This is a useful fill-in, in the sense that it covers a term in the Chalet School saga in between 'Exile' and 'Goes To It'. Melanie is introduced as a bit of a rebel who has disliked the school for years, but it doesn't take long for her inevitable capitulation. The latter half of the book is about packing up to leave Guernsey, overlapping with the start of 'Goes To it'.

The setting is authentic and the writing is good. I'm glad I read it, but the characters are a tad flat, and some of the descriptions are a bit lengthy. Much of it feels as if it could have been EBD herself, but not all of it. I feel it's more intended for adults who have loved the series for years than as a new book for the original target audience (teens).

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-chalet-school-in-guernsey-by.ht... ( )