*disclaimer: I did not read this exact edition of the book*
This is book 7 in the 60 book series.
- strong language is used against an individual that Jo doesn't like - both the disliking and the language are condemned.
- sometimes not so innocent pranks played by the middles, also condemned as rude and disrespectful.
- an attempt at raising a child, which includes stealing, lying, and breaking into school property. This is also condemned and the girls are punished for it.
Apart from these things, it's a very wholesome book illustrating life as a schoolgirl in the 1930's, in the Austrian Tyrol. Please don't be like me and read the series out of order, it becomes very confusing!
Note: the use of several different languages, because of the girls coming from all over the world, might be annoying to some people.

This book features Jo in her first term of being head girl, and the trials and tribulations thereof. I enjoyed the book, although it felt flat in places. Still good, though!

I think this book (7 in the series) was possible the first Chalet School book that I read, or perhaps it was one I re-read many times - it's certainly the one that I have the clearest memories of.

Joey is now a fairly reluctant head girl, although they have an exciting term planned - there's a camp planned (which occurs in the next book, I think - The Chalet School in Camp), and the school is going to the Passion Play in Oberammergau (a full day of re-enactment of the life of Christ) for Madge's birthday celebration.

I think I found the description of the Passion Play quite affecting when I was younger - Joey's face "grey with strain", and her fainting at the end of the day. Now I found it all a bit silly, with all the mentions of the "simple" people of the area and their consequently more moving religious faith. And Grizel not being as deeply involved as the others because of her "hardness".

Joey also intervenes in order to encourage the engagement of Juliet and Donal (a young Irish man who has jilted her at the beginning of the story - although it appears that it is his sister Kay whom Juliet had a true affection for). I find this a bit irritating - Donal has dumped Juliet because his sister doesn't think Juliet's family is good enough for him, then after a talking to by Joey, he takes her back. Juliet is quite delighted over all this, of course, despite his previous behaviour - I think I found this more touching when I was younger too!

Oh, and then there's the ridiculous adoption of little Irish Biddy by the Guides company, and the musings that perhaps they could train her as a maid for the Robin, or maybe she could be trained as a hairdresser, "which would suit her well". Hello snobbery! I saw it pointed out that this is particularly ridiculous after Jo's outrage at Donal & co's snobbery towards Juliet, but this obviously doesn't occur to Brent-Dyer at all.

Despite all this, this is one of my favourite books in the series simply because of familiarity, I think. The next few books in the series are ones I haven't read, so I'm looking forward to those.

Back to my re-reading of the Chalet School. It opens on a grumpy Jo grumping about her impending head-girlship and adulthood (and, judging by most of the CS alumnas (alumnae?), engagement, marriage, and motherhood within three years of leaving school). Needless to say the grumpiness doesn't last long: after she's had the chance to percolate a gentle pep talk from Gisela, she slips seamlessly into the role of the sensible head girl, but (of course) without losing her essential Jo-ness.

In some ways this is quite a lighthearted instalment. I mean, apart from the worry over Robin's health (nothing new, but in this case it is an immediate concern for the grownups at the sanatorium; some of the writing as Jo reacts to learning this is EBD at her best, and really quite affecting) and the Middles' mischief-making, which is an ongoing theme throughout: despite apparently peaking when they cause havoc in Oberammagau the day before they attend the Passion Play, they manage to outdo themselves by sort-of kidnapping (with her full cooperation) an Irish orphan who has such an Oirish 'bedad bejabbers and begorrah' accent I'm surprised it wasn't printed in green ink.

The fact that this is a reprint doesn't mean that all of the problematic language has been removed - Jo's hair is compared to that of a [well known type of doll used to advertise Robinson's jam back in the day] on several occasions. (I've said in previous reviews that I don't get offended by language 'of the time' being used in books, and I don't, but that doesn't mean it doesn't occasionally bring me up short.)

A thoroughly enjoyable visit back to the Tiernsee - perfect for a slightly damp afternoon.