ABANDONED. Book for children 10-14-ish, already published early 90s, about a girl called Beryl, northern England, her family. Brushed their teeth using coal dust!

[Jane]

Hello all,

This has been driving me mad for a while and I wondered if anyone here might be able to help. When I was 10/12-ish (say 1989-1992), I loved a series of books and it's driving me crazy that I can't remember the name/author or identify them at all!

It's made harder by me not remembering that much, but if any of this rings a bell with anyone, I would be absolutely thrilled!!

So... they were about a young girl (in England - north?) whose name - I think - was Beryl. They were in the Johnny Briggs mould, long-suffering younger sibling plagued by older brothers and sisters etc. I think they were set quite a while ago (40s? 50s?) although I was reading them about 20-25 years ago. I don't know when they were published, but they certainly were in existence by 1989/1990 or so.

The only concrete thing that really sticks in my memory is that they brushed their teeth using coal dust (I think this must date the stories or at least the setting quite a lot). They were probably about the same reading level as the William books by Richmal Crompton or Johnny Briggs (I can't think of any other examples, sorry to harp on about JB!) - i.e. novels for older children, but not actually young adult books.

I know it's a bit of a long-shot with such limited recollections as these, but if anyone recognises the sound of these books, I'd be so grateful!

Thanks in advance!

Jane

[Tab]

Jane, do you remember anything about the plots of the books? Were the children young sleuths? Did they go on adventures? Were there any magical or science fiction elements in the books?

[Jane]

Thanks for your reply! I can't remember anything specific about the plots, the stories were mainly about everyday things that happened at home/school. I think in one story they went on a daytrip. There were definitely no magical or science fiction or sleuthing elements. Sorry my description is so vague, I just can't remember anything further!

[She]

bump

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Jane, are you still looking for this?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

No response in 2+ years. Moving to Abandoned.