Books Monthly March 2024






Nostalgia books for February


Phyllis Matthewman: Pat at the Helm

Published 23rd January 2024

Daneswood No 6

Pat, Josie and Rusty have reached the 6th form and are shouldering new responsibilities in the face of considerable opposition from Jackie and her friends in the 4th form. The book is full of incident and excitement which reaches a climax in the uncovering of a long-suspected, but hitherto baffling, secret of Daneswood.

Pat at the Helm is a worthy follow-on to the previous five Daneswood titles, and yet can be happily read by someone who has never read the other titles.

Georgia Corrick has written our introduction.

Pat at the Helm was published on 23 January 2024.

Superb schoolgirl story fayre from Phyllis Matthewman - Pat is thrown in at the deepened as one of the youngest ever head girl at Daneswood School, having only just reached the VIth form. With beautiful black and white illustrations by Barbara Freeman, this is a stunning book, full of incidents and spiffing characters. Phyllis Matthewman entertained Elinor M Brent-Dyer - they had known each other since childhood, of course. Written just after the end of the second world war, this was just the kind of escapist fun the children of Britain craved, and heralded the beginning of the Golden Age of girls' school stories. Absolutely brilliant, one to treasure. I'm pretty sure the stunning front cover in full colour is also by Barbara Freeman.








The small print: Books Monthly is published by Paul Norman. 2023 is the 25th year of publication. You can contact me at paulenorman1@gmail.com