For readers exploring deep friendships and growing up in changing times, this epistolary novel offers a tender, historical look at connection across distance.
A parent might reach for this book when their thoughtful teen is feeling the ache of a long-distance friendship or is beginning to question the path others expect them to follow. Told entirely through letters between three girls who meet at a 1970s English boarding school, the story follows Tirza, Sophia, and Polly as they navigate family pressures, class differences, and their own burgeoning dreams. It's a quiet, tender novel that champions the power of friendship to provide a lifeline during the confusing, lonely, and exciting moments of growing up. The historical setting offers a gentle lens through which to explore timeless themes of identity, loyalty, and finding your own voice.
Set in 1970s England, some cultural and historical references may be unfamiliar to modern readers.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with themes of classism, parental control, and mild mental health strain (loneliness, anxiety about the future) in a direct but gentle, secular way. The girls' experiences are presented as personal challenges they work through with each other's support. The resolution is hopeful and realistic: their friendship is solidified as the foundation for their future, even though their specific paths are not yet set in stone.
Ideal Reader
A thoughtful, introspective reader aged 12 to 15 who loves character-driven stories and historical settings. It's perfect for a teen who has recently moved or had a close friend move away, or one who is starting to feel the pressure of family expectations and is yearning for understanding from peers.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold. No specific preparation is needed. The 1970s English setting is self-contained and clear. A parent might be prepared to discuss the different societal expectations for women then versus now, particularly regarding education and careers. A parent notices their teen feeling isolated from their friends, or hears them say, "You just don't get it," when discussing their future. The child might be struggling with how to maintain friendships over distance or how to balance their own desires with their family's plans for them.
Age Experience
A younger reader (12-13) will likely connect most with the core story of friendship, the romance of letter-writing, and the relatable family dramas. An older teen (14-16) will appreciate the more nuanced social commentary on class, feminism, and the complex challenge of forging an independent identity separate from one's family.
What Makes It Special
The epistolary format is the key differentiator. It offers an incredibly intimate and authentic-feeling portrait of a teenage friendship, allowing the reader to feel like a confidante. Compared to other historical YA, its focus is quieter and more on the interior lives of the characters than on major historical events.
Read plot summary
Set in England in 1978, the novel follows three teenage girls, upper-class Tirza, middle-class Sophia, and working-class Polly, who form an intense bond at boarding school. When they are separated, they maintain their friendship through detailed letters. The narrative unfolds exclusively through their correspondence, revealing their struggles with parental expectations, societal roles for women, first romances, and their ambitions for art, university, and a life of their own choosing. The plot is character-driven, focusing on the emotional support and occasional conflicts that define their connection across distance.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The entire story is told through letters. How did this format affect your reading experience? Did you feel closer to the characters because you were reading their private thoughts to each other?
2
Polly, Sophia, and Tirza come from very different social and economic backgrounds. How do these differences shape their dreams for the future and the challenges they face from their families?
3
Tirza is very critical of Sophia's first boyfriend, which causes a rift between them. Why was Tirza so concerned, and do you think she handled the situation well? What makes it hard to give advice to a friend?
4
At the end of the book, none of the girls has a perfectly certain future. Why do you think Sally Nicholls chose to end the story this way, rather than showing what happens next?
5
Which of the three girls did you relate to the most, and why? Did your favorite character change as you read the book?
