First Term at Fernside

This is lovely. And rather more than the title and the cover might suggest. Yes, it’s about a girl’s school. And yes, there are hockey sticks. And adventures! But it’s not quite the warm and cuddly Malory Towers escapade it might appear to be.

In addition to the worries about getting onto the netball team, or fitting in, or being bullied, or trying to master the art of plaits, is an awareness of the outside (adult) world and the pain and confusion lurking there. A horse is mistreated by a cruel owner. One girl’s father died in the Great War. Another is on crutches following a bout of polio. And the adventure that brings everyone together at the end has a happy ending – of course – but also reveals more of a world stained by global conflict. It's a girls' school story* that respects the conventions but manages add a modern perspective that never feels forced or overly serious. A delicate balancing act that works beautifully.

It's also funny.
‘This is 1925, [announces a teacher]. There are women in parliament, women doctors – women can do all sorts of things. And girls, you’ll be able to vote when you’re older. Think of that!’

Lower fourth thought of it and were unmoved.

And charming. The characters are likeable, and individual – my favourite is Linnet, who simply cannot stop herself blurting out whatever’s on her mind, usually at the least appropriate moment. And the emotions – happy, sad, envious, disappointed - on display are all thoroughly, believably human.

In short, all the charm that made Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau such a delight is also on display here. Which is why I’m already looking forward to, and hoping for, Second Term at Fernside.

 

*(I should admit that my knowledge of girls’ school stories is limited to the first Malory Towers book, which I read as background for my own story about a boarding school. Other than that, I’m a complete innocent in the field.)