The Secret Place

How does social class shape both self-perception and social interactions, both for detectives Antoinette and Stephen and for the girls at St. Kilda’s?

What broader arguments does the novel make about conformity and adolescent culture? How do the girls in Joanne’s and Holly’s groups struggle against the confines of what is considered normal or acceptable for girls of their age?

Research the other novels in this series. How do characters like Holly, who also make an appearance in previous books, grow and develop from installment to installment?