By the Light of the Study Lamp

The Dana Girls Mystery Series #1

By Carolyn Keene

Copyright 1934

My recent trip to the annual AAUW book sale yielded a jackpot.  This book here is just one of the treasures from the sale.  It is the first Dana Girls book in the series and also my first Dana Girls book ever.  Coming from the same syndicate as the Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Bobbsey Twins books, this series was not as popular, but still a lot of fun.  Teenage sisters Louise and Jean Dana (both quite attractive, of course) are orphans who spend much of the year away at a boarding school.  They have quite the knack for finding and solving mysteries. 

Here are a few lessons I learned from By the Light of the Study Lamp:

Beware the man with a mustache a different color than his hair.  He might be your missing brother in disquise.

If thieves covet your thrift store study lamp, it’s probably not just an old lamp.  Check for jewels hidden inside it.

Beware the plumber who says he is inspecting your pipes – make sure he is looking where there are actually pipes.  Otherwise, he might have other motives. 

If you get your fortune told by a gypsy woman and she is rubbing your fingers – make sure she is not stealing your rings.

Make sure the gas tank is not on empty when you might have to make a quick getaway from the bad guys.  Yes, the Dana girls conveniently had an all-downhill trip back to town, but you probably won’t be so lucky.

Seriously, though, the real lesson is to not let your size or gender keep you from taking on a challenge.  Don't think twice before jumping into that raging river to rescue both the dog and a full-grown man from the rapids.  You can do it!

Jo of the Chalet School

Elinor Brent-Dyer

Original copyright 1926 – this edition 1993

In the first of the Chalet School series, Madge Bettany, a young English woman, decides to start a boarding school in the Austrian Alps with her sister Jo as the first pupil.  The series eventually covers over 30 years of their lives in 58 books which were initially published in the United Kingdom between 1925 and 1970.  I had never heard of the Chalet School before stumbling across this book at a half-price used book sale.  Looking into it, I discovered that this was a beloved series for young girls in the UK.  Like Nancy Drew in the U.S., these books remain popular with readers and collectors.

In this, the second book of the series, the school’s enrollment has grown to about 30 girls of various backgrounds.  A sanatorium for tuberculosis patients has recently been started nearby, providing a young, handsome doctor to care for the girls after their various hijinks get them into trouble.  Conveniently, this also provides Jo’s sister Madge with a suitor and the book ends with their engagement.  

In one chapter, Jo and her classmates are excited to hear of a new organization, the Girl Guides.  Badges can be earned for learning new skills such as making knots, cooking outdoors, nursing, and basket-weaving.  Plans begin to start an official Girl Guide group at the Chalet School.  The excitement of the students is evident as they begin to think of the new skills they can learn.   

This makes me wonder why we don’t always keep that excitement as we grow older.  Would we be more inclined if we could still earn badges?  Yes, I know…life gets in the way.  As our responsibilities grow, we don’t have the same amount of time or energy for learning new skills or trying new hobbies.  Still, we have to remember to keep life interesting by taking time to try new things.  

Let’s see…what badge should I try to earn next?

Let’s be Enemies

By Janice May Udry

Pictures by Maurice Sendak

Copyright 1961

 

James and John used to be best friends.  But John is now fed up with James always wanting to be the boss.  James gets all the crayons and grabs the best digging spoon.  Those wonderful times of birthday party fun and playing outside have been forgotten and John has decided it is time to tell James that they are now enemies.  After storming over to James’ house, and blurting out his anger, John has a change of heart.  It seems that seeing his old friend has sparked memories of laughter and friendship.  Fortunately, the last illustration shows James and John skating off together, once again sharing good times.

The book is so simple.  Very few words are needed to tell the story of reconciliation.  The drawings are simple, too.  So simple that I apparently felt the need to add a little of my own red crayon to them.  

The lesson is also simple, but so important:  Life is richer with friends.  

The Dollhouse Caper

By Jean S. O’Connell 

Illustrated by Erik Blegvad

Copyright 1975

I think this may have been the first mystery book I ever read.  My own dollhouse was always very busy as a setting for made-up stories, so this book would have appealed to me.  It’s a short chapter book with a lot of action and feats of bravery and kindness, with a little humor thrown in. (That poor father doll often spends the day with his head in the toilet as pictured on the cover).   That’s what I remember from reading it as a child.  Rereading it now, I also find a touching story of children growing older and leaving childish ways behind, but still keeping a child-like quality of wonder.

Each year at Christmas time, the beloved dollhouse is taken out of storage and put in a place of honor in the home of three young boys.  They eagerly anticipate playing in and decorating the dollhouse for the holidays.  This Christmas, the oldest boy scoffs at the babyish toy, and the doll family worries about the day when the boys will no longer be interested in the dollhouse.   The doll family soon has other worries to keep them occupied.  They alone are witness to robbers who are casing the home for when the boys go on a ski trip with their parents.  The dolls creatively and selflessly work to alert the big family and save the home from disaster.  The three boys, while never actually seeing the dolls come alive, are aware that the tiny family was responsible for chasing the robbers away.

In the end, the doll family is reassured of their continual place in the big family’s lives.  Their selflessness and bravery in saving the big family’s home has also saved their own miniature home from cobwebs and dust. The author has woven this important life lesson into an exciting little chapter book. By working hard to secure the happiness and safety of others, the dolls have secured their own happiness too.