This is an adventurous historical mystery built around Green Knowe’s layered past. Its strongest thread is the friendship between Susan and Jacob, alongside danger, hidden jewels, escape, fire and links between generations.
More about this book
From Wikipedia (emphasis mine): The Chimneys of Green Knowe was a commended runner up for the 1958 Carnegie Medal. **In the United States it was published within the calendar year by Harcourt, entitled The Treasure of Green Knowe.**
The Chimneys also features Tolly, who has returned to Green Knowe for the Easter holidays. As she mends a patchwork quilt, Mrs. Oldknow continues telling Tolly stories about the previous inhabitants of the house. This time, her stories concern Susan Oldknow, a blind girl who lived at Green Knowe during the English Regency, and the close bond of friendship that developed between her and a young black page, Jacob, brought back from the West Indies by Susan's father, Captain Oldknowe. The plot also concerns the whereabouts of the jewels of Maria Oldknowe, which may or may not have been stolen by the unscrupulous butler Caxton.
Susan, a blind girl, and Jacob, a Black boy brought from the West Indies, develop a close friendship and act with resourcefulness.FavourableFavourable: the book presents this theme approvingly or positively.Favourable: the book presents this theme approvingly or positively.
How the book presents it: The friendship is presented warmly and the two characters are described as admirable, intelligent and adventurous.
Talk about: How do Susan and Jacob’s different experiences shape the way they help one another?
Racism and historical power
Jacob is described as a former slave boy brought to Britain, where he encounters prejudice from some members of Susan’s family and the servants.CriticalCritical: the book challenges or disapproves of this theme.Critical: the book challenges or disapproves of this theme.
How the book presents it: The cited account says racist attitudes are treated with explicit authorial disapproval, while Jacob is portrayed as brave, loyal and resourceful.
Talk about: How clearly does the story distinguish its own values from the prejudices spoken or enacted by characters?
Uneven representation
A later depiction of gypsies is described as presenting them as stereotypical villains without the sympathy extended to Jacob.CriticalCritical: the book challenges or disapproves of this theme.Critical: the book challenges or disapproves of this theme.
How the book presents it: The reported contrast suggests the novel challenges some prejudice but reproduces another stereotyped representation.
Talk about: Why might the story offer understanding to Jacob but not to the gypsy characters?
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Why It May Be Worth Reading
It may prompt thoughtful discussion about friendship across difference, disability, enslavement and racism, while also offering imaginative links between past and present. The portrayal is not wholly consistent: Jacob receives sympathy, but gypsy characters are reportedly stereotyped.
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What Deserves Attention
Racist language and attitudes are present, including the N word, demeaning treatment of Jacob and a monkey costume. A later depiction of gypsies is described as stereotypical and lacking redeeming qualities.
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A Conversation Worth Having
How does the story invite readers to understand Jacob’s friendship with Susan, and does its treatment of other marginalised characters receive the same care? Notice whose viewpoint receives sympathy.
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Reading Approach
Consider reading alongside a child who may want to pause over racist language, enslavement and stereotypes. Discuss what the narrative appears to challenge, and separately what its imagery may still reproduce.
Confidence & Basis
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
What remains unconfirmed
Friendship across difference: The extracts do not establish how every aspect of Susan’s blindness or Jacob’s identity is handled throughout the novel.
Racism and historical power: The extracts do not provide the full wording, frequency or context of every racist incident.
Uneven representation: The extracts do not establish the characters’ names, narrative importance or the full ending’s context.
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