Stories for School Girls ON the whole the school girl
of fiction -is becoming a more natural person ; she is not continually fighting flames, falling down precipices, or leaping in one-term from top. to _bottom of the school. But she still cheats, and is either preposterously jealous or over-heroic.
Perhaps the best book of the year• for quite-young girls is Miss Josephine Elder's Thomasina Taft (Chambers. 2s. 6d.). Thomasina is rather a delightful character, who speaks and behaves quite naturally and has a pleasant disposition : this is high praise for -a school girl of fiction. Miss Dorothea Moore, another writer whose characterization can always be depended upon, has written Seraphina Di Goes to School (R.T.S. 2s. 6d.). Her. book will delight those who are tired of the stereotyped school story, for Seraphina does not reach her destination until the last chapter, and her, adventures on the journey are very exciting indeed.
This year we have two stories about Princesses, who go to boarding school : one is Miss Elinor Brent Dyer's Princess of the Chalet School (Chambers, 3s. 6d.), and the other is Brenda of Beech House (Nisbet, 3s. 6d.), by Miss Dorothea Moore. Both these little princesses win great popularity and have the most unroyal adventures.
Another excellent story for little girls is Miss Ann Macdonald's Dorty Speaking (Chambers. 2s. -6d:). Dorty relates her school adventures in her own words, and the story of her first term at school makes very pleasant reading. Philippa's• Family (Nisbet, 3s. 6d.), by . Miss Christine Chaundler, is an original 'story about a girl who simply could not do her homework because of the noise in the rowdy family school room. This book will be sure to appeal to day girls who suffer in a similar manner.
Most of the books that have been written for girls of from twelve to fifteen years of age are rather disappointing, but .4 Thrilling Term at Janeways (Nelson, 5s.), by Miss E. M. Brent-Dyer, is a notable exception. This is a thoroughly satisfactory school story ; it is clever, amusing, and really well written. In it, the author has allowed us to become acquainted with.two sets of twins, Melody and Harmony, the daughters of an organist,- and Philomela and Philomena, whose father is an artist. Every reader will wish to meet these delightful children in real life. The same thing cannot be said of the girls
in Miss Christine Chaundler's other toiume, Reforming the Fourth (Ward, Lock. 5s.). It is hard to understand why any author 'should have created such'a very unpleasant and unnatural set of children.
Averil's Ambition (Nisbet, 5s.),. by. Miss Kathleen Wilcox, is a pleasantly written story about a girl who longs to become a famous author, but this too is spoiled by the introduction of an uncongenial villainess. Managing Jane (Oxford Univer- sity Press, 3s. 6d.), by Miss Violet Bradby, Crosswinds Farm (Chambers, 2s.), by Miss E. E. Cowper, and Biddy the Fugitive (Chambers, 3s. 6d.) by Miss Natalie Joan, arc three quite-good adventure books with unusual settings. • • Among the best of the books for older girls is The Handsome Hardcastles (Nisbet, 3s. 6d.), by Miss E. M. Channon. It tells of the adventureg of the plain seventh daughter of -a beautiful family. The heroine is very small, but she is determined to manage the affairs of her elders, and this she does very amusingly. Miss Channon's position among writers for girls is only rivalled by Miss Dorita Faitlie 'Bruce; who has written another of her famous " Dimsie books " in her usual eharining manner. Dimsie Goes Baik (Oxford- University Press, 5s.) is quite as good as any of its predecessors. Miss
Angela Brazil's ever appreciative public will not be dis- ._ , appointed in Ruth of St. Ronan's (Mackie, 6s.), for Ruth joins a winter sports party in Switzerland, becomes a member of "the Brighter School Society," and has adventures all day long.
Molly in the West (Blabkie, 5s.), by Miss Bessie Marchant, might be described . as a. " schoolgirl novel," since Molly's adventures end in an engagement. Jan at the Island School (Nelson, 2s. 6d.), by Miss Ethel Talbot, is another good book, and this popular author has also published a collection- of short stories, Twenty-Six Ethel Talbot Stories for Girls (R.T.S. 3s. t3d.).
Rooni (Chambers, 8s. 6d.), by Miss May Baldwin, is, perhaps, the most ambitious and -original book for girls of the year. In it the author attempts to dispel the insular prejudices that are fostered in so many English schools.- The story of Rooni at the cosmopolitan school at Nice is well written, and should be popular among older girls.
B. E. T.
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