Book Guide

Fifteen-year-old Joan was the only one of the Mitchell children to be allowed free access to Mother's room after twin brothers were born that winter in Montreal. She had made friends with the stiffly starched nurse, straight-laced Miss Thorpe. Altogether there were now four boys and four girls in the family and Miss Thorpe thought that altogether too many!

It wasn't surprising that Timmy, Angela, Patsy, and Peter, feeling somewhat resentful of Joan, excluded her from the wonderful hideaway they had made for themselves to escape the vigilant eye of Miss Thorpe. (Three-year-old Catherine was already completely dominated and besides was too young to be trusted not to tell. Mother discovered their secret and promised to keep it—even from Daddy—so their privacy was assured.)

It was a real haven, but gradually the friendly children began asking a chosen guest or two to share it—until even Miss Thorpe, well thawed, was invited!

This is the same irrepressible American family, transplanted to Canada, and a little older and more numerous, that charmed the readers of The Mitchells and Canadian Summer. Here again they go their light-hearted way, gathering in friends both old and new, helping one another in trouble and joy, and more fun than ever now that there are ten of them.

From the dust jacket

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Hilda Van Stockum

Hilda Van Stockum

1908 - 2006
Dutch American
A Dutch childhood, adventurous travel around the world with her naval officer father, art school in Dublin and Amsterdam, and finally, adulthood split... See more

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Friendly Gables Reprint

Friendly Gables
Reprinted in 1997 by Bethlehem Books
Available formats: Paperback, Ebook
View on the Bethlehem Books site
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Content Guide

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Resource Guide

Plumfield Moms Podcast
Podcast

Meet Hilda van Stockum's Son: John Tepper Marlin
Released in 2022 by Plumfield Moms Podcast
Available formats: Streaming Audio
Length: 42 min.
View on the Plumfield Moms Podcast site


Reviews

Plumfield and Paideia

The Mitchells: Canadian Summer & Friendly Gables
Reviewed by Sara Masarik
When Diane and I were preparing for our formal interview with Dr. John Tepper Marlin, son of Hilda van Stockum, he told us that people would often remark to his mother that she had “such interesting children.” Marlin said that his mother always chuckled at that remark because she thought that all children were interesting, but that most parents don’t listen much. Hilda was an astute observer of people, and children in particular. And John said that his mother was always listening to people, and afterward scribbling down detailed notes about their stories. All of her books were born out of overheard conversations, anecdotes from letters, and stories that people would tell her while with her.

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Kirkus Reviews

Friendly Gables
The six Mitchell children of Friendly Gables, Quebec, are suddenly thrust into a frenzy when mother Mitchell presents them...

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