What Katy Did at School by Susan Coolidge

By Al R. Young

In What Katy Did at School by Susan Coolidge, Dr. Carr, Katy's father, wishes Katy and Clover to have some of the freedom and educational opportunities of other young women; so in the second Katy installment they are hustled off to an Eastern boarding school. The girls, now well into their teens, try to be model students, but there are many delightful temptations for "black marks" -- generally concocted by their mischievous friend, Rosamund Redding (Rose Red), the most popular girl at "Hillsover."

The Victorian era girl's school is palpably real in this tale of room decorating, improvement societies, dress-fittings, Christmas boxes, and Independence Day candy-shop orders. All is not ease and charm, however, and in addition to homesickess, Katy has fresh trials when she is unjustly accused and punished for a serious offense; serious, at least, in a Victorian boarding school.

This is a delightful romp that will help any school year fly by a bit more quickly.