Gemma (by Noel Streatfeild)

(Amazon UK link)Although the first author whose work I loved (and reread regularly) was Enid Blyton, my second and more enduring love was for the books by Noel Streatfeild. I don’t remember which of her books I read first, or exactly when; but I know I discovered a handful of them on my grandparents’ shelves as a child, and over the years, have acquired them all. They’re intended for children, but thoroughly enjoyable to read as an adult too.
It’s over ten years since I last read ‘Gemma’, which i...