Sugar and Spice

by Mary Wright

Molly and Pixie hate each other, and will be glad to see the back of one another when Pixie is sent to a posh Melbourne high school, and Molly remains behind to work on the land. However, their parents have different plans: it's the 20th century now and Molly's parents wish her to go on to high school, and Pixie's parents know that sending her to Melbourne will make her even more spoiled. They hatch a plan for the girls to go and live with Pixie's grandmother - together - and go to the local high school in Willsford - also together!

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Raquel Curvacheiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today, while reading "Honeymoon" by Banana Yoshimoto, I came to a part where they spoke of kangaroos. Suddenly, like a flashback a long time waiting to emerge, it came to my mind this book that I've read and reread several times in my childhood. The story of two girls who hate each other and that are the antithesis of each other (one is poor and tomboy, the other a "rich girl"), that having been sent by their parents to a school away from home, are forced to develop a kind of alliance that will result in a beautiful friendship.

And, you ask, why did you remember this book when reading about kangaroos? Because, before leaving for school, the "rich girl" has to free an orphaned kangaroo of which she took care and treated after finding it injured and abandoned ...

I'm really feeling like revisiting this part of my childhood ...



Hoje, ao ler o "Lua de Mel" de Banana Yoshimoto, cheguei a uma parte em que falavam de cangurus. De repente, como num flashback à muito à espera de surgir, veio-me à memória este livro lido e relido variadas vezes na minha infância. A história de duas jovens que se odeiam e que são a antítese uma da outra (uma é pobre e maria-rapaz, a outra uma "menina bem") que, sendo enviadas pelos pais para um colégio longe de casa, vêm-se obrigadas a elaborar um tipo de aliança que dará lugar a uma bela amizade.

E, perguntam vocês, porque é que te lembraste do livro ao ler sobre cangurus? Porque, antes de partir para o colégio, a "menina bem" tem de soltar um canguru orfão do qual tomou conta e tratou após o encontrar ferido e abandonado...

Está mesmo a apetecer-me revisitar esta parte da minha infância...

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book of one of my favourite Aussie kids' shows. Arch-enemies Pixie and Molly graduate their rural primary school and are glad to finally be seeing the back of each other... until their parents decide to send them to the same high school AND have them board TOGETHER at Pixie's grandma's! Is it any wonder I adored Wicked so much when this is one of my most beloved, most read books? :D

[Bec · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming story of two girls who are enemies and find themselves leaving to a bigger town together to start high school. I really enjoyed this book although at times the storytelling felt a bit clunky especially towards the end.

[Luan On · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two thirds of the way through the pace starts to slow down when the girls join the Girl Guides and learn to get along with each other, as well as other classmates. It was more interesting when they were enemies, cooking up schemes to get out of living with Pixie's grandmother. Once everyone befriends each other the tone becomes magnamanious and a little boring.