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20th out of 45 books
—
18 voters
Beswitched
When Flora Fox's parents send their daughter off to boarding school, they have no idea that the train will take her back to 1935. On the journey Flora has a strange dream. She wakes up without her laptop or her phone, wearing a hideous uniform with ridiculous bloomers underneath. Slowly, she realizes she has gone back in time! But why?
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
2010
by Marion LLoyd Books
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My first reaction after reading this was that it was nothing more than a simple, but nice, story about a girl who learns a few things about family and friendship as she grows up a little too. After I finished reading it and thinking about it a little more however, there were a few points that I have grievances with. Mainly, it bothered me that the grandmother who, as a young mother, had left her son to run off with her artist lover who painted nude paintings of her to be hung in art galleries al...more
Flora is not happy that her parents are sending her off to the posh Penrice academy so that they can go to Italy, collect her ailing grandmother, and install her in their home in Wimbledon, especially since her grandmother has always lead a profligate life and not really cared about Flora. On the train to the school, Flora hears strange voices while she is sleeping... and wakes up in 1935. Several roommates have found an old book of spells and summoned her. Flora is even more unhappy about this...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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The fourth star is for the surprise of liking it as much as I did. (=
It started out in a tedious manner, but in a good-natured kind of way-- like when you groan about something that you don't really mind doing. I think a part of that had to do with how realistically the author portrayed 12-year-old girls; British or not, the majority of pre-adolescent girls are either super nice when they want to be, or super bratty when they don't want to be nice, both of which Saunders captured quite well.
Some...more
It started out in a tedious manner, but in a good-natured kind of way-- like when you groan about something that you don't really mind doing. I think a part of that had to do with how realistically the author portrayed 12-year-old girls; British or not, the majority of pre-adolescent girls are either super nice when they want to be, or super bratty when they don't want to be nice, both of which Saunders captured quite well.
Some...more
Read this because Jessica was reading it and wanted to do a family report on it for the library.
I was not a big fan of this book. The time travel was tedious...it reminded me a little of Freaky Friday (just a little) because the two Flora's switch places. But, we never get to hear or see the other Flora's side of the story. We see her reflection briefly in a mirror towards the end of the story. Perhaps this could be a sequel???
The author does do an excellent job with her descriptions and details...more
I was not a big fan of this book. The time travel was tedious...it reminded me a little of Freaky Friday (just a little) because the two Flora's switch places. But, we never get to hear or see the other Flora's side of the story. We see her reflection briefly in a mirror towards the end of the story. Perhaps this could be a sequel???
The author does do an excellent job with her descriptions and details...more
Reminiscent of Charlotte Sometimes and of the classic school stories published in the early part of the 20th century, this is the story of a somewhat spoiled 12 year old, Flora Fox. Flora is sent to boarding school, against her will, when her parents must rush to Italy to care for her grandmother who has broken her hip. On the train to school, Flora is enchanted and goes back in time to 1935. Upon arriving at a traditional girls school, she must adjust not only to school but to the customs and c...more
This book was very interesting and weird. I was addicted to the book because it was so intriguing. I like the way Kate Saunders write.
It was about a spoiled girl, Flora Fox and how she got sent to a rich school Penrice Academy while her parents were going to Italy to look after her grandmother. As she was on the train to Penrice Academy she falls asleep and has a weird dream. When she woke up she was in a different world. she has traveled through time and has arrived in 1935 with out her laptop...more
It was about a spoiled girl, Flora Fox and how she got sent to a rich school Penrice Academy while her parents were going to Italy to look after her grandmother. As she was on the train to Penrice Academy she falls asleep and has a weird dream. When she woke up she was in a different world. she has traveled through time and has arrived in 1935 with out her laptop...more
I found this book very interesting! I would recommend this book to girls (but if you boys want to read it, go ahead). It has an unusual plot and an exciting twist at the end. Beswitched is about a girl called Flora Fox, she's a bit spoilt and lives in the 21st Century.
Flora gets shipped off to a posh boarding school, because her parents have to care of her sick grandmother. But on the way she falls asleep on the train and wakes up in baggy bloomers! Somehow, Flora switches places with another Fl...more
Flora gets shipped off to a posh boarding school, because her parents have to care of her sick grandmother. But on the way she falls asleep on the train and wakes up in baggy bloomers! Somehow, Flora switches places with another Fl...more
Spoiled 12 year old Flora is pissed that she has to go to boarding school when her parents must go to Italy to take care of her grandmother after she breaks her hip. On the train to school, though, she is transported via spell to 1935.
It makes me happy that time travel book are still being written. I haven't read a new one in so many years! Pretty reminiscent of Charlotte Sometimes, but a little more clunky in moralization of differences between 2012 and 1935. I saw the ending coming about a qu...more
It makes me happy that time travel book are still being written. I haven't read a new one in so many years! Pretty reminiscent of Charlotte Sometimes, but a little more clunky in moralization of differences between 2012 and 1935. I saw the ending coming about a qu...more
Originally posted at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
Beswitched by Kate Saunders has two elements I love: a boarding school and magic. It made it on to my TBR for that reason. It moved its way to the top when it was shortlisted for this year's Cybils.
Flora is a behaving like a spoiled brat at the beginning of the novel though in a way most MG readers will be able to identify with. She does improve, but it took a little too long for me to ever really warm to her as a character. The story is an in...more
Beswitched by Kate Saunders has two elements I love: a boarding school and magic. It made it on to my TBR for that reason. It moved its way to the top when it was shortlisted for this year's Cybils.
Flora is a behaving like a spoiled brat at the beginning of the novel though in a way most MG readers will be able to identify with. She does improve, but it took a little too long for me to ever really warm to her as a character. The story is an in...more
Flora is shuffled off to boarding school against her will when her parents need to go to Italy to care for her grandmother who has fallen and broken her hip. During the train trip, Flora falls asleep, has a strange dream and wakes up in 1935. I assumed for most of the story that Flora had traded places with her grandmother after whom she was named, but that turned out not to be the case.
Everybody learns some lessons in getting along, having empathy and compassion for other people and friendship.
Everybody learns some lessons in getting along, having empathy and compassion for other people and friendship.
This one was okay, but I wanted more than I got from it. The plot was a bit anti-climactic, but the author did a nice job of portraying 1930s England and explaining what it'd be like for a time-traveler.
Also, definitely for a mature middle-grade reader. There are some weird little sexual references (talking about Grandma sleeping with a lot of people and the mention of a comedic striptease at the end), and lots of rude-ish British slang that would probably seem more rude to British people than t...more
Also, definitely for a mature middle-grade reader. There are some weird little sexual references (talking about Grandma sleeping with a lot of people and the mention of a comedic striptease at the end), and lots of rude-ish British slang that would probably seem more rude to British people than t...more
Twelve-year-old Flora is on the train on her way to boarding school when she falls asleep and has a strange dream. In her dream, people are speaking an incantation to summon her. When she awakes, she is wearing strange old-fashioned clothing, and the year is 1935. Somehow, she had traveled back in time 70 years, and traded places with another Flora!
Flora's adjustment to a 1935 English boarding school is amusing, but the morals are written with a heavy hand. Girls 9-12.
Flora's adjustment to a 1935 English boarding school is amusing, but the morals are written with a heavy hand. Girls 9-12.
Apr 12, 2012
The Library Lady
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childrens-fiction
Reminiscent of Penelope Farmer's classic Charlotte Sometimes this is much more modern and has a lot more snap. Nice plot twists and the interaction between the girls is terrific. Not sure girls of today will be as ready to read this as the adults--my own daughter looked at it, then put it back down--but I think that if they get involved with Flora, they will read this and enjoy it.
My daughter and I enjoyed this book ,it was a nice break from all the Jacqueline Wilson we have been reading recently . The idea of the book, though not original, was nicely written . I can imagine this story making a good film.
My seven year old daughter followed the plot quite easily, though I did a little censorship in places to remove the odd bad word-I realise it is an older girl's book. All in all a good choice from the school book fair -I tend to borrow books from the library to save mone...more
My seven year old daughter followed the plot quite easily, though I did a little censorship in places to remove the odd bad word-I realise it is an older girl's book. All in all a good choice from the school book fair -I tend to borrow books from the library to save mone...more
I reserved this from the library on a whim because I'd read another Saunders novel. It was a surprise to pick it up and discover it was juvenile fiction. It was even a bigger surprise to discover that she's writes kids' literature as well as adult. This book was quick and pleasant, something I'd easily recommend to any young girl (or even boy) who was remotely interested in time-travel.
I think the best word to describe this book is charming. I picked it up from my younger sister's pile, started to read, and didn't put it down until the last page. It's definitely my sort of book, being set in a British boarding school in 1935; I think I would've loved it had I read it five or so years ago. I hope the author writes a sequel from the other Flora's point of view!
This book was really funny.At the start,Flora is angry at her parents because she is being sent to boarding school (a very nice one).The reason for this is that her Grandmother slipped on a grape and hurt her hip,so her parents are going away for a while to look after her.Then,through some weird magic,Flora ends up in a totally different school...in the past!I really liked this book.
This book i really couldnt put down. just the idea is fabulous. It wasnt that it was action packed but it was enough for me to read a handle of chapters at a time. it was the curiousity that probably keeps people going with it. i like that as well. how it is somethimg different to like a book rather then its theme.
great book!!!
great book!!!
A cute spellbinding story. A part flora switches places with a present flora only to find out it was the workings of a few school girls dabbling in spell casting. How to get them back is the question. A sweet heart warming story that will leave anyone smiling.
Any age appropriate
Any age appropriate
This book mixes historical fiction, time travel, and realistic fiction genres rather effectively. There is great and logical character growth of the main character. The best part is the ending. Be ready to be surprised.
Loved it...spoilt Flora goes back in time to attend a 1930s boarding school. A sparkling parody of the best school stories, a subtle potted history of feminism and some heart-warming life lessons. Crikey it's good.
My kids and I picked this up at the library the other day and it is delightful!!! It's a wonderful story about a spoiled girl who learns how to think about others through a magical trip into the past.
Read this with the 5th grade book club at work. It was much more than I was expecting--I enjoyed it quite a bit. I sure hope there will be a companion book to tell us how the other Flora managed!
This book was funny, and didn't have a bad plot, but I would only have given it a 3 if is wasn't for the fact it is a page-turner, and the end stays vividly in your mind.
I really enjoyed this book as the characters were really mischievous and they reminded me of myself. There was great description and the ending was really good.
Jul 04, 2012
*Glamazon*
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
library-book,
children-s-lit
This was a really cute book! I enjoyed the story and was actually pleasantly surprised with the ending. There were a few things in the book I predicted, and I'm actually really surprised I hadn't predicted that ending. But I enjoyed it and it made me smile (the ending). The book was sweet, one of those "coming of age" tales about behaviors and the events that cause one to re-think their attitude and behaviors, but it wasn't overbearing and in your face obnoxious (like some of those books can be)...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The main character was so unpleasant and whiny I just couldn't keep going. I'm a little amazed at how many people liked this.
While reading the book I noticed that Kate Saunders should be writing way more books, maybe even a second to this one!
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Kate Saunders (born 1960) is an English author, actress, and journalist. The daughter of the early public relations advocate Basil Saunders and his journalist wife Betty (née Smith), Saunders has worked for newspapers and magazines in the UK, including The Sunday Times, Sunday Express, Daily Telegraph, She, and Cosmopolitan.
She has also been a regular contributor to radio and television, with appe...more
More about Kate Saunders...
She has also been a regular contributor to radio and television, with appe...more
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