WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL BY THE SEA - Jenny Colgan
The First School By The Sea Novel
William Morrow
ISBN: 9780063141711
ISBN 10: 006314171X
March 29, 2022
Fiction

Cornwall, UK - Present Day

Maggie Adair is starting a new job at a prestigious boarding school in Cornwall. Since graduating, she has taught at the inner city Glasgow school that she had attended. Maggie wants to spread her wings, away from her parents, away from her boyfriend, Stan, and just see what it's like elsewhere. There is no way she'd want to stay away from home forever, but one has to see what the rest of the world is like. With her interview behind her, an acceptance letter in hand, Maggie begins her adventure at Downey House.

Living and teaching at a school for all girls is a big step for Maggie. With her background in a city school where keeping the students' attention, and settling squabbles were high in her daily routine, having a mostly attentive class is a bit of a shock. But Maggie is quick to discover the potential trouble-makers. New "best" friends, Alice and Felicity (Fliss), have decided to target scholarship student, and a daughter of immigrants, Simone. Poor Simone, chubby, extremely shy, and yet obviously brilliant, retreats into her shell, eating the food her mother keeps sending her, and avoiding any confrontations. Maggie takes her under her wing, lending her books, and trying to draw her out of her avoidance behavior. 

Maggie also has to adjust to having an immediate supervisor, Miss Starling, who clearly hints to Maggie that she's not up to Miss Starling's standards. And the Headteacher, Dr. Deveral, who initially interviewed Maggie, and has taken a chance on this young Scottish teacher, who intimidates Maggie with her calm, cool demeanor. But soon, Maggie begins to settle into the school routine, although she misses Stan, who thinks Maggie has no business leaving her roots to teach in a place so far away. 

WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL BY THE SEA is the first book in Jenny Colgan's new series, and it's a delight. Readers are introduced to each character at the beginning of the novel, who they are, their reasons for being delighted, or hating the idea of Downey House, and what their hopes are for the future. Maggie's inner city upbringing is questioned by both the Headteacher, Miss Starling, and the students, who will test her along the way. How she handles all that is thrown at her is humorous, poignant, and enlightening. 

Jani Brooks