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A review by onthesamepage
Five on a Treasure Island by Enid Blyton
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I grew up with this series and others by Enid Blyton, and always really enjoyed my reading experience. I was curious to see what I'd think of them as an adult, and I'm honestly surprised how much I ended up enjoying this.
Does it hold up on reread?
For the most part, I'd say yes. It's definitely dated, both in the language and the way gender expectations are handled. George doesn't want to be considered a girl because she likes to do the things that boys like to do. George definitely looks down on Anne, who is sometimes referred to as a baby because she's more scared than the rest. But there are also moments where Blyton pushes back against this, by making it known that Dick used to cry too when George states that boys never cry. However, the story itself is still a fun adventure, with tight pacing and a nice group of characters, and the kind of writing that makes it very easy to read.
Does it hold up on reread?
For the most part, I'd say yes. It's definitely dated, both in the language and the way gender expectations are handled. George doesn't want to be considered a girl because she likes to do the things that boys like to do. George definitely looks down on Anne, who is sometimes referred to as a baby because she's more scared than the rest. But there are also moments where Blyton pushes back against this, by making it known that Dick used to cry too when George states that boys never cry. However, the story itself is still a fun adventure, with tight pacing and a nice group of characters, and the kind of writing that makes it very easy to read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty