Gemma Alone by Noel Streatfeild was first published in 1969 and it’s the first in a series of four.

Gemma has gone to live with her cousins as her mother is an actress and is working in America. Gemma has done quite a lot of work as a child actress herself in the past, but she’s determined to make the transition to adult acting, something that doesn’t often happen.

She’s at a drama school, along with some of her cousins who want to be dancers, singers or composers. When Gemma is offered a part in a pantomime she’s thrilled to bits, but her mother isn’t so happy about it, it’s a come-down as far as she is concerned. Gemma is furious and refuses to speak to anyone when she is told that she can’t take the part, she thinks that any stage work is better than nothing.

This was quite an enjoyable read but I can imagine that it would be very popular with youngsters who are star-struck or stage-struck. I don’t think I will go out of my way to get any more of the series though.

This does let young people know that they should be able to follow their own dreams rather than do things to please their parents who might have a very different future mapped out for their offspring.