Wacko Academy

Gr 5–8—Lily Mason is a typical teen whose eighth-grade year turns out to be anything but typical. Her adventure begins when a new student, Dustin, is in every one of her classes. At first she is skeptical about this intriguing and attractive boy, but eventually the two become friends. A few months later, Lily is flabbergasted as she awakens at Wackerson Academy, miles away from her friends and family, apparently kidnapped by her "friend." Now her life is consumed with a plethora of classes such as Japanese, dance, martial arts, and Poison 101. During boot camp, Lily begins to understand that several other classmates are also being held against their will, and that intense and horrific experiments are being performed on them. Can she escape this high-tech training prison, invisible to society, in time? This is a plot-driven story that includes romance, humor, and tough decisions. While the tale is compelling, the writing is weak. Bland descriptions and elementary word choice simplify an intriguing concept, and the characters remain underdeveloped and undefined. Overall, through the voice and authentic perspective of the 14-year-old author, readers are immersed in a world in which teens must take charge. Useful to inspire students, as an example of teen authorship.— Mary-Brook J. Townsend, The McGillis School, Salt Lake City, UT