This book combines the trope of a new headmistress making changes with the building of a new boarding house, apparently constructed and filled remarkably quickly. Some of the girls don’t like the changes, and refuse even to set foot inside it, or to play its teams at sports. It’s mostly the older girls, which seems remarkably immature of them. And the younger girls all appear to love fagging for the older girls – really?! Also, some of the names are rather odd – Adair, Miff and even Winsome.
Having said all that, it does work pretty well. The characters are well drawn, and the story of the ongoing feuding and its development comes across quite convincingly even though it seems a bit pathetic that girls of 17 would make such a fuss about the new house. Of course, in the end everyone makes up and the school becomes united. Not bad. And I found this copy very cheap on Amazon, so I’m rather chuffed about that!
setinthepast 