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Cover of THE ACADEMY
3.93

Based on 5,546 Goodreads ratings

THE ACADEMY

by Cunningham as co\u002Dauthor. As their delicious new book opens, it’s Move\u002DIn Day at Tiffin Academy, and Head of School Audre Robinson is warmly welcoming the returning and new students to the New England campus, the latter group including a rare midstream addition to the junior class. Brainiac Charley Hicks is transferring from public school in Maryland to a spot that opened up when one of the school’s most beloved students died by suicide the preceding year. She will be joining a large, diverse cast of adult and teenage characters—queen bees, jealous second\u002Dstringers, boozehounds young and old, secret lesbians, people chasing the wrong people chasing other wrong people—all of them royally screwed when an app called Zip Zap appears and starts blasting everyone’s secrets all over campus. How the heck…? Meanwhile, it seems so unlikely that Tiffin has jumped up to the No. 2 spot in the boarding\u002Dschool rankings that a high\u002Dprofile magazine launches an investigation, and even the head is worried that there may have been payola involved. The school has a reputation for being more social than academic, and this quality gets an exciting new exclamation point when the resident millionaire bad boy opens a high\u002Dstyle secret speakeasy for select juniors in a forgotten basement. It’s called Priorities. Exactly. One problem: Cinnamon Peters’ mysterious suicide hangs over the book in an odd way, especially since the note she left for her closest male friend is not to be opened for another year—and isn’t. This is surely a setup for a sequel, but it’s a bit frustrating here, and bobs sort of shallowly along amid the general high spirits."

Book Details

Publisher:Of
Published:2024-01-01
Pages:424
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9780316567

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This gripping YA thriller plunges readers into the cutthroat world of an elite boarding school where perfection is mandatory and secrets are deadly. When a new student arrives at the prestigious inst...

Our Review

This gripping YA thriller plunges readers into the cutthroat world of an elite boarding school where perfection is mandatory and secrets are deadly. When a new student arrives at the prestigious institution, they quickly discover that the manicured lawns and academic excellence hide a sinister underbelly of ruthless competition and dangerous traditions. The narrative masterfully builds tension as friendships prove treacherous and every achievement comes with a hidden cost.

What sets this boarding school drama apart is its sharp commentary on privilege and the immense pressure facing today's teens, wrapped in a propulsive mystery that will keep pages turning late into the night. Readers who devour stories about secret societies and academic intrigue will find themselves completely immersed in this unsettling world where the price of success might be one's very identity. The atmospheric setting and complex character dynamics create a compelling read that explores the dark side of ambition and belonging.

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