When Margaret Thursday lands a role as a child actress at a well-known London theatre, becoming famous almost overnight, news of her success reaches her bitter enemy, the matron of her old orphanage.

Margaret knows that Matron is set on revenge, but she keeps her head held high, focusing on the play. But Matron's evil plans are well prepared, and Margaret is going to need her wits about her - and the help of her friends - if she is to escape unharmed...

I have always loved Noel Streatfeild's books and as a child I got my library to ILL them for me or hunted through second hand book stores to find all of them. She tells the perfect "girls stories". I was always able to find one character in each book that was my favorite. They definitely stand up to re-reads. ( )

Set at the start of the 20th century, there’s a realistic backdrop to this story with horse-drawn carriages, pea-souper smogs, and a strongly demarcated class system. It's a sequel to 'Thursday's Child' which introduces the intrepid Margaret Thursday, but can be read as a stand-alone.

I often find that Streatfeild’s books end a bit abruptly after the resolution of a dramatic climax, and this is no exception. Indeed, it’s not a long book at all; just over 125 page in paperback, I read it in a little over an hour.

Definitely recommended if you’ve read ‘Thursday’s Child’, or are a fan of Noel Streatfeild, although it’s not one of my favourites. The writing is good and the social history aspect - as well as the insights into the theatre of the era - adds some general interest that might make it appeal to boys as well as girls.

Fluent readers of about eight or nine would be most likely to enjoy this, although it was originally intended for children of about ten to fourteen.

I would give three-and-a-half stars if I could. ( )

Continues the story of Margaret Thursday, an orphan who is searching to find where she came from. ( )