The Last Academy

March 25, 2013
After a disastrous pool party ends 14-year-old Camden Fischer’s friendship with her best friend, she escapes to boarding school in California. Camden struggles to fit in with her new schoolmates, eventually settling into a few uneasy friendships. When one of her new friends disappears, Cam begins to doubt the official story on what happened. Readers familiar with Greek mythology should pick up on the clues about Lethe Academy that debut author Applegate drops like breadcrumbs through her story (unfortunately, the title is a bit of a spoiler, too). For readers who miss those hints, the story offers several horror movie–worthy moments of creepiness, which also serve to tip Applegate’s hand too early, sapping some of the suspense. The author gives Camden a believable ninth-grade voice; inventive turns of phrase lend her narration a fresh, informal quality that serves as a counterpoint to the eerie events that unfold. But most readers will likely be left wondering why it’s taking Camden so long to piece together what they figured out chapters ago. Ages 12–up. Agent: Eddie Gamarra, the Gotham Group.