that.

 

#15:  Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough PostPosted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:36 pm

Yes, the Lutterworth ed of Carnation is abridged, but I'm not sure by how much.

 

#16:  Author: JustJen, Location: waiting for a bus PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 4:13 am

Well i finally got the book read. It's the first non chalet school I've ever read has well I did think that Carnation (insert milk jokes here) was a pity too good to be true but she was a likable character. Did feel a bit sorry for her when dad was sick. The other character were very well written especially Madge and Fred and Joan to a lesser degree. Did feel sorry for Madge for not getting the Silver Star.
Quote:
'I'll play if I can, but I may not be able to because of home duties
My mom didn't play on any of the school teams because she had 5 younger siblings at home with no help so I can say I'm surprised that Fred didn't play on a school team Birdie was very real. I knew people like that in High School and I'm glad she didn't reform and become a pale shadow of herself. Over all I really enjoyed the book.

 

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