Rereading: GOING GANGSTER by M. E. Atkinson

Cover and illustrations by Harold Jones

The fifth book in the Lockett series of British holiday adventure stories by Atkinson features only Jane and Bill of the trio, set on a journey by their frenemy Fenella. Oliver is back at school, but Jane and Bill are spending some time on the coast at a guest house while Bill recovers from an illness. There they run into Fenella, whose school is nearby, and she rescues Bill from a swift ocean current. Grateful Jane says she’d do anything for Fenella as thanks, and that’s where the adventure begins. Fenella’s school has a young student, Patsy, who is miserable and unsuited, and Fenella decides the Locketts must help her escape and get back to her family, who are gypsies. She has help from another student, Terry, who soon joins Jane and Bill as they try to get passive Patsy away and across a lonely heath to where they can get a train to her family. All kinds of events and obstacles stand in their way, including a treacherous bog, a river, and the danger of being recognized. Then something happens that changes the plan, but how can the children get Patsy to safety?

These books are great fun, full of exciting events and great characters, not to mention British country life and customs. Recommended.

Amazon seems to have shut down its Bounty Links page, where I was getting links for these reviews, but you can search for the book and author on Google.

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