<p>“Black Ice” by Lorene Cary is a non-fiction account of a black teen who was one of the first women to attend SPS in the early 70’s. </p>
<p>Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld gives a more modern perception on boarding school life. However, I really hope it doesn’t give an accurate representation. If you read it, you’ll understand what I’m talking about. </p>
<p>Sorry to say it swimmergirl, but I thought Prep was pretty accurate. I also didn’t think boarding school itself was portrayed in an entirely negative light. Lee’s approach to the experience was a big part of the problem. Prep was Sittenfeld’s first book, but as her later books have shown, somewhat unlikable protagonists are a speciality of hers.</p>
<p>Black Ice is a wonderful book. And I agree about Dead Poets - friendlydad said the exact same thing yesterday!</p>
<p>Don’t know if “Veronica” was in the Mallory Towers series (she isn’t listed in the Wikipedia entry). But that entry does remind me that Blyton also wrote the St. Clare’s series (again, no Veronica in the Wiki entry for that one, either).</p>
<p>And… does anyone remember “Down a Dark Hall” by Lois Duncan? Technically that takes place at a boarding school… <em>shiver - creeped me out as a young teen</em></p>
<p>Curtis Sittenfeld supposedly wrote Prep about her not-so-wonderful experience at Groton. Not everyone is going to be happy, remember that.</p>
<p>I found myself identifying a little too closely with Lee when I read Prep (with some very key differences). I still think boarding school was a valuable experience and the right choice for me, and obviously I felt positive enough to think it was the right place for my daughter. I don’t think Lee felt that boarding school was the wrong decision, despite her unhappiness there. Adolescence isn’t always the happiest time of life.</p>
<p>a british twist, To Serve Them All My Days, R.F. Delderfield; saw the DVD for the tv series on a B&N shelf just earlier today ~O) </p>
<p>The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks, The Magician’s Nephew, Prom and Prejudice </p>
<p>The new preppy handbook has a a long booklist of prep school and prep caste life. ;)</p>
<p>Twinsmama: Enid Blyton wrote two series about boarding schools - was it the St. Claire’s series or the Mallory Towers series?? I read them all as a little girl :)</p>