“The Bagthorpe Saga” by Helen Cresswell

Earlier this summer I read the first seven books of the Bagthorpe Saga by Helen Cresswell.  The fictional Bagthorpe family consists of four children, three being genii who collect “strings to their bows”, and the fourth child being “Ordinary Jack”.  Their father is a television writer, and their mother is an advice columnist.  The paternal grandparents and the family dog, Zero, reside in “Unicorn House” as well.  Other essential characters include Uncle Parker, Aunt Celia, and cousin Daisy who live just down the road, and Mrs. Fosdyke, housekeeper/cook for the Bagthorpes.

Throughout this series, the Bagthorpes become contest winners, television stars, and self-sufficient survivalists.  Grandma is arrested at a Bingo hall, Daisy does countless amounts of damage to the Bagthorpe residence, and the entire clan spends a memorable summer ghost-hunting in Wales.  They endure strange visits from extended family members, including Great-Aunt Lucy, who doesn’t believe in “time”.

This series has been the most enjoyable reading experience I have had in a long time.  Although young adults are the target reading audience, the clever antics and witty conversations of the Bagthorpe family welcome adult readers as well.

The Bagthorpe Saga:
1. Ordinary Jack
2. Absolute Zero
3. Bagthorpes Unlimited
4. Bagthorpes v. the World
5. Bagthorpes Abroad
6. Bagthorpes Haunted
7. Bagthorpes Liberated
8. The Bagthorpe Triangle
9. Bagthorpes Besieged
10. Bagthorpes Battered

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