Malory Towers Question

[Katharine]

Does anyone have a modern version of the first Malory Towers book they could check something for me?

As you may have seen from the 'annoyed' thread, my daughter took a school quiz yesterday and got a question wrong. I checked with the school today, and it definitely asked how many brothers and sisters does Sally Hope have, and the answer clearly states 'none'. The head teacher is going to mention it to whoever needs to know about this error, however I've just been struck by a thought. My daughter read my 1970s paperback version, and I wondered if for some reason the modern version has been updated and changed to remove any reference to her sister.

[Daisy]

I can't think that it would have been altered - baby Daphne is crucial to the story.

[Katharine]

That's my thinking Daisy, but nothing would surprise me with some of the ridiculous edits that have taken place over the years!

As I said elsewhere, in my daughter's case it didn't affect the outcome, she wouldn't have scored enough to get through to the next round anyway, however it's possible that a child in another school might have been incorrectly marked and so missed out on a place in the next stage.

It's such an annoying mistake, because it is an important part of the book.

[Julie2owlsdene]

I have new versions of these books, Katharine, and on page 90, Sally says and I quote:-

"I haven't got a baby sister! I'm the only one. Mother and I have been everything to each other because Daddy has had to be away such a lot. I haven't got a baby sister!

Maybe whoever set the question hasn't read all of the book Katharine. As Sally does have a baby sister! But Sally didn't want to admit it at first being jealous.

[Katharine]

Yes, I did wonder that Julie, my other thought was that the answer on the sheet was 'none'. Did someone actually mean to put 'one' and accidentally add an 'n'?

[Carlotta King]

I've only got one copy of this book but I've not got it here with me at home, but its a 1990 Dean copy and baby Daphne is definitely in it, I definitely know that.

[joanne_chan]

I have new versions of these books, Katharine, and on page 90, Sally says and I quote:-

"I haven't got a baby sister! I'm the only one. Mother and I have been everything to each other because Daddy has had to be away such a lot. I haven't got a baby sister!

Maybe whoever set the question hasn't read all of the book Katharine. As Sally does have a baby sister! But Sally didn't want to admit it at first being jealous.

That's what my 1987 W H Smiths first four omnibus copy has and is identical to the first book in the Dean's 1991 "Malory Towers" omnibus.

[Fiona1986]

As others have said, Daphne is pretty crucial to the story! I've compared every word from the third impression (1948, Methuen) with a 2000 paperback by Egmont and Sally definitely has a baby sister no matter how much she denies it.