Oxenham Non-Connectors facts for kids

Dustjacket from Dorothy's Dilemma

Have you ever heard of Elsie J. Oxenham? She was a famous author who wrote many books, especially for young readers. Most of her stories are part of a big series called the Abbey Series, where characters grow up and appear in many books.

But Elsie J. Oxenham also wrote some books that don't connect to the Abbey Series or to each other. These are called Non-Connectors. Think of them as stand-alone adventures! There are four main groups of these "Non-Connectors," and we'll explore them below. They are listed in the best order to read them, which isn't always the order they were first published.

The Deb Series: School Life and Friendships

The Deb Series follows a girl named Deb through her school years. It's all about friendships, crushes, and learning important lessons.

Deb at School was first a story in a magazine. It's about Deb, a new student at St. Margaret's School in Sussex. She really looks up to an older girl named Chloe. But Chloe isn't always the best role model and lets Deb down. Luckily, Deb is forgiving, and Chloe learns from her mistakes.

In Deb of Sea House, Deb is older and has younger students who look up to her. She learns from the head girl, Selina, that being admired can be a good thing if you use your influence wisely. This book shows how important it is to be a good example.

Deb Leads the Dormitory was published much later, after Elsie J. Oxenham had passed away. In this book, Deb becomes a dormitory prefect. She has to help Chloe's young cousin, Claudia, who joins the school without knowing about Chloe's past troubles.

The Jinty Series: From Highlands to School

The Jinty Series tells the story of Jinty, a girl from the Scottish Highlands, as she adjusts to school life in London.

The first book, The Tuckshop Girl, introduces Jinty. She has a rough start at her new school but has good intentions. Prue, the "tuckshop girl," helps Jinty fit in. Later books focus more on Jinty herself.

Elsie J. Oxenham probably wrote more Jinty books because publishers wanted more schoolgirl stories. The Reformation of Jinty and Jinty's Patrol came out when Oxenham was also writing about her Abbey Series characters as adults. But publishers wanted books for younger readers.

A Divided Patrol was also published after the author's lifetime, giving a nice ending to Jinty's story.

The Scottish Sequence: Adventures in Scotland and Beyond

This series features different characters and locations, mostly in Scotland, but also in Switzerland and England. The connections between the books are a bit loose, with characters appearing in different stories.

Many of these books are set in beautiful Scottish locations. For example, Goblin Island is set on a fictional loch, like Loch Lomond. Princess in Tatters might be set near Loch Fyne. A Holiday Queen and Schoolgirls and Scouts are set near Loch Long.

Not all books are in Scotland. Twins of Castle Charming takes place mostly in Switzerland. Finding Her Family starts in Ealing, England, and moves to Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

While there isn't one main character in all six books, some characters do pop up in a few stories. Jill Colquhoun from Goblin Island appears in Twins of Castle Charming and Schoolgirls and Scouts. Eilidh, the "Princess," also shows up in Schoolgirls and Scouts and Twins of Castle Charming. These connections make it fun to spot familiar faces!

Isolated Titles: Unique Stories and Settings

These are stand-alone books that don't belong to any series. They offer unique stories in various settings, many of which Elsie J. Oxenham loved to write about.

Dustjacket from At School with the Roundheads

Some of these isolated stories are set in Wales, which was a favorite vacation spot for Elsie J. Oxenham's family. These include Conquest of Christina, Girls of Gwynfa, and Sylvia of Sarn.

Other books take readers to different places. Rosaly's New School is set in Goathland, Yorkshire. At School with the Roundheads takes place in a fictional town called 'Redburn', which is a mix of Saltburn and Redcar. Expelled from School is set in Switzerland, and Dorothy's Dilemma is in Sussex. Both Switzerland and Sussex were places Oxenham often used in her stories.

These "Non-Connectors" show Elsie J. Oxenham's wide range as a writer, creating many different worlds and characters for young readers to enjoy!