A Bunch of Cherries: A Story of Cherry Court School

"A Bunch of Cherries: A Story of Cherry Court School" by L. T. Meade is a novel written in the late 19th century. This story revolves around the lives of young girls at Cherry Court School, particularly focusing on the protagonist, Kitty Sharston, as she navigates challenges and friendships in her educational environment. Central to the narrative is the upcoming Cherry Feast and the competition for a prestigious scholarship that serves as a pivotal moment for Kitty and her peers. At the start of the novel, the reader is introduced to Cherry Court School, an old-fashioned institution run by the beloved Mrs. Clavering, nestled within beautiful cherry gardens that the girls eagerly anticipate celebrating during the annual Cherry Feast. As the opening unfolds, we meet Kitty, who is grappling with emotional turmoil after receiving news of her father's impending departure to India and the uncertainty of her own future education due to financial troubles. The chapter creatively sets up the camaraderie and rivalries among the girls while foreshadowing the competitive spirit surrounding the scholarship that could secure Kitty’s future at the school. The stakes are raised as Kitty’s determined spirit clashes with her struggles, laying the groundwork for the exciting events to come. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Smith (1844–1914), writing under the pseudonym L. T. Meade, was a prolific writer of girls' stories. She was born in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland, daughter of Rev. R. T. Meade, of Nohoval, County Cork. She later moved to London, where she married Alfred Toulmin Smith in September 1879.