Alice-Miranda At School

Jacqueline Harvey (author)

Random House, Australia: 2010; 288pp

ISBN: 9781741664515

Genre: adventure

Issues: friendship, gifted, self-esteem, values

Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones, aged seven and one quarter years, has organised early entry for herself at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies.

Being, amongst other things, an extremely independent and strong-minded young girl, she is quite confident that she is ready for a larger school that offers so many interesting new people to meet. She is therefore surprised to find that the headmistress, Miss Grimm, hasn't been seen by anyone except her personal assistant for ten years. The school has none of the joy and beauty it did when Alice-Miranda's mother attended and a mysterious stranger is haunting the grounds.

Can Alice-Miranda, with her ‘anything's possible' attitude, restore the school's morale? Miss Grimm feels that her attempts are a threat to her authority and insists that Alice-Miranda must pass a series of stringent tests and challenges in order to stay at the school. Can the youngest student survive a five day orienteering and camping trip through the forest? Can she beat the biggest cheat in the school at solo sailing? It seems Alice-Miranda can do all this and more.

This is a delightful adventure by a talented writer. Set in the slightly unreal world of the incredibly wealthy, where money buys loyalty, success and influence, Alice-Miranda At School challenges readers to look beyond material possessions to healthier values such as friendship, loyalty, compassion and hope. Through the penetrating eyes of a young girl who holds a mirror up to others to show them their better selves, Harvey demonstrates that apparently stereotypical characters such as the grumpy cook and the bad-tempered student have undiscovered depths. We should all learn to look at the world with the curiosity and enthusiasm of Alice-Miranda - it would make the world a much better place.

Great to read aloud and will suit children who enjoy Pippi Longstocking. Highly recommended.