Drina is growing up fast. She is now fifteen, and in the stage of transition between the schoolgirl who lives for lessons at the Dominick School and the young woman with a growing interest in people, places, and things of beauty.
From page 103 of the Hodder and Stoughton hardcover edition:
The door did not open, and, unbidden, the memory of Queen and Christine came to her. There had been a huge key in the lock. She remembered it now, and maybe they had seen her enter and had had the sudden plan of making her a prisoner. With her safely out of the way Christine would play Jane...
"Oh, how silly!" Drina said aloud. "That would be like a bad book. They just wouldn't."
But common-sense told her that Christine would.
The mean girls in these books typically do not resort to the dirty tricks of the Stratemeyer rivals. In this case, they finally do, and the author has Drina say that it is "like a bad book." I found that remark to be hilarious.
Drina's first friend, Jenny, is going through hard times. Her family had to sell their home, and Jenny is going to school to learn office skills. She will be entering the work force soon and is quite bitter about it. Jenny is also around young women who wear heavy makeup and use rough language. Their ways are rubbing off on Jenny. This has caused Drina and Jenny's relationship to falter, and the best friends are having trouble finding a common ground.
From page 127 of the Hodder and Stoughton hardcover edition:
...suddenly Jenny burst out:
"I know I've been awful! But that dreadful hard shell is beginning to hem me in. Oh, Drina, don't let it! If I lose you then all my old life has gone. You've always been like a sister and I do love you. Don't drift away."
In addition to Drina's struggles with Jenny, she is for the first time discontent at the Dominick School because of her feelings for Grant. Drina misses Grant and thinks of him all the time. I found all of this to be very compelling reading.
This is an excellent book.
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