Just Like Annabel

by Alan Davidson

"Good afternoon," said Annabel in her most sensible voice, "I need the number on behalf of Mr Eastbourne, please. It's really very important."Whether trying to help a troublesome donkey called Eastbourne, attempting to resolve the enigma of Sheena Franks-Walters the poshest member of the class at Lord willoughbys, or simply deciding [inexplicably] to adopt a 'new attitude' to life, thirteen year old Annabel is in vintage form again.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1983

About the author

A British children's author whose work has been compared to that of Richmal Crompton, Alan Davidson is of Scots descent, and was born in Langholm. He was educated at Thorne Grammar School, and pursued a career in the Civil Service, before turning to editing and writing. His first children's novel was published in 1978, under the pseudonym A.D. Langholm, undoubtedly chosen to honor his birth-place. Currently, Davidson publishes under his own name, and later reprints of his earlier work reflect that change.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vintage Annabel

There are five Annabel story collections. In this book we have two long tales - the story of Annabel's adventures with a troublesome donkey and an equally troublesome classmate and a recounting of Annabel's mysterious efforts to become a new kinder, gentler Annabel.

Annabel is a bright, precocious, imaginative, slightly dramatic 13 year old. She has a loyal best friend; she lives in a small village; she attends a quite normal school; she has a long suffering if supportive family. Annabel is so full of life, vinegar, sensitivity, feistiness, self-delusion, good humor and decency that you immediately like her. I was very taken by a Guardian reviewer's comment that Annabel shares much with Richmal Compton's William, and in that both seem to prevail because of their childish innocence and their creative misunderstanding of adult behavior I think that's a true and instructive observation.

As always, Annabel's best friend forever Kate remains a long suffering and perfectly aware foil who tempers Annabel's excesses and provides a running dry commentary on the action. These stories would be much the poorer without Kate.

If you aren't already familiar with this series, note that the quality of the writing is on a different level from that which one usually encounters in middle grade fiction. It is economical and restrained, but very generous and always exactly on point. While the writing is "sharp" the sentiments behind it are good humored and affectionate. The humor is sly but not mean; the wit is subtle but not obscure.

So, all in all a very nice find, and a good possibility for a younger reader with a taste for elegantly understated humor.

Please note that I found this book while browsing Amazon Kindle freebies. I have no connection at all to the author or to the publisher of this book.

[Rachel Svendsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet middle grade story about two friends who are trying to save a man's pet donkey. Well written and pleasant to read. The characters were cute.