It is while she is looking down from her high-up window that she first sees Simon, the new science teacher, and it is (of course) love at first sight. Their relationship develops, kept secret from the rest of the school.

This is another wonderful and moving book from Adele Geras, which touches gently on the themes of love, friendship and jealousy. Set in the very early sixties, after the post-war years and before the Beatles, there is a curious mixture of old-fashioned innoncence and the beginnings of rock'n'roll. Although it is a retelling of the old fairy story, it is strong enough to stand alone - suffice to say that the first couple of times I read it, I didn't even realize that it had anything to do with Rapunzel! All the characters are very well-portrayed, and Geras negotiates the difficulties of modernising such an unrealistic tale admirably. It makes one realise that however old you are, there is nothing quite so satisfying as a beautifully told fairy story.


Definitely not her best...   December 9, 2002
 1 out of 3 found this review helpful

Out of all the books Adele Geras has written I think this series is her weakest. It is, by and large, a 'teenage romance', but probably at the better end if you like that sort of thing.The plot is predictable and has none of the intriguing twists of some of her other works, 'Troy' being one of the best known. I think it began with a good idea but just didn't quite carry it off well enough to avoid becoming tacky.


An Excellent read, and I'm not just saying that.   July 11, 2001
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Megan, Bella and Alice share a tower-top room in a high class boarding school. Then someone invades her life. That someone, however,is the new lab assistant and science teacher. She falls in love with him and as we should all know, this is defying all morality. Adele Geras using a stunning technique of description to convery the intensity of Megan's feeling for her teacher, Simon. I recommend it. Top read.


A brilliant, serious and light read   April 16, 2001
 2 out of 4 found this review helpful

Bella, Alice and Megan all share the Tower Room. One day she looks down and see's Simons' gaze. They can not forget about each other that lightly so they arrange to meet every so often. Then the three most valuble words are said to Megan. Maybe you already know what these three words are. read on to find out.


An enthralling story about a girl who falls in love.   January 20, 2001
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is an enthralling story about a girl who is at an all-girls boarding school and falls in love with her science teacher. Unfortunately, her adoptive mother has also got her eye on him. Should she give up her friends, family and home for love??