The Folk Of The Faraway Tree (1997) - Plot & Excerpts
Having this year read the first two in the series and dishing out five stars, I have to admit to myself that despite everything – the imagination, the perfect pacing, the innate sense of what will appeal to children – this series has not dated well, and that this book, the third in the series, has aged the worst.In the previous book cousin Dick came to stay – a greedy, hapless but lovable boy – my daughter enjoyed Dick's character more than the others. This time we have ‘Curious Connie’, a ‘spoilt only child’ who wears only pretty frocks and ribbons. Enid Blyton’s dismissal of such a girlie-girl borders on femme phobia, which might well be diagnosed after a wider consideration of her work – George from Famous Five in particular.The young reader is encouraged to laugh at Connie’s expense as she is first verbally abused by the Angry Pixie, then has her dress covered in ink, and is then washed off by Dame Washalot’s sudsy water. All of this might well have a comic effect, except there is for some reason a nasty edge:Mother says: “And don’t pout like that, Connie. I don’t like it. It makes you look really ugly.”As an adult reader I see that Connie is simply conforming to the expectations expected of her gender; the reason she is upset and ‘pouting’ is because she wants to wear a pretty dress. But Connie can’t win, because expressing regret on her face makes her look ‘ugly’, as if little girls are obligated to look amenable at all times.The ganging up and threats of harm against Connie continue throughout the story:“Now, if you don’t climb down pretty fast, I shall be treading on your fingers!” [Moon-face] said, and that made Connie squeal and climb down much more quickly than she had meant to.When the children arrive home: Mother wasn’t very pleased to see how dirty, ink-spotted and ragged Connie’s clothes were when she came back with the others.“I shan’t let you go with the others to the Faraway Tree again if you can’t keep yourself cleaner than this,” she said, crossly.Except none of the ink-staining and water-staining was Connie’s fault; remember when Dick got soaked? There was no subsequent scene of admonishment for Dick. Instead, it was pure slap-stick.Then there is the fact that Connie refuses to believe in stories she has heard about The Faraway Tree and Enchanted Wood. She is soon proved wrong as, one by one, she is introduced to Moon-Face, Silky et al, and the reader is encouraged to collude in ridicule; after all, we must have faith in stories that are told to us, no matter how ridiculous and far-fetched they may seem. This is a message implicit in various stories for children, including more recently The Polar Express, in which childhood is inherently magical, because children are magically gullible, and once we lose our ‘faith’ or our ‘belief’ in magic, we have lost childhood itself.This particular message -- all too common in children's literature -- really grates with me, because ours is not a religious family and a far better lesson for my own child is ‘Think for yourself’.So when Connie is mercilessly punished for failing to believe in magic and fairies, I feel a sense of injustice this time round. I mean, who would believe in fairies? Really?I don't know what to think of this book now, because I absolutely loved the entire series as a child. It is possible that while the pacing and the imagination and the setting of this book is wonderful, other aspects of it are simply not. But one cannot compensate for the other.
I was seven years old when I was shepherded into Mrs Hazard's class, deemed stupid and unwilling to learn by my teachers of the previous years. I had spent kindergarten a scared, confused child, who couldn't focus on the words on the board in front of me. Year One had been the same; why was everyone else reading and writing and I couldn't grasp it? But here was a gentle woman, who smiled down on us and said that we were going to read a story. I was bored. I knew I wouldn't be able to follow the words, but then she picked up a gorgeous picture book, and started reading. I was hooked.Around that same time, someone, and I've never been sure who, recommended my parents take me to get my eyes checked. Hallelujah! with those ugly frames I could see, and the dreaded words formed. Within weeks I was writing my own stories, magical stories about funny lands, and especially about animals. By the end of the year, I was no longer thought of as stupid, and school become this marvelous place where you could go and leave with your head full of things you'd never known before.Of course this book was a Faraway tree novel. Mrs Hazard had been using this book as a tool for years, and used it up until her retirement as far as I know. I'm sure I wasn't the only person enthralled by the Faraway Tree; it took me out of that classroom and into a world that didn't judge whether you were smart, only kind, goodhearted and polite. Years later I was asked to pick three different medias for an imaginative English elective. I choose a poem compulsory for the whole class, Kingdom Hearts, and this series. I spoke for ten minutes about how the imagination grows from an understanding of language; that the roots to the images in our heads is the understanding of that language. Every person, when hearing the sentence 'The Cat sat on the Mat', pictures a different cat, a different mat, according to their own understanding and interpretation. But the language is only the root, the trunk of the tree being the understanding of the roots, and the branches arching up as a reflection of those roots, stretching endlessly toward the sky and reaching ever upwards in understanding. I even spoke of the lands at the top of the tree, and how imaginative they are. Once again, The Faraway Tree helped me improve my grade and impress my teachers.So this series means a lot to me. Sure, some people see the racism and stereotypes in Enid's work. But go back, and ask that seven year old, and she will see none of these things. She sees magic and understanding. Enid was a turning point in my life, the thing that made me long to tell my own stories and have my own adventures. And there's nothing wrong with that.
What do You think about The Folk Of The Faraway Tree (1997)?
This is the third book in The Magic Faraway Tree trilogy. This series was my favourite when I was young and I was so excited to share it with my children for the first time, but not for the last. We will definitely read them all again.**Interviews with my 4 and 6 year old kids**Me: What did you think of the story?Mr 6: It was awesome and not a bit stupid. It was just awesome and no stupid at all.Miss 4: I like it.Me: Which bit did you like the best?Mr 6: I liked it when they saved the Faraway Tree.Miss 4: Um when they, when they, I don't know. I don't know Mum.Me: Who was your favourite character?Mr 6: Joe, Moonface and saucepan. And of course Whatsiname. What is Whatsiname's name? Actually, it's too hard to remember.Miss 4: SilkyMe: Which land would you like to go to?Mr 6: I would like to go to the land of get something for your Mummy. That wasn't in the book, but I would like to go to that land if it comes. Actually, I would like to go to that land where you buy things for other people so i could buy roses for you. *Kisses my forehead* I love you Mum.Miss 4: Land of the tree.
—Renee
(the folk of the faraway tree) is an amazing story , I had fun reading it because its really easy to read , for me , it's a really good book to teach the kids the right from the wrong, to teach them that bad habits have Consequences , friends are so important , because they are always there for you when you need them , going through hard experiences is really good , because you learn from them , and never do the same mistake you did in the first experience , actually the thing that made me buy it is its cover , when I first saw it I was sure that its really interesting ,and more , I read that its all about adventures , and when I started reading it , I was living it , feeling the scary parts , and the happy parts , and that's all I wanted to say about this book
—Zainab
This is one of my most favourite/cherished books of all time. My dad read this to me when he tucked me into bed. Fortunately my Dad is from England so I don't have the lousy American version. I couldn't find the cover of it on here! How sad! Anyway, this book is full of enchantment and wonders. It's about this village that exists in a tree and all of the weird creatures that live there. Some near by children befriend them and join them on their many adventures. I always thought that was the coolest thing ever to have an entire village up in a tree!!! If you ever get the chance to read this amazing book I suggest you do! You must keep in mind though, that this book is all about adventure and getting away from the world. So don't be expecting some hidden meaning or something. It's just a children's book that is for fun!!! No analyzing allowed!!!
—Aimi
