by Gail Godwin
First published 1986
Fourteen-year-old Justin Stokes arrives at a small hut by a pond that serves as an unconventional finishing school. Her instructor is Ursula DeVane, an eccentric woman who refuses to follow traditional rules. Under Ursula's guidance, Justin's drab teenage world explodes into vivid experiences she never imagined possible. The older woman teaches Justin about love and loyalty while pushing her to embrace change and personal growth. Justin discovers parts of herself she never knew existed as Ursula shows her new ways of seeing the world. But the intimate bond between teacher and student carries risks Justin cannot foresee. The finishing school's lessons come with a price. When betrayal strikes, it cuts deeper than Justin thought possible, threatening to destroy the friendship that has become central to her identity. The summer that promised to reshape Justin's life delivers on that promise, but not in ways she expected.
Genres: fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, mentor
Paperback · Non Renseigné