Maryfield Academy

by Carla Tomaso

When Sally Hamington - the toughest English teacher at a prestigious girls' academy - is accused of paedophilia, the entire school is turned upside down. New principal Helen Blalock, Dean of Students Sister Rose James and rival English teacher Angela Martin all have something to Angela is a lesbian; Sister Rose has a fetish for Internet bondage sites; and Helen is a nymphomaniac. With dark humour and an offbeat, risque subject matter, Maryfield Academy offers seductive, surprising prose in the comedic vein of such authors as Muriel Spark, Fay Weldon and Mavis Gallant.

Genres: Queer

131 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Carla Tomaso writes deliciously disturbing fiction that explores complicated relationships between women. Her insightful stories of mothers, daughters, and lesbian lovers are told with dark and quirky humor. Tomaso holds a master’s degree in creative writing from Boston University and has written plays, screenplays, novels, and short stories. She teaches English in Pasadena, California where she lives with her long-time partner, Mary Hayden, a psychologist in private practice. They have a beloved dog and a ferocious new cat.

Reviews

[Maureen Grigsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little novel about a scandal at a an all girls Catholic high school. One of the teachers has been accused of touching a student. Is it true? Is the accusation from a student or one of the faculty? Nice suspense.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun romp through the personal lives of the women & students of a Catholic high school. Sally Hamington, the most hated and feared of the teachers, is accused of pedophilia and anonymously threated. In the course of the investigation, everyone's sordid secrets are laid bare. A fun, more than a little trashy read. Apparently the author is turning it into a screenplay, which would be fun.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never like to give up on a book, however this was a struggle to finish. The plot rather limped along.