Cathie Runs Wild

Ian and Sovra #5

by Elinor Lyon, Greta Elgaard (Illustrator)

In order to continue living with her cousins in the mountains of Scotland, a young girl must first convince them that to be sent away with her rich aunt means an end to the freedom and happiness she has experienced since escaping from the orphanage.

155 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathie is the most adventurous of the children who feature in the Ian and Sovra series set on the coast of the Scottish Highlands, and it's great to read another one where she is the focus, as she was in No. 3, "Run Away Home". In the first half of the book she's surprisingly uncertain of herself, very aware that she's fostered and worrying about doing the right thing, although really she could hardly do better. Does most of the hard work in the household at the ripe old age of 11 or 12. Still, I and S make plenty of appearances and are their usual hilarious selves. Then in the second half come developments that I won't give away, but I read the rest of the book at one sitting. High time this one was republished, like the first three. It was a devil to get hold of. In the end a school library copy from St. Clare, Montana, much borrowed in the 1970s. I recommend it and I'm doing a vocabulary so that some of my EFL students can enjoy it.

[David Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth in the wonderful Ian and Sovra series about a brother and sister in the Western Highlands. The duo are one of the great creations of children's literature - funny, engaging, warm and inspiring. The arrival of cold, snobbish Aunt Jean Cameron sets the cat among the pidgeons in former orphan Cathie's happy new life. Cathie responds as per the title.

A joy to read; the writing is beautifully crafted, the characters are brilliantly and affectionately drawn, and the plot is a page-turner. The most moving of the series so far, the loyalty between the three children tugs at the heart strings.

The author came from privilege, yet (based on her writing) was not defined by her class. She was the daughter of a famous headmaster of the prestigious Rugby public (boarding) school and wife of a classics teacher at the school. I think the adverse view of privileged Aunt Jean and boarding schools in general, especially in the mouth of an admirable character (Dr Kennedy, Ian's father) probably reflects the author's (dissenting) views. The children with their indomitable free spirit may be the author's alter ego, an offset to her position in a privileged establishment.