After Autumn Term didn't entirely live up to my expectations, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect from this, but I found I much preferred this. I enjoyed getting to know the characters more, both existing characters and a few new faces, and agree with the general consensus that the characterisation in this series is excellent. I admit I didn't enjoy the half-term section as much, and I would have liked for the elder Marlow sisters to have been more present, although I suppose for that I'll have to read some of the non-school books. I definitely am looking forward to reading more in this series. ( )

The fourth entry in Antonia Forest's ten-book series devoted to the Marlow family, which alternates between school-stories and holiday adventures, End of Term is only the second to be set at Kingscote, and follows Lawrie and Nicola Marlow through the autumn term of their second year away at boarding school. The twins have moved up in the world, after being relegated to the somewhat ignominious Third Remove in Autumn Term, and are now a part of Lower IV A. Lawrie, whose passion for the theater has not abated, is looking forward to participating in the Christmas pageant, while Nicola, widely considered one of the best players in her form, hopes to be made captain of the junior netball team. Both sisters find their high expectations dashed however, when Lawrie is assigned to the "Crowd" in the play, and Nicola doesn't even make the netball team.

Many things have changed, since the twins' first term at Kingscote. To begin with, there are fewer Marlows attending, with eldest sister Karen off at Oxford, and Rowan training to be the manager at Trennels, the family estate inherited by Captain Marlow in Falconer's Lure. Loyalties have shifted, with Lawrie and Tim withdrawing into their own special friendship, and Nicola growing closer to Miranda West, and newcomer Esther Frewen. Forest is a master at mapping the complex relations between girls, whether sisters or friends, and her subtle depiction of changing patterns of alliance - those almost unconscious evolutions from friendship to not-quite-friendship, or from hostility to affection - is very well done indeed.

I also appreciated some of the discussion of religion, particularly the scenes in which the Jewish Miranda confronts her classmates regarding the Christmas play, wondering at their lack of spiritual involvement, or pointing out that all the original "characters" in the Nativity story were Jewish. Less appealing, I thought, were some of the discussions between Patrick Merrick and Nicola, regarding England's troubled sectarian history. I was all in Patrick's corner, as he spoke of seeing English history differently than most, always mindful, as a Catholic, of the torture and oppression brought to bear upon those of his faith. But when Nicola makes mention of Catholic atrocities, of people being burned at the stake, and is met with the offhand comment, "that was what you did with heretics then," I lost all respect for his position, and for Forest, who seems to have been arguing through him. I understand that she was a convert to Catholicism, later in life, so perhaps this explains her rather lopsided argument.

Leaving that one scene aside, I found End of Term entertaining, emotionally engaging, and intellectually involving. I'm excited to continue with the series, and glad that I didn't skip the non-school-story installments, as they added to my understanding of and appreciation for the story. ( )

Nicola and Lawrie start a new year at Kingscote, making new friends and facing disappointments in activities they had been looking forward the most. ( )

http://www.lonelymountain.net/books/apr06.html#forestm ( )