Five on Finniston Farm facts for kids
Original 1960 first edition cover
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| Author | Enid Blyton |
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| Illustrator | Eileen A. Soper |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Famous Five series |
| Genre | Mystery, Adventure novel |
| Publisher | Hodder & Stoughton |
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Publication date
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1960 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
| Preceded by | Five Get into a Fix |
| Followed by | Five Go to Demon's Rocks |
Five on Finniston Farm is an exciting adventure book. It is the eighteenth novel in the Famous Five series by the famous author Enid Blyton. This book was first published in 1960. It tells the story of Julian, Dick, Anne, George, and their dog Timmy, as they uncover a hidden secret at an old farm.
Contents
The Adventure Begins at Finniston Farm
The Famous Five decide to spend their summer holidays at Finniston Farm. They are paying guests there. When they arrive, they meet Mrs Philpot, who is very kind. They also meet her identical twins, Henry and Harriet. At first, the twins do not seem to like the Five very much.
The children also meet two other guests. These are an American man named Mr Henning and his son, Junior. Mr Henning wants to buy old things from the farm. He plans to sell them in America. Mr and Mrs Philpot agree to sell their old treasures. They need the money for the farm. However, the family's Great Granddad is very hot-tempered. He believes the old items should stay in England.
Dealing with Difficult Guests
Mr Henning and Junior are not very polite. They often order Mrs Philpot around. The Five feel sorry for Mrs Philpot. They offer to help her with chores around the farm.
One day, Junior demands breakfast in bed. George decides to teach him a lesson. She makes him agree to be more pleasant. After this, the twins, Henry and Harriet, start to like the Famous Five. They all become good friends.
Searching for Hidden Treasure
Anne and George visit an old shop nearby. It belongs to a man named Mr Finniston. He tells them an exciting secret. There is a hidden passage from Finniston Castle. This passage leads to an old chapel and cellars. He thinks royal treasure might be hidden there!
The girls are very excited. They tell the boys and the twins the news. Together, they make a plan. They will search for the secret cellars on the farm. They soon find the castle's old kitchen midden. This is a pile of ancient rubbish. They realize they are very close to finding the treasure.
A Race Against Time
Junior spies on the children. He quickly tells his father the news. Mr Henning and his friend, Mr Durleston, decide to dig up the castle site. They want to find the treasure and sell it in America. Mr and Mrs Philpot agree to the digging. This makes the children very upset.
The children start digging around the site too. They hope to find the treasure before the men do. At first, they do not have any luck. But the twins' dog, Snippet, and their jackdaw, Nosey, help them. They lead the children to a burrow. The secret passage stretches out beneath it!
The Discovery and the Outcome
The children finally discover the cellars and the treasure! But then, the entrance to the tunnel caves in. They become trapped inside. Luckily, they find another way out. They reach a trapdoor under the old chapel. This chapel is now used as a storehouse.
The farmhands, Bill and Jamie, hear their shouts. They let the children out. The children rush back to the farm. They tell their amazing story to the adults. Everyone is astonished!
Protecting the Treasure
The next day, Mr Henning and Mr Durleston try to trick the Philpots. They say the site has no treasure. They offer a very small amount of money for it. However, Mr Philpot refuses their offer. His granddad and Mr Finniston support him. Mr Philpot makes it clear that they will dig up the site themselves. He also tells the Americans that they are no longer welcome to stay.
The adventure ends with Julian, Dick, Anne, George, and Timmy planning to stay at the farm. They want to watch the treasure being dug up. It is a truly exciting end to their holiday!
See also
In Spanish: Los Cinco en la granja Finniston para niños
