The Ivies

April 26, 2021
Every year, the best colleges admit only a few graduates each from prestigious Massachusetts boarding school Claflin Academy. White scholarship student Olivia Winters lacks the means and connections of other Claflin seniors, which is why she joined the Ivies—a group of five girls, three white, one Black, and one Korean American, all willing to sabotage their peers to help one another secure Ivy League acceptance. Per a rule established by founder and Harvard hopeful Avery Montfort, no two Ivies can target the same institution from the consortium of eight. But the true extent of the clique’s cutthroat nature is exposed when fellow Ivy and purported Brown applicant Emma Russo gets accepted early decision to Harvard, and Avery is rejected. Shortly thereafter, someone murders Emma. Budding journalist Olivia resolves to discover the culprit—not least because Avery will eventually discover that supposed Penn applicant Olivia also received a Harvard acceptance. Quick pacing, dark humor, and deftly drawn characters distinguish this satirical thriller from Donne (The Stars We Steal). Myriad twists and Olivia’s keen detective work propel the mystery to a cynical, gratifying close. Ages 14–up. Agent: Elana Roth Parker, Laura Dail Literary.