Was the story of this book realistic? Why or Why not? Were there parts of the book you found hard to believe? Which or Why not?

I really like this book. There is nothing unrealistic about it. The characters are solid with much depth. The characters all reacted within the context of the situation. Nothing was out of step with what a New England private school might have been like in the 1940's. The characters stay relatively static. There are no offensive epiphanies on the last few pages nor does the author significantly change mood or tone.