This is a brand new story inspired by the classic series by Enid Blyton. Once again we meet three children. It was Jo, Bessie and Fanny in the original book later updated to Joe, Beth and Frannie. In this book we have Milo, Mia and Birdy (real name Bethany). The children have, just in the original story, gone to stay in a cottage near some woods. Milo, Mia and Birdy explore the forest and find the Faraway Tree and yes, all the characters you might remember from the original are still there - Silky the fairy; Moonface; Dame Washalot; Saucepan Man; and Mr Watzisname. And the children do go to different lands at the top of the tree - The Land of Unicorns; The Land of Dragons; The Land of Princes and Princesses and The Land of Bouncy Castles. Next year, 2023, marks the 80th anniversary of the publication of the original novel which might go part of the way to explaining why Jacqueline Wilson has written her own story. These were books she loved as a child.
Jacqueline Wilson does add a few modern references to her story but they never feel forced or intrusive. For example Milo wishes his parents would let him have a mobile phone when he sees the dragons:
"One was large, its scales glistening in the eerie light, its head enormous, it spine sharply ridged, its tail whipping this way and that as a strode along on its powerful hind legs. The other was much smaller, not much bigger than Milo himself. Its eyes were big ... its tail short and stubby. It gambolled along a little unsteadily. It was a baby dragon, newly hatched from its egg! Milo gaped at the pair in awe. Here he was, standing in this barren land, staring at a mother and a baby dragon. He'd done it! If only Mum and Dad had let him have a mobile. Would anyone believe he'd seen dragons if he didn't have a photo to prove it? But he had seen them - the image would be there for ever inside his head and he would remember it until his dying day."
I do hope this confession doesn't shock you blog readers but I have never read any of the Faraway Tree stories by Enid Blyton. I did read books from the Secret Seven series in Primary school and I did own a few Noddy books and a Noddy puppet but no one shared any of the Faraway Tree series with me. Tonight I listened to a little of the audio version of The Enchanted Wood read by Kate Winslet. The language and tone do feel quite dated but as I have told you I have not yet read this book from 1939.
Perhaps this is not a problem because I had no reason to compare this new adaption by Jacqueline Wilson with any aspects of the original. There are four books in the original series by Enid Blyton: The Enchanted Wood (1939), The Magic Faraway Tree (1943), The Folk of the Faraway Tree (1946) and Up the Faraway Tree (1951). Then later there were many spin off - shorter books and picture books that incorporated characters and events from the original series. In her new adaption Jacqueline Wilson incorporates elements from the first book - The Enchanted Wood. This might make the title a little confusing for parents or grandparents who have nostalgic memories of reading the original.
One more confession. I did not expect to enjoy this book but I find myself thinking it could be a fun book to read aloud to young children in a family especially if the parent or adult reading the book has fond memories of the original. If you are curious about other books by Enid Blyton I found a board on Pinterest wtih over 1300 images which are sorted into useful categories. AND if you are a true fan take a look at the Enid Blyton Society web page. They are not too happy about this new story:
After Jacqueline Wilson was confirmed in making some significant changes to The Magic Faraway Tree, the Enid Blyton Society backtracked, saying that children should read the original text to understand changes in society, and that the new book itself will become “obsolete”. Similarly, Wilson has weighed in on the issue, suggesting that the original author would not like the changes. ... Jacqueline Wilson has a very natural, readable style, and I expect her book to become popular. It is a pity, however, that so much new material based on established Enid Blyton series are commissioned (from various authors) at a time when a number of Enid Blyton’s original books have been sold out for some years. inewsUK
You can read more about this debate here. The Magic Faraway Tree: A New Adventure will be published in May, 2022. The illustrator is Mark Beech. Mark has illustrated other original Enid Blyton books in the past. I am a little surprised the Enid Blyton Society did not comment on this - does it add to the confusion or dare I say deception, that this a "real" Faraway Tree book?
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