The Academy

Gr 6–9—High school sophomore Frankie Brooks cares about fashion more than anything else in her suburban New England existence. She has made some bad choices prior to the opening of the narrative; the book begins with Frankie's parents telling her that she will be attending "The Academy" for the second semester of the year. She goes, determined to hate it, and slowly changes her mind and sees the value of the disciplined education The Academy provides. Along the way she makes friends and falls in love. The story is complete in itself, but the unresolved ending leaves room for a sequel. With a comfortingly predictable story line, this title will appeal to middle schoolers who are interested in light romance. The well-crafted and diverse cast includes secondary queer characters and a deaf romantic lead. However, the author relies too heavily on telling rather than showing, so the evolution of Frankie's character does not always feel quite authentic. Frankie's first-person narrative nods to her awareness of her privilege sometimes ring a bit false. However, the right reader will find much to love here.