New York Times best-selling author Eva Ibbotson based much of this enthralling tale on her own experiences at boarding school. In The Dragonfly Pool, in 1939 Europe, Tally is apprehensive about attending Delderton, for she has many fears about boarding school. But Delderton proves to be a wonderful place after all, even allowing her to form her own dance troupe. She also makes fast friends with Karil, a crown prince. But then Karil's father is assassinated, and Tally vows to help her friend escape from the Nazis.