Three Girls & a Secret

by René Guillot

Michele and Manuela have a secret 'home', a flat they have furnished in an empty house. Then their dog, Ajax, finds an abandoned baby. They share this secret with their friend Caroline, and between them they look after him at the flat - until the time comes when the house is to be demolished...

157 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

René Paul Guillot (1900-1969) was an author who lived, worked and traveled in French Africa and wrote primarily for children. His works have been translated to many languages and have been included in school required reading in many countries.

After studying science, René Guillot moved to Senegal to work as a teacher, spending over 20 years in Africa. Most of the material for his many books comes from this time.

In 1964, he received the "Hans Christian Andersen Award" for the novel, Fodai and the Leopard-Men. Three of his books have been adapted to film, while a live-action version of Little Dog Lost featuring a Welsh Corgi, was made for the "Disneyland" show and was broadcast in 1963.

Reviews

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the first books that I read. There weren't many books in my home, so when I found this one I was surprised. I enjoyed it a lot. The story is about three girls that take care of a baby orphan in an abandoned house.

[Estela Villella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno de los primeros libros que leí cuando era chica. Lo recordé siempre, me emocionó encontrarlo acá. Se trata de tres niñas que encuentran un bebé abandonado, y entre las tres se ocupan de él en una casa sin revelar su secreto. Es hermoso. 😍

[Louise Culmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two twelve year old girls, Manuela and Michele, have made themselves a secret hideaway in an abandoned flat in a building soon to be demolished. They love their secret home and work hard at making it look nice. Manuela has an Alsatian dog called Ajax who has the awkward habit (taught to him by a previous owner) of stealing handbags, which causes them some problems. But then they discover an apparently abandoned baby, and decide to take care of him themselves, helped by their older friend Caroline. A whimsical story which is fairly entertaining though I found it difficult to enter into the feelings of the three girls, since I had not the slightest interest in either housekeeping or babies when I was their age. And now find the idea of a baby in the hands of three inexperienced schoolgirls frankly very alarming. I do like the idea of the handbag stealing dog though.

[Andréa Lechner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me encantó leer este libro cuando era chica, aún viviendo en Buenos Aires. Sé que lo releí varias veces, fue tan genial comprar esos libros de la editorial Kapelusz y explorarlos a casi todos. Una joyita.

[Gonzalo Gossweiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

La primera novela que recuerdo haber leído por iniciativa propia. Está escrita en 1960 y para un niño de ahora es como leer una historia del siglo 19. La trama que ahora parece inconcebible antes era verosímil. El mundo era un lugar mucho más esforzado. Es una rareza, el reflejo de una época.

[Ariadna Tomeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

El primer libro "largo" que leí de chica. Amor puro ..

[ɢɪᴀ ʜᴇʀᴏɴᴅᴀʟᴇ.✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

la primera novela larga que lei de niña, es un libro hermoso, me encanta la amistad que tienen, super recomendado.

[Mariana Machado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermoso libro. Lo leí cuando era niña 😍

[olivia ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estoy releyendo la mayoría de los libros que leí cuando tenía ocho, nueve años y a este me lo DEVORÉ. Dios mío, no me acordaba que me gustaba tanto 😪

[Yay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es uno de los primeros libros que leí, si mal no recuerdo era de mi mamá y me lo pasó. Lo recuerdo con mucho cariño, en aquel momento me encantó!

[Oriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

es muy divertido y atrapante

[Dulce Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro me encanta me lo regalo mi abuelo y desde ese momento me agrado mucho.