SOLVED. YA novel about Gemma who moves to an island to live with an Aunt. [s]

[Gemma]

I read this book approximately 1986-1988. I think there are three books in the series. Gemma moves to live with her aunt in a remote country place (I think an island off the British cost). Some of the book is about her settling in and adjusting to the new life she is experiencing. In one of the chapters they pick nettles (or some other weed) to cook it up to eat ( I think that the Aunt didn't have much money). I am not quite sure but Gemma may have had a brother who moved with her to the island, and they moved because their parents died)

[Tab]

What country were you in when you read this book?
Time period story takes place?
Remember the book cover?

[Mai]

Maybe the Gemma series by Noel Streatfeild?
The first one is Gemma.

[Llybel]

Not exactly the same but I have a book that use to be my mums (so right age) about a orphaned girl (Jemma sounds familiar) that is adopted by an older couple that like on an Island only accessible by boat.
part way through the novel the couples young grandson comes to stay. He has some condition that means he doesn't respond to anything, just sits staring into space.
After the girl puts up a bird feeder in the garden however he starts watching the birds and over the novel he starts responding and moving more.

[Gemma]

Mai wrote: "Maybe the Gemma series by Noel Streatfeild?
The first one is Gemma."

Unfortunately that is not the book

[Gemma]

Tab wrote: "What country were you in when you read this book?
Time period story takes place?
Remember the book cover?"

I was in Australia when I read it (borrowed from my primary school library in the 80's). I remember it as a contemporary novel so I would assume it could have been written in the 60's, 70's or 80's.

[Gemma]

Llybel wrote: "Not exactly the same but I have a book that use to be my mums (so right age) about a orphaned girl (Jemma sounds familiar) that is adopted by an older couple that like on an Island only accessible ..."

your description of the first paragraph seems to match. The second part about the young grandson doesn't sound familiar, but I don't remember much of the three books in the series. Just mainly the Aunt, Gemma, living on the island and her growing up and maybe going to live off the island for while when she is older (or visiting a brother or a relative off the island)

[Llybel]

Found the book I was thinking of. I don't think it is what you are looking for. The book was originally called 'Three of a kind' but was later renamed to Sally by Louise Dickinson Rich.

[Gemma]

Llybel wrote: "Found the book I was thinking of. I don't think it is what you are looking for. The book was originally called 'Three of a kind' but was later renamed to Sally by Louise Dickinson R..."

thank you for checking

[Gemma]

I found it :)
But I got the name of the book/character wrong: it is Emma not Gemma!

The 3 books by Honor Arundel are
The High House
Emma's Island
Emma in Love

https://www.goodreads.com/series/7251...

[Kris]

Glad you found your book series, Gemma. Here's the link for the first book - The High House by Honor Arundel.

[Gemma]

thank you