A page dedicated to an old friend ~ Gemma

A fictional girl who left a real imprint.

Gemma is a character from a much-loved children's book by Noel Streatfeild, first published in 1968. Born into a world of acting, theatre lights, and makeup mirrors, she suddenly finds herself in a quieter countryside life with relatives she doesn’t know, far from the life she thought she belonged to. Glamorous, bold, dramatic — and at times, difficult — Gemma learns to adjust, grow, and soften. But most of all, she remains uniquely herself.

She was one of Faith’s dearest childhood companions — not in real life, but in imagination. At the age of 11, Faith read Gemma and felt something stir. Here was a girl unlike others in the books she'd known. Gemma sparkled, but she also ached. She dazzled, but she didn’t always fit. That duality — of feeling both seen and unseen — stayed with the author for years.

Even now, decades later, Gemma lives on.

She lives in the pages of this website. In its colours, its boldness, its delicate edges. In the mix of stories and gemstones, of legacy and longing. She is not the only inspiration behind The House of Gemma, but she is one of the first.

The author never got to finish Gemma’s story as a child — the sequel couldn’t be found, and a certain motherly indifference left the search unfinished. So, in a way, this site finishes it. Gemma continues here. Not just in memory, but in spirit. She is stitched into the digital fabric of this place. And perhaps, in the heart of a future reader or visitor, she will be born anew.

The Gemma series

Gemma (1968) Book #1
Gemma and Sisters (1968) Book #2
Gemma Alone (1969) Book #3
Good-bye Gemma (1969) Book #4

Gemma (1968)

Gemma is a typical rich kid – with a difference. She’s also a Hollywood film star, or was, until she got too old for the child parts. Now, with her mother about to take on a big new film herself, Gemma’s been forced to leave Hollywood for the delights of provincial Headstone!

Gemma is not at all pleased at having to stay with her ordinary cousins in an ordinary little house. How dull, after her glamorous life in Hollywood! But there is something that concerns her much more than just ordinariness – she’s terrified of attending the large comprehensive school where her cousins go. What will the other pupils think of a star who isn’t being offered parts any more? Determined not to be pitied, Gemma changes her surname so she won’t be recognised – but then she’s fed up because she’s just a nobody! And her mother’s new film looks like it’s going to last about five years; Gemma can’t be a nobody for five years! She takes matters into her own hands…

Gemma and Sisters (1968)

Gemma, once a child film-star in Hollywood, is living with her cousins in a small provincial town. Having thought that she would find it a terrible backwater, she now finds that her cousins are much more talented than she is!

There’s tremendous excitement in the Robinson household. Gemma and her cousins have put together an act using all their talents, and they’re an instant hit! Everyone wants to see Gemma & Sisters. Robin, the younger brother, has swirled some new tunes, and his friend Nigs is on the drums. Ann sings solo and Lydia, the show-off of the family, is thrilled to be able to dance in front of an audience again. Gemma is a sensation on the banjo, but she has an awful feeling of foreboding. Then one day disaster strikes. Lydia, in a stupid moment of revenge, has an accident and badly injures her hip. It looks like the end for Gemma & Sisters; but much more important: will Lydia ever dance or even walk again?

Gemma Alone (1969)

It looks as though success might be going to Gemma’s head. She’s played the lead in the school pageant, and was the organiser of the successful group, Gemma & Sisters. Now she’s off to drama school. What’s going to happen next?

Gemma is really looking forward to going to drama school. For the first time since she arrived to live with her cousins she can be herself – Gemma Bow, the child film-star. And before she’s had a chance even to settle in there comes the chance of the lead in the local pantomime! Gemma is delighted – until her mother phones from America, forbidding her to take it.

Gemma is furious, and sulks for weeks. Then by chance she meets Charles Rooke, who offers her the lead in his new TV series. Things suddenly start to look up again – and even more so when a record producer is very interested in Gemma & Sisters, the singing and dancing act. Life’s all roses for Gemma – or is it?

Good-bye Gemma (1969)

Gemma goes from strength to strength at the drama school, but while she’s so taken up with her own life, unexpected things are happening at home and in Hollywood. Her well-planned future looks as though it’s about to be turned upside down.

Everything is going marvellously for Gemma until her mother’s announcement. She’s coming home from Hollywood and Gemma will have to go to London to live with her. But how can Gemma leave Headstone when she’s about to star in Romeo & Juliet? She can’t just walk out on the play – or on her wonderful co-star.

And what about her cousins? All three of them have changed so much since Gemma’s first appearance in their family, and Gemma has changed too from the poor little rich girl she was. Now that it’s time to leave, she realises how much she’s grown up; but she hadn’t expected to become so attached to her “ordinary” family…

About the Author

Noel Streatfeild - born on Christmas Eve 1895 - the middle child between two sisters, trained at RADA and acted for nine years before writing Ballet Shoes, an instant bestseller, in 1936. As vicarage daughter, factory girl, actress, model, social worker, writer, and crusader for good books, Noel touched many aspects of life. Her experiences enriched her stories, which were so popular that, by her eightieth birthday, she had earned herself the title of “a national monument”. She was awarded the Carnegie Gold Medal in 1939, and received the Order of the British Empire in 1983. She died in 1986 - 11th September - at the age of 90.

Notes

The book, A Vicarage Family, published in 1963, is mainly autobiographical of Streatfeild's life. Also available on the Kindle.

The biography by Angela Bull - Noel Streatfeild: A Biography - published in 1984, is a valuable source about the author.

In order to share the decriptions of each of the Gemma books, their 'blurbs' are presented here.

The following website provided further insight of Noel Streatfeild's life - https://www.whitegauntlet.com.au/noelstreatfeild/Life.htm (Accessed: 9th June 2025).

Forthcoming, the accompanying short story collection by Faith McCord.