And both were young

In Short

After losing her mother, fifteen-year-old Philippa "Flip" Hunter is sent to a strict Swiss boarding school, where her awkwardness and homesickness make her an outcast. Her isolation breaks when she encounters Paul, a mysterious local boy harboring trauma from war-torn Europe. Supported by the school's perceptive art teacher, Madame Perceval, Flip discovers her confidence through skiing and drawing. The novel captures the clumsy pain of adolescence and the healing power of shared grief, remaining a enduring coming-of-age classic through its honest depiction of emotional resilience and teenage independence.

The Story

Philippa Hunter arrives at her Swiss boarding school feeling utterly discarded and trapped. Suffering from intense homesickness and struggling with the strict discipline imposed by the school's matrons, she finds herself isolated from her peers, who mock her gawky height and label her "Pill." Seeking escape from the dreary routine, Flip sneaks into the mountains behind the school grounds. There, she literally crashes into Paul, a reserved boy accompanied by a bulldog named Ariel.

Paul lives nearby with his father, Georges Laurens, and carries the heavy burden of forgotten childhood memories and fears about his past. Their secret meetings become a lifeline for both teenagers. As Flip confides her sorrow over her mother's death and her distance from her father, Paul finds in Flip a trustworthy companion who does not press him on the painful gaps in his memory.

Their sanctuary is protected by Madame Perceval, the school's art teacher, who turns out to be Paul’s aunt. Madame Perceval sees Flip's artistic talent and inner worth, encouraging her to overcome her self-pity and build physical and emotional strength. Under Paul's patient instruction, Flip learns to ski, gradually mastering the sport that once brought her only frustration.

Danger intrudes when a sinister stranger appears, claiming to be Paul's real father and threatening to tear him away from his life in Switzerland. To protect Paul from a trap, Flip bravely disguises herself in his clothes to retrieve a crucial photograph from the Chateau of Chillon. Her courage helps expose the impostor, freeing Paul from the shadow of his past and allowing him to fully accept his home.

By the time the winter ski meet arrives, Flip has transformed from a miserable, self-conscious outsider into a capable athlete. Surprising her classmates and teachers, she delivers a triumphant performance on the slopes. When her father arrives unexpectedly to watch her compete, Flip discovers that he and Madame Perceval have formed a deep connection of their own. Standing in the cold night air beside Paul, Flip realizes she is no longer a prisoner of her own misery, but free, capable, and surrounded by love.

How It Unfolds

The prisoner escapes Fleeing the cold walls of the Chateau of Chillon and the overwhelming environment of her new school, Flip runs blindly into the woods, where she stumbles directly into Paul and his aggressive bulldog, Ariel.

A secret sanctuary Flip struggles under the rigid rules of the school and the teasing of her roommates, but she finds solace in forbidden hikes up the mountain to meet Paul and practice drawing.

Uncovering the connection Caught breaking rules, Flip is brought to Madame Perceval, only to discover that the respected art teacher is Paul's aunt and is willing to mentor Flip rather than punish her.

Winter training Invited to spend the Christmas holidays with Paul and his father, Flip works tirelessly under Paul's direction to master skiing, gradually building self-reliance and shedding her chronic self-pity.

Confronting the stranger When a shady man attempts to claim Paul by exploiting his post-war memory loss, Flip bravely steps in, wearing Paul's clothes to help secure the proof needed to expose the fraud.

Triumph on the slopes Flip enters the school ski meet as an underdog, executing her runs with newfound skill and grace, winning the respect of her peers and validating her hard work.

Freedom achieved Reunited with her father, who has developed a romantic bond with Madame Perceval, Flip walks hand-in-hand with Paul into the ringing night, fully healed from her past loneliness.

The People

• Philippa "Flip" Hunter: A tall, grieving fifteen-year-old American girl who wants nothing more than to escape her Swiss boarding school and return to her father. Plagued by self-doubt and clumsy self-pity, she evolves into a courageous, skilled skier and artist who finds inner peace.
• Paul Laurens: A somber, guarded boy living in Switzerland, haunted by lost memories of his early childhood in war-torn Europe. He wants safety and certainty about his identity, which he gains through his bond with Flip and the exposure of a predatory stranger.
• Madame Colette Perceval: The compassionate and strict art teacher at the school, who is also Paul's aunt. She wants to guide Flip toward emotional maturity without showing favoritism, serving as a steady, wise mentor who eventually falls in love with Flip's father.
• Erna: Flip’s roommate who initially appears distant, but who struggles with her own family breakdown as her parents undergo a divorce. She seeks acceptance and validation, ultimately finding her passion in following her father's footsteps toward a career in medicine.
• Gloria: A superficial, gossip-loving student who drives much of the peer pressure in the dormitory, masking her own feelings of neglect from her parents with bravado and mocking nicknames.

In Its Own Voice

"Flip turned away from the dark, prisoning stones, and out into the sunlight that was as bright and as sudden as bugles."

Flip flees her touring group at the Chateau of Chillon, seeking immediate relief from her stifling surroundings.

"Flip felt that having your mother not love you would be the bitterest way of all to lose her."

Reflecting on her roommate Erna's family struggles, Flip compares her own grief with the pain of emotional rejection.

"She smiled because she felt so full of freedom, and she knew that the freedom was in Switzerland, just as the prison had been."

Sitting by the fire at the end of the winter term, Flip realizes her internal growth has freed her from her old anxieties.

What It's Really About

At its core, the novel examines the painful process of shedding self-pity to claim personal agency. Flip’s primary struggle is not merely the physical distance from her father or the harshness of school routine, but her internal insistence on seeing herself as a victim. The narrative argues that true freedom comes from within, requiring an individual to confront physical challenges, cultivate self-discipline, and open up to authentic relationships. It also deals quietly with the lingering psychological scars left on European youth in the aftermath of World War II, contrasting the trivial social anxieties of school life with deeper post-war displacement and loss.

Why Read It Today

This early work by Madeleine L'Engle offers a quiet, deeply felt exploration of adolescent vulnerability that feels remarkably honest. Readers who enjoy classic school stories will appreciate its atmospheric Alpine setting, vivid descriptions of mid-century Swiss winters, and realistic depiction of teenage camaraderie. The prose moves with crisp clarity, capturing both the sensory beauty of pine-scented mountains and the sharp sting of feeling left out.

While modern readers may notice period elements—such as the casual acceptance of strict school matrons, rigid foreign-language rules, and early post-war social assumptions—the novel's emotional core remains entirely fresh. It treats teenage grief, body self-consciousness, and identity struggles with serious respect, avoiding artificial drama in favor of authentic character growth. The quiet patience with which Flip learns to master her skis mirrors the patient work of growing up, making the story a reassuring, enduring comforting read for anyone who has ever felt out of place.