by Eva Ibbotson
ages: 10+
First sentence: “I don’t think you ought to be crying at your age.”

This was a great sick day read (even though it took me two, since that’s the way my life ran this weekend). Light, fun, and terribly cute (with dark overtones), it was the perfect thing for my addled brain to handle. (I’m also feeling slightly uninspired as I write; my brain isn’t quite un-addled just yet.)

It’s 1939 London, and Tally is happy living with her two aunts and her father. Except the prospect of war is looming, and her father is concerned for her safety, so he sends Tally away to Delderton, a boarding school in the west of England. Tally doesn’t want to go, but once there, finds it an absolute heaven. Teachers that engage the students (rather than lecture), a loving, nurturing environment, and, of course, bosom friends. Then a letter comes inviting Delderton to a folk dance festival in the country of Bergania, and Tally basically bullies everyone into going. There, they meet the crown prince, and become involved in saving his life after the assassination of his father.

It goes on from there, but that’s basically the major plot points. I suppose some would say that she glossed over the war (it kind of just happens), but I don’t think this is a war book; rather, it’s more about friendship and duty and class and choosing one’s own path than adventure and romance (though there is adventure; romance is pretty understated). Ibbotson’s writing drew me into the book and held me there (even though I did the pickup-putdown dance quite a bit); I thoroughly enjoyed the alternate world, as well as the delightful characters, that she created.

I think I’m going to stop there. For more coherent thoughts (and why I picked the book up in the first place), read Fuse’s review. Or, just go read the book. It really is quite lovely.