Reviews

• Elfrida Vipont had 4 daughters and was a headmistress. This is definitely a 'girls' book'. It continues the story of Kit, the adolescent heroine of the earlier 'Lark In The Morn', as she develops her talent, emerges into adulthood, and finds both her true love and her place in life. The situations and sentiments are at times old-fashioned to a modern ear, it's a very middle-class book, set firmly in the context of cultured and deep-rooted English family life, and the relentlessly sensible Quaker outlook feels wholly admirable but a little over-idealised if you are not part of that tradition. However Vipont's tale is as much of a classic as 'Little Women' - and less moralising - or 'The Secret Garden'. It's well-written and its themes still resonate with girls the world over - popularity issues, difficult parenting, family support, finding one's 'true self', and romantic love. It beautifully conveys the angst of a shy person with a 'hidden talent' and the intensity of her feelings for her musical vocation. Nowadays it is generally more suited to a younger readership than when it was first published (today's young urbanised adults mostly much less 'sheltered' than the young people in the book!). But it would still appeal to the less sophisticated or more introverted teenager, being far more about emotional development than external action or adventure. Highly recommended for fluent readers in the 11-13 age group.

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