The Wood Street Rivals

Wood Street #3

by Mabel Esther Allan, Shirley Hughes (Illustrator)

Another gang of children appears in Wood Street and Julius' precious guitar is broken in a scuffle. Despite the trouble between the gangs, they try to overcome their rivalry.

108 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

A prolific British children's author, who also wrote under the pen-names Jean Estoril, Priscilla Hagon, Anne Pilgrim, and Kathleen M. Pearcey, Mabel Esther Allan is particularly known for her school and ballet stories.

Born in 1915 at Wallasey on the Wirral Peninsula, Allan knew from an early age that she wanted to be an author, and published her first short stories in the 1930s. Her writing career was interrupted by World War II, during which time she served in the Women's Land Army and taught school in Liverpool, but the 1948 publication of The Glen Castle Mystery saw it begin to take off in earnest. Influenced by Scottish educator A.S. Neill, Allan held progressive views about education, views that often found their way into her books, particularly her school stories. She was interested in folk dance and ballet - another common subject in her work - and was a frequent traveler. She died in 1998.

Reviews

[Rhona Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book the gang meet another gang who are determined to cause trouble and when after a scuffle Julius's guitar breaks they try to earn money over the Easter holidays to get it fixed. Bridget has an idea of a May Queen pageant but Paddy is feeling left out. Will all go according to plan? Fir confident readers age 8 plus.