Well, dialogue in The Enchanted Grove feels a lot more natural, even if some language is still old-fashioned. Which reminds me of another thing I remember bringing up way back when I reviewed Of Wheels and Witches: I remember saying I thought the language was quite stilted. It turns out that 1980s South Africa wasn’t so different from 1960s South Africa, except maybe in the language (and, ironically, I think we were a lot more racist in the 80s than we were in the 60s). something which no parent I know would ever in a million years allow their children to do in 2021 South Africa (pandemic notwithstanding it’s just way too dangerous). Or going out riding with my friends until well after sunset. And I remember returning empty glass Coke bottles to the shop for a deposit refund. I’ve never had to ask an operator to connect a phone call, but I’ve absolutely used a rotary phone, which was the successor to the old ones featured in this story. And although I was only born in 1980, I felt a wonderful sense of nostalgia. The Enchanted Grove takes place about a year after the events in the first book, during November-December 1965, in the (then) Natal Province of South Africa. This sequel has the same feel to it, but I think it’s much better, and I can’t wait to read even more about Janet, Jeffrey, and Catherine. When I reviewed Of Wheels and Witches several years ago, I noted that it reminded me very much of The Famous Five stories, and that I thought the author would do well to turn it into a series.
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