Set in an experimental boarding school for teens dealing with trauma, The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) follows one girl's journey through grief and her eleven classmates, each with their own issues, that help her find a path to healing. Perfect for fans of Kathleen Glasgow, this atmospheric, emotional tear-jerker will leave you speechless.When Moira Dreyfuss's parents announce that they're sending her to an all-girls boarding school deep in the Maine woods, Moira isn't fooled. She knows her parents are punishing her; she's been too much trouble since her best friend, Nathan, diedand for a while before that. At the Castle School, isolated from the rest of the world, Moira will be expected to pour her heart out to the odd headmaster, Dr. Prince. But she isn't interested in getting over Nathan's death or befriending her fellow students.On her first night there, Moira hears distant music. On her second, she discovers the lock on her window is broken. On her third, she and her roommate venture outsideand learn that they're not so isolated after all. There's another, very different, Castle School nearbythis one filled with boys whose parents sent them away, too.Moira is convinced that the Castle Schools and the doctors who run them are hiding something. But exploring the schools will force Moira to confront her overwhelming griefand the real reasons her parents sent her away.Praise for The Castle School (for Troubled Girls):"Achingly beautiful. Moira's story gripped me from the first page and held me fast long after I finished reading."Gilly Segal, New York Times bestselling co-author of I'm Not Dying with You Tonight"Hooked me from page one. I couldn't stop reading until I had every single answer."Francesca Zappia, author of Eliza and Her Monsters"Beneath the trappings of a fast-paced mystery, this novel holds a heartrending exploration of adolescent grief... Memorable."Booklist"Complex and layered... A heartfelt exploration of grief, guilt, and recovery."School Library Journal"Mental health awareness wrapped in a captivating storyline."Kirkus"An effective exploration of mental illness, and it will share a coveted place on reading lists with Laurie Halse Anderson and Patricia McCormick."BCCBAlso by Alyssa Sheinmel:A Danger to Herself and OthersWhat Kind of Girl
This book has been graded for interest at 14-18 years.
There are 400 pages in this book.
It is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed.
This book was published in 2022 by Sourcebooks, Inc .
Alyssa Sheinmel was born in California and now lives in New York City. She is also the author of The Stone Girl and two previous YA novels.