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In Felicity Learns a Lesson: A School Story, Valerie Tripp continues the journey of Felicity Merriman, a spirited girl growing up in colonial Williamsburg just before the American Revolution. This installment of the American Girls series centers on Felicity’s experience attending Dame School, where she is expected to learn the refined accomplishments deemed appropriate for young ladies, including penmanship, curtsying, and social etiquette. The narrative explores the tension between societal expectations for young women and Felicity’s innate desire for independence and justice, positioning her once again as a girl ahead of her time.
The story begins with Felicity reluctantly joining her peers at school, a place governed by rigid rules and the insistence on ladylike behavior. Felicity’s resistance to conformity is evident from the start, not out of defiance but from a sense of honesty and fairness that guides her throughout the novel. Her discomfort grows when she witnesses how class distinctions shape behavior and expectations, particularly in how her friend Elizabeth and others react to Ben, the apprentice Felicity has secretly been helping. These early scenes introduce the novel’s central conflict: the struggle between following expected norms and standing up for one’s beliefs.
Tripp uses Felicity’s classroom experiences to draw a subtle portrait of the colonial social order. Through the structured lessons and enforced civility of the Dame School, readers see how young girls were trained to become polite, obedient wives and daughters, their lives dictated by the customs of their time. Yet Felicity’s character embodies a quiet rebellion against that mold. She finds the restrictions stifling and is disillusioned when she realizes that learning for girls is not about curiosity or personal growth but about maintaining appearances and preparing for a predetermined role.
A pivotal moment occurs when Felicity is caught between the expectations of her teacher and classmates and her loyalty to Ben and what she believes is right. This internal conflict deepens the emotional complexity of the narrative, giving readers insight into how personal convictions are formed in childhood. Felicity’s decision to speak the truth, even at the risk of losing favor with her peers or facing punishment, is an act of moral courage. It demonstrates that real learning does not only happen through textbooks or penmanship practice, but also through making difficult choices and understanding consequences.
Tripp’s prose remains accessible and clear, designed to resonate with young readers while introducing them to the larger themes of social justice, personal integrity, and the early stirrings of revolution. Through Felicity’s perspective, we see how the values of liberty and fairness, soon to ignite a nation, begin taking root even in the quiet rebellion of a young girl questioning her place in the world. Her character is a reflection of broader historical shifts, illustrating how the personal is always political, especially in a time of national upheaval.
What gives this story enduring strength is not only Felicity’s spirit but also the way Tripp invites readers to consider the nature of education and what it means to be truly civilized. The novel critiques a superficial form of refinement that values manners over morality, offering instead a model of a girl whose education is not just about learning letters but about shaping character. By the end of the story, Felicity’s development is clear—not in her improved handwriting, but in her greater sense of self and the world around her.
In Felicity Learns a Lesson: A School Story, Valerie Tripp blends historical detail with compelling personal narrative to create a coming-of-age tale that remains relevant. It captures the formative tension between obedience and authenticity, showing that true lessons often lie beyond the classroom. Felicity’s journey reaffirms that courage and conscience, not conformity, are the cornerstones of a meaningful education.