Mary Plain's Big Adventure

Mary Plain #9

by Gwynedd Rae

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1944

About the author

Welsh author Gwynedd Rae (1892-1977) was the creator of the much-loved Mary Plain series. The first book in the series, Mostly Mary,was published in 1930 and the last, Mary Plain’s Whodunnit, was published in 1965. The series includes 14 books about Mary’s adventures. They became hugely popular when they were read on BBC Radio Children's Hour during the 1930s.

Reviews

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Plain is a small, lovely bear from Berne who stumbles into adventures



While flying over the ocean Mary tries out her new parachute with surprising results
Mary was falling through the air like a stone. She was upside down and downside up before she remembered to pull the ring on her cord.
There was a violent jerk and then Mary found herself swinging backwards and forwards. Looking up, she saw above her head, at the end of the ropes that held her up, a beautiful blue silk umbrella.
"Oo! Look at my parabrella, Owl Man!" she cried. And then, like a flash, she remembered. Of course, the Owl Man could not hear because she had fallen out of the plane. Wherever was the plane? She must find it.



Mary lands on Somewhere
The boat made no progress, so Mary had to use her apron sail again and, as she moved slowly towards the shore, a lot of questions came tumbling into her mind. Did any people live here? Would they be the kind that liked bears? Would there be food? Would there be drink? Would it, perhaps, oh lovely "perhaps", be the place the Owl Man had gone to? Would . . .
Mary stopped thinking and stared She also stopped sailing and sat down. Indeed, her eyes very nearly popped right out of her head at what she saw.
For down through the trees came some people, at first on or two and then more and more. She knew they were people because they had arms and legs and faces, but the arms and legs and faces were jet black!



Mary has no prejudices and makes friends with the people of the island of Somewhere while waiting for the Owl Man to find her. A delightful story which demonstrates that we can all get along with all the peoples of the world if only we are as patient, friendly and as kind as Mary Plain.

Enjoy!

[Lissa Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to adore these stories of the naughty heroine! Borrowed her countless times from the library and re-read them all.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as a child, but I think if I re-read it today I would find her depictions of South Sea Islanders as cringeworthy.

[Cherie Nef · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh... a fairly racist book. It was probably okay when it was published, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.