I received an email this morning from Sarah Ebner, who writes The Times (London)'s Education blog, pointing me to her latest post, which lists her favourite boarding school books/series.
I'm taking the night train to Singapore tonight and will be reading End of Term by Antonia Forest in my bunk - it's my all-time favourite boading school book.
Of course I love ALL Forest's books, but this is my favourite of the four set in boarding school (Kingscote School). In this one, the Marlow sisters have just returned to school after the summer holidays, during which there were lots of developments including the family moving from London to stay in an inherited farm in the country; Nicola making friends with Patrick Merrick (the boy-next-door); and Rowan deciding to chuck school and run the farm, Trennels (all this is in Falconer's Lure, a non-school book about the Marlow family).
As it's the Christmas term at Kingscote, everyone is involved in some way or other with the Christmas play, which, unlike past terms, will be held at the cathedral. Naturally, there's a part Laurie would sell her soul to have. Nicola is, in the meantime, asked to sing a solo, while Tim is denied the chance to boss everyone around since it's a big production not a student effort unlike their first term's The Prince and the Pauper, which she adapted, produced and directed.
In this book Tim is more Laurie's friend than Nicola's. Laurie is being her self-absorbed, whiny self which gets on Nick's nerves. She leaves Tim to humour Laurie and becomes friendly with Miranda West, a brilliant and articulate classmate whose sense of humour and attitude to life matches Nicola's much better than anyone else's.
I really enjoy the descriptions of rehearsals for the play and the play itself - the interaction between students, and students and staff; the chaotic atmosphere at the cathedral during rehearsals; the harebrained schemes; the pettiness; the kindness of friends; and the casual, thoughtless cruelty that comes with apathy.
There are also a couple of conversations about religion (Christianity) that are hilarious thanks to Laurie's utter ignorance and the adults' incredulous and outraged responses. I love those scenes and sometimes just re-read those when I want a laugh.
I also like the chapter that describes Nicola and Patrick's ride, at half-term, across the downs to Wade Abbas (the cathedral city where the play will be performed). The ride back at night is very thrilling, what with Patrick reciting bits from the Lykewake Dirge (spooky!) and Browning's How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix - a very good poem to gallop to!
Can't wait to revisit End of Term on my train ride tonight!
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