Like private schools back on Earth, the Crater School is primarily the preserve of the upper and middle classes. But the hinterlands of Mars are very rural. Farming the Red Planet is hard, and families rely on their children to help with the work. What, then, is a farming family to do with a girl like Mary Ellen who seems interested only in books, and who asks questions that her teachers are hard-pressed to answer?

 

Then, one day, a chance event changes Mary Ellen’s life. A famous author on a research trip visits her farm and spots her talent. An offer is made, a fully-paid scholarship to the famous Crater School. It seems like a dream come true. But dreams can easily turn into nightmares.

Publication date: Jun 20, 2024
You can find buy links at the book’s Wizard’s Tower Press page.

Mary Ellen, Craterean! is the latest installment in the Crater School series, and it does not disappoint with its excellent prose and page-turning story. It’s been said elsewhere Brenchley’s romps at a girls’ boarding school on Imperial Mars are comparable to the Chalet School books of Elinor M. Brent-Dyer. I haven’t read those, but now I want to!

Mary Ellen is mainly told from the point of view of, well, Mary Ellen, a 14-yr-old literary prodigy from a farm family full of strapping boys that has little to spare for the enrichment their surprisingly intellectual daughter. But she’s discovered by a bestselling authoress, who sponsors her to the Crater School. Once there, the adventures begin, because of course she’s adopted by the infamous Crew, who are experts at getting into spectacular trouble for all the best reasons.

Unfortunately, Mary Ellen falls sick, and while recovering discovers a secret that could destroy her career before it’s even begun. Should she do the right thing and lose everything? Or remain silent only to profit from fraud? What’s a stalwart Martian girl and honest Craterean to do when faced by a decision like that?

And will we ever find out just exactly what’s going on with former Head Girl Rowany, who was rejected by Oxford? Or was she? Maybe we’ll find out in the next book!