The Valley of Adventure

The Valley of Adventure by Enid Blyton is about four kids who live and breathe on a new adventure, which seems to follow them wherever they go! Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann and Jack are going for a night flight on Bill’s plane and soon find themselves on an amazing adventure !! Where is Bill?  Who are the two strange pilots, and what secret treasure is hidden in the lonely valley where the children land? A tale of excitement and thrill soon follows…

Adventure appears wherever Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann and Jack go – not forgetting Kiki the parrot, who’s never far behind! A must-read, this is the third book in the adventure series.

Summary

This story starts off with Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann and Jack getting excited for a night ride in Bill’s plane. As the children board the plane, waiting for their friend Bill’s arrival, they hear a gunshot and two strange men come aboard the flight. After a while, they conclude that they were on the wrong plane! Afraid, the four children sit there shaky and scared. trying not to make any sound. 

When the plane finally lands, they find themselves in the middle of a desolate and lush valley and decide to go about exploring. They need to know where they are so that they can get home, but where is home and who were those two strangers, friends or foes? 

These questions keep haunting them. The story then follows their survival instincts, while living in the face of danger. Day by day the reader finds out more and more about the two mysterious men and how they know Bill. Before they know it, they are caught up in another adventure again…

Review

‘The Valley of  Adventure ‘ is the third book in the adventure series by Enid Blyton and one of my personal favourites. This story follows the trail of four children and the way they are trapped in the valley. Enid Blyton has laid out the plot beautifully, from lush descriptions of the scenery to their survival strategies . to the mysterious men. It’s all there !!

To me, this book is one to read in one sitting. The way Enid has written this makes you get lost in the adventure. I had read this book a while ago, so when it came to writing this review, I had to re-read it and in doing so, I admit, I have fallen in love with it all over again. If you read my other reviews, you would have known that I am a big fan of mystery novels and this book has definitely satiated with its mystery element.

Another brilliant aspect about this novel is the way in which it keeps you guessing till the very end, which is what a well-written mystery novel should do to its readers !!

 Each child has a different and unique personality, yet when they work as a team, they are so synced, it’s fascinating reading about the way they ration foods or the risks they are willing to take at such a young age. To me, The Valley of Adventure is one of the first classics I’ve read.

Enid Blyton has created such a beautiful book I have enjoyed reading through and through. Even though I love all characters equally, Kiki the parrot is my personal favourite! Adding some very interesting comedy, and reading it play out is a real pleasure.

“It wasn’t very nice to be high up in the air, lost in darkness, in the wrong aeroplane with men that none of them had seen before.”

This is the type of book you can get lost in. I just love the way they are very frank with how they feel and that makes it funny. All the characters speak in less-modern English which adds to their personalities in general. Like Sherlock Holmes, you can tell a lot about their personality by just observing.

I recommend this book to readers between the ages of 9 and 13 in terms of interest range. This book belongs to a classic, mystery, children’s and fiction genre.

Overall, I give The Valley of Adventure a five out of five, for a brilliant read and possessing magic that enchants readers even to this day.

About the author

Edin Blyton was an English author who has written more than seven hundred books in her lifetime. She is considered to be one of the most illustrious and successful authors of all times! Her books which include ‘The Famous Five’, ‘The faraway Tree’ and ‘The Adventure Series’, has been translated into more than forty languages and have sold more than 400 million copies around the world. Enid’s stories of adventure, friendship and magic have continued to enchant children all over the world. Sadly, she died in 1968 from Alzheimer’s disease.