Joan’s last appearance in the series is her being carted off to an ambulance as she has scarlet fever. Of course each book is designed to be read alone, but these two somehow seemed a little obvious in their explanations. Obviously Fanny couldn’t collect them as she is in quarantine, but do they still have the pony and trap? I can’t see them having bought a car somehow, even if it is 1963! Saying that, the pony never gets mentioned in between journeys – the Five never go to feed it apples or sugar lumps!Īs with the reminder of George not answering to Georgina Blyton also reminds us of how she came to own the island. The pony trap in Five on Kirrin Island Again This time they walk as if that’s always been the plan – except George who takes a taxi as Timmy isn’t there to meet her – and their trunks go on the porter’s van. In previous books the pony and trap has been used to convey the Five from the station to Kirrin Cottage. Is that a nitpick? Nothing is ever said to explain it. Firstly, Timmy is no longer at school with George, and apparently hasn’t been for at least a few terms. There have obviously been changes to the school plans since the earlier books. They are within a bike ride of Kirrin so there was nothing stopping them from taking Tinker there for a visit.

The picture of Kirrin on the spine is a particularly dishonest bit of advertising. They’re so close to Kirrin but we barely see it which is infuriating.

Likewise, of all the locations we could have had why a regular house with a field next door? Event the tower lacks interest – no secret passages anywhere. At least he only does his car-noises briefly at the beginning and end of the book. I’d much rather have had them go stay with Jo at Joan’s sister’s cottage, to visit Jennifer Armstrong, Nobby, Jock, even Richard Kent or the Lawdler twins. Well, perhaps anyone but Wilfrid or Tinker. While it’s often nice to see occasional characters again (such as Jo), I rather wish Blyton had brought back anyone but Tinker for their final adventure. If it alternated, at least, they could have two adventures a year! Out of interest I looked it up and there are nine summer adventures, eight spring/Easter, one autumn, two winter, and one at Whitsun in May/June which you could count as either Spring or Summer I suppose. It makes sense for them to have Spring and Summer adventures as that’s when the best weather likely is, but Blyton’s propensity to have sequential holidays or skipped seasons at either time means the progression of the Five’s ages makes little sense. This one’s set at Easter, as was Mystery to Solve so it’s a full year later. Finally, I have reached the post with the promised nitpicks, of which there are many.

Five go to kirrin island