The Devil and Mary Ann

Mary Ann is still eight in the third installment of the Mary Ann series, but surprisingly, I enjoyed her and her eight year old sassy self still. In this one, Mary Ann must live up to her end of a bargain with Mr. Lord and she must head off to a convent to become educated. So the fiesty, highstrung Mary Ann is now surrounded by devout, prude nuns. Those who know Mary Ann from her previous novels know this cannot last!! Sure enough, poor Mary Ann gets one bad "mark" after another, ends in one mishap after another, and even finds another "Sarah Flannegen" to fight with. It is only a matter of time before she escapes and races off to her home and her beloved ma and da and brother, Michael. But things at home are not all peachy and she doesn't get the welcome she expects. Mr. Lord is upset. Her ma is afraid her da is having an affair. Her evil granny puts her two cents in and the hated Sarah Flannegen is smug and full of attitude at Mary Ann's fall from grace. A surprise addition is made in this story with the mysterious Tony that comes to work on the farm.. He has a secret connection to Mr. Lord. This new character may have a drastic effect on the farm, on Mary Ann, and her family. Nevertheless, after escaping from a convent, what is next for Mary Ann??

Catherine Cooksons' insight into the young people of her time is awe inspiring. I fell in love with Mary Ann and her benefactor the gruff Mr Lord and how through her, good things were happening for her 'Da' Her friend Mrs Flannagan is a wealth of advice which Mary Ann takes to heart. Too bad her grannie is such a dreadful person to her and her 'Da' but whatever happens Mary Ann comes through it with flying colours