[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
When November’s dad says he needs to sort out a break in at her Aunt Jo’s, she understands. The three of them have always been close. And as a former CIA agent, it makes sense for him to help Jo with a security issue. So November doesn’t fuss too much about being shipped to a boarding school for a few weeks.
But Academy Absconiditi is nothing like November expected. The location of the school is secret, and it is camouflaged to keep it that way. There’s no electricity, no internet. The only normal class she has is history, but even then it’s a weird twist on the usual study of world wars.
November is more prepared for the weird school than she would have thought. She’s physically active, so she can handle the running, sparring and climbing. And she’s bright. She’s been encouraged to think outside the box, so she’s ready for deception and some of the school challenges. What she’s not ready for is the world of secrets and lies she discovers about her own life. She’s also not ready for the dead body.
Review
This was stunning! I sat in rapt attention from start to finish. There are so many secrets for November to discover. And none of the answers come quickly or easily because everyone thinks she already knows everything. And revealing her ignorance would be very dangerous. It was a brilliant Catch-22 from the author, and I was captivated by the whole thing.
I don’t know that we got to see the full extent of November’s skills or her ferocity in this book. In so much of it, she was clueless, but had to be cagey. If there’s a sequel (please, please, please), we might get a more complete picture of who she is and what she can do.
The mystery is excellent. November is surrounded by liars and schemers, political agendas, and secret grudges. It’s the perfect climate for a twisty mystery.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Mysterious secrets, characters with hidden agendas, and plenty of suspense will keep you turning pages until you hit the resolution. Fantastic!! (Language)