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A review by serendipitysbooks
All Girls by Emily Layden
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
All Girls is a novel set in a girls boarding school in Connecticut. The novel spans an academic year in which issues relating to a rape allegation by a former student against a staff member are always close to the surface.
I have something of a fascination with boarding schools so this novel ticked that box for me. The structure of the novel, where each section is tied to a major event on the school calendar, from Orientation and Initiation, through Fall Fest and Vespers, and ending with Senior Prank and Commencement, helped immerse me in the school world. Each section is told from the perspective of a different girl, which allows the author to explore the school experience of freshmen, seniors, and the years in between. This approach also allows the author to offer glimpses of many different aspects of school life - one girl runs, another plays hockey, one is on the school newspaper, some are popular, others outsiders - as well as touch on many issues faced by girls in their high school years. Plus of course the author can offer readers many different opinions of and reactions to the rape allegation. The downside of this approach - breadth vs depth if you will - is that readers don’t get to know any of the characters especially well nor see them change over the course of the school year.
I typically enjoy epistolary novels, and while this book isn’t one it does include an epistolary element at the end of each section - typically an email from the school administration relating to the rape allegations. I really enjoyed reading these since they cleverly highlighted the way the school was most concerned about its reputation and being seen to respond appropriately, rather than being honest, upfront, seriously examining its own culture, providing meaningful support, and actually taking all and any action to prevent any more sexual assaults.
While I enjoyed this book I was a little underwhelmed by the ending. The rape case wrapped up satisfactorily and the school year ended, but it is hard to say how much impact any of it had. The story seemed to peter out rather than leaving me with a big message or memorable scene. Possibly that was the point.
I have something of a fascination with boarding schools so this novel ticked that box for me. The structure of the novel, where each section is tied to a major event on the school calendar, from Orientation and Initiation, through Fall Fest and Vespers, and ending with Senior Prank and Commencement, helped immerse me in the school world. Each section is told from the perspective of a different girl, which allows the author to explore the school experience of freshmen, seniors, and the years in between. This approach also allows the author to offer glimpses of many different aspects of school life - one girl runs, another plays hockey, one is on the school newspaper, some are popular, others outsiders - as well as touch on many issues faced by girls in their high school years. Plus of course the author can offer readers many different opinions of and reactions to the rape allegation. The downside of this approach - breadth vs depth if you will - is that readers don’t get to know any of the characters especially well nor see them change over the course of the school year.
I typically enjoy epistolary novels, and while this book isn’t one it does include an epistolary element at the end of each section - typically an email from the school administration relating to the rape allegations. I really enjoyed reading these since they cleverly highlighted the way the school was most concerned about its reputation and being seen to respond appropriately, rather than being honest, upfront, seriously examining its own culture, providing meaningful support, and actually taking all and any action to prevent any more sexual assaults.
While I enjoyed this book I was a little underwhelmed by the ending. The rape case wrapped up satisfactorily and the school year ended, but it is hard to say how much impact any of it had. The story seemed to peter out rather than leaving me with a big message or memorable scene. Possibly that was the point.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Rape