This previous yr I’ve been re-reading some YA books from the 2010’s and I’m at present listening to the third e-book in Rachel Hawkins’ Hex Corridor collection and, on this journey, I used to be reminiscing on how the 2010’s had been like THE TIME for books set at boarding faculty.
I swear, it felt like each different e-book (particularly the paranormal YAs) had been boarding school-set and I couldn’t get sufficient of it.
Somebody would point out boarding faculty setting in a evaluation? I added it with out even realizing what it was about. A kind of “insta-add” buzzwords for me.
Whilst a child I used to be at all times like “OOH sure let’s head to boarding faculty.” A Little Princess anybody?
Undoubtedly romanticized the thought of it I believe and truthfully, as a teen, generally want I may have been shipped to a faculty distant from dwelling.
It appears as my love for them has by no means died as I look by means of my listing of books I’ve learn — although I believe the style of them has modified a bit — aka studying extra darkish academia boarding faculty books than the OG YA paranormals.
So I figured I’d share a few of my favourite boarding faculty books — books about boarding faculty life, paranormal happenings within the halls of boarding faculty, twisty thrillers and mysteries and extra!
I’d love so that you can share your greatest boarding faculty e-book suggestions, please! All the time in search of extra.
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Books Set At Boarding Faculty: My Suggestions
I really feel like quite a lot of these are going to overlap with my darkish academia e-book listing however I attempted to not add all of them on right here, too. So positively examine that listing out.
Boarding Faculty Set Books: Grownup Fiction
By no means Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
At A Look: literary fiction, coming of age, England setting
Perpetually one in all my favorites and a type of studying experiences which are laborious to overlook! However, truthfully, for those who’ve by no means learn this — I actually really need you to enter this e-book with as little data as doable as a result of it actually is sort of the expertise to unravel proper alongside the characters.
It’s the story of three mates — Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy — who all grew up collectively at a mysterious and secluded boarding faculty in England the place they had been advised they’re so particular and there are unexplained guidelines.
It’s advised from the attitude of a grown-up Kathy (she’s in early 30’s) and she or he’s reflecting on their experiences there and simply basic coming-of-age issues however, now that they’re older, they’re simply actually beginning to perceive extra in regards to the faculty and what all of it was.
It’s so laborious to speak about it to make you wish to learn it however not give a lot away that you simply don’t get the total expertise!
The Damaged Women by Simone St. James
At A Look: thriller/thriller, twin storylines, troubled ladies, spooky, friendship
This e-book is nice for Fall! Like lots of Simone St. James’s books, this one is atmospheric and eerie!
There’s two storylines — one within the 1950’s and the opposite in 2014 and all of it facilities round Idlewild Corridor which is a boarding faculty for “troubled” ladies.
Within the 1950’s it facilities round a gaggle of 4 ladies who’ve turn out to be very shut mates and lean on one another to outlive this faculty — a college the place all of them have seen the ghost who is alleged to roam the grounds. One in all them disappears mysteriously with out a hint and the remaining ladies strive to determine what occurred to her.
In 2014, the varsity has set vacant however is rumored to be reopening by a mysterious benefactor. However for Fiona, a younger journalist, that may at all times be the grounds her sister died twenty years prior — a dying that she nonetheless doesn’t assume the police acquired proper. This information has Fiona deciding to dig into the historical past of this place in addition to the reopening.
My Darkish Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
At A Look: literary fiction, darkish, energy imbalance, abuse, #metoo
This was the most effective books I learn in 2020 although it was in all probability one of many hardest studying experiences the place I needed to put it down A TON simply to remain sane.
(TW for grooming)
Undoubtedly a darker examine boarding faculty life for a 15 yr previous lady who has an affair along with her instructor (who clearly groomed her) and now, as an grownup, her reckoning with this time in her life amidst allegations in opposition to him from a scholar.
A snipped from my evaluation: “Uncooked, unflinching and unapologetic robust learn however an unimaginable nuanced and vital one, for those who can abdomen it, because it so deftly exposes the methods (and ease) through which society permits this stuff to occur, the complexity of trauma and issues just like the #metoo motion for victims.”
Undoubtedly not a lightweight and enjoyable boarding faculty set e-book however an vital one which examines the sort of very actual issues that may go on.
Each Coronary heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire
At A Look: fantasy, portal fantasy, collection, homicide thriller
I’m so late to the sport on this one however completely satisfied to lastly making my approach by means of this collection (which isn’t laborious contemplating they’re quick from those I’ve learn to this point and are on Kindle Limitless)!
I really like portal fantasy and this one facilities round a boarding faculty for youths who’ve slipped by means of portals to different worlds and who now, having returned, are having a tough time becoming again in to their peculiar life after all the pieces they’ve seen and skilled and turn out to be.
There’s a homicide thriller factor and, as a child who curled up with the Narnia books and whose favourite Disney film was Alice in Wonderland, these have been pretty to dive into. I additionally noticed some Miss Peregrine’s comps and I can see that (although sadly I’ve by no means completed that collection after the primary e-book).
I don’t know what this collection was marketed as (YA or grownup — I’ve seen it known as each) however I believe it’s nice for any age. I’m placing up right here within the grownup part as a result of that’s my opinion though it’s from a teen POV.
A Lethal Schooling by Naomi Novik
At A Look: darkish academia, fantasy, lethal challenges, monsters, magic
This one is ready at a magical boarding faculty the place El, an outcast and darkish sorceress, continues attempting to outlive throughout her junior yr — from the bodily competitors kind challenges, the coed physique, the lethal monsters lurking, and her personal powers.
The world-building is intense at first however the faculty and the way it works is de facto completely different. I imply, this isn’t some good boarding faculty expertise when you’re consistently combating on your life to dwell and the speed of survival isn’t good to get out. There’s no adults and there’s no option to go away the varsity till commencement (the place it’s important to go the final word take a look at).
Liked watching our heroine attempt to survive and take care of all the pieces she’s up in opposition to (particularly her personal powers and a sure different male scholar who’s the bane of her existence).
The Lake of Lifeless Languages by Carol Goodman
At A Look: suspense/thriller, gothic vibes, all ladies boarding faculty, sisterhood
This one is ready on the distant Coronary heart Lake Faculty For Women and facilities round a lady named Jane — who attended 20 years in the past — who has come again as a instructor.
She left the varsity again then after a collection of horrible campus deaths on the lake — together with the suicide of her roommate. However now that she’s again, she’s receiving ominous messages in regards to the previous and it appear like historical past is repeating itself with the women.
I couldn’t cease studying and attempting to determine what was happening at this faculty with the women! Very eerie and atmospheric!
Carol Goodman has one other e-book (The Sea of Misplaced Women) that can be a few boarding faculty however I haven’t learn that one however have heard good issues about.
The Swallows by Lisa Lutz
At A Look: suspenseful, revenge, feminine rage, battle of the sexes, darkish humor
This one is so laborious to speak about!! Honestly I solely learn it as a result of, when it got here out, it was one of the vital polarizing books I had seen shortly on Bookstagram. I used to be so intrigued by the discourse that I HAD to learn it. I had blended however total optimistic emotions about it and I believe it’s a very fascinating e-book about boarding faculty.
For those who’ve ever seen crimson while you hear the phrase “boys might be boys” than this e-book may be for you as it’s pulsing with rightful feminine rage and revenge.
At this elite boarding faculty, a gross web site run by a few of elites on the faculty is discovered by a brand new feminine instructor and she or he begins a little bit of a motion amongst the women — who’re sick of the “boys membership” tradition — that turns into an all out gender warfare that spins uncontrolled
I liked the multi-POV — some lecturers and a few college students — as they attempt to unravel issues. I particularly liked Alex (the brand new instructor) and Gemma’s views.
It does take care of some fairly darkish points and may be fairly crude however I believed it was compelling and would make for excellent discussions. It’s additionally fairly bonkers at instances and it makes it an fascinating e-book to suggest.
I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai
At A Look: gradual burn literary thriller, coming of age, #metoo, true crime factor
I didn’t love this one as a lot as I liked her e-book The Nice Believers however I actually did get pleasure from this one (made higher by Julia Whelen’s audiobook narration in all probability).
This isn’t some fast-paced thriller or thriller — positively extra of a gradual burn thriller and coming of age drama!
It’s a few girl and well-liked true-crime podcaster who comes again to the boarding faculty she attended — and the place tragedy struck when she was there — to show a category and she or he finally ends up re-investigating the dying of her former roommate after a scholar focuses on the (somewhat flimsy) case for a venture.
It will get unwieldy at instances — in scope and themes as her coming of age expertise and the homicide case is blended in with quite a lot of different points (violence in opposition to ladies, #metoo motion, institutional racism, and so on) — however I believed it was actually good!
YA Boarding Faculty Books
Okay I’m placing these into two classes — the newer books and my OG favourite boarding faculty set books. Typically I really feel, particularly if I haven’t re-read them in a very long time, I don’t know if my OG faves really feel dated or not and I’m too connected to them both approach.
So you’ll be able to have my suggestions for each the OGs and a few newer picks.
Newer Picks
Within the Wild Mild by Jeff Zentner
At A Look: modern YA, robust household and friendship components, fish out of water
It’s so laborious to say if The Serpent King or this one is my favourite Jeff Zentner however it doesn’t matter as a result of each of them are two of my favourite YA books EVER!
This e-book is simply unimaginable and it follows the story of Money, a boy from a small Appalachian city, who follows his greatest good friend to an elite boarding faculty after she makes his acceptance into the varsity the one approach she’s going to go.
We see his guilt of leaving his grandparents (who’re actually his all the pieces apart from his bff) and his dwelling but additionally his want to affix Delaney for this superb alternative
Adjusting to boarding faculty is tough as Money struggles to really feel like a fish out of water at this new faculty — particularly contemplating his upbringing in comparison with most at this faculty. I liked watching Money study who he’s on this new setting whereas refuse to lose the place he got here from.
It’s fantastically written and made me cry SEVERAL TIMES OVER. An exquisite love letter to the individuals who form us and HOME.
Really Devious by Maureen Johnson
At A Look: homicide thriller, true crime, previous & current timelines, collection
One in all my favourite thriller e-book suggestions for teenagers!
This one is ready in an elite boarding faculty for the brightest of minds and it’s totally free! The opposite distinctive factor about this faculty is that shortly after it opened the spouse and daughter of its founder had been kidnapped and it turned a brilliant well-known unsolved case.
The primary character is a brand new scholar at this faculty — and a real crime fanatic — who is decided to crack this chilly case.
As well as the previous thriller (and a brand new case that occurs whereas she’s there), we see quite a lot of Stevie attempting to settle into life as a boarding faculty scholar and make mates.
It’s a quick learn and a part of a collection!
Noteworthy by Riley Redgate
At A Look: performing arts, Pitch Excellent meets She’s The Man, lighter learn, self-discovery
That is such a hidden gem and was such a enjoyable learn!
I picked it up as a result of my good friend Christina mentioned it was very Pitch Excellent meets She’s the Man. It positively delivered on that however offers much more than simply these enjoyable vibes with some fascinating dialogue on gender roles, sexual id and extra.
It’s set at a performing arts boarding faculty and includes a lady named Jordan who has simply but once more been denied a spot within the faculty musical because of her deeper voice: a growth that might jeopardize her place at college in addition to her school purposes.
She decides to discover a very completely different option to stand out for faculties and decides to check out for a spot on the all male acapella group by pretending to be a boy which she makes.
From coping with regular teen issues like crushes to the issue of conserving her cowl, she actually has an fascinating yr and it was enjoyable to observe her come into herself because of her alter ego Julian.
It’s important to sort of droop disbelief of the logistics of how she may pull this off however I used to be so drawn into this faculty, the performing arts world and this quirky & various characters.
XOXO by Axie Oh
At A Look: romance, prestigious arts academy boarding faculty, Okay-pop, South Korea
This one is so candy and light-hearted — would make a fantastic YA seashore learn! It is going to sweep you away to a music conservatory boarding faculty in South Korea!
It’s a few lady who has a fantastic and spontaneous night time with a mysterious man she meets at her work — a man who will get on a airplane to return dwelling to South Korea the following day and she or he doesn’t hear from once more.
However when she strikes to South Korea along with her mom and enrolls in a music conservatory boarding faculty, she comes face-to-face along with her thriller man. However that man? He occurs to be a brilliant well-liked idol in a Okay-pop group who isn’t allowed thus far.
So candy — forbidden romance + celeb trope. And, on the writing of this, at present on Kindle Limitless.
If You May See The Solar by Ann Liang
At A Look: tutorial rivals to lovers, Beijing, speculative, superpowers, privilege
If You May See The Solar was so enjoyable — a enjoyable premise and a implausible YA rivals to lovers romance.
It’s a few teen lady who’s a scholarship scholar at an elite Beijing worldwide boarding faculty — a spot the place she typically feels misplaced and invisible. However sooner or later her invisibility turns into fairly literal when she finds she has developed some type of invisible superpower.
After some unhealthy information regarding her tuition, she decides to group up with tutorial rival and use her superpower to generate income by letting her wealthy classmates pay for her covert spying talents.
However when issues actually escalate from the little scandalous secrets and techniques she’s paid to seek out out, she has to determine what she’s keen to surrender for her goals.
Don’t anticipate a lot “why” to the superpower — simply go together with it and have enjoyable.
At present free with Kindle Limitless on the time of penning this.
The Slender by Kate Alice Marshall
At A Look: YA paranormal, thriller, ghost story, sapphic romance, friendship
Kate Alice Marshall has surged in recognition resulting from her grownup thriller books (and I get pleasure from them!) however I’ll at all times be an enormous fan of her creepy and atmospheric YA books.
All the time discover myself recommending them when persons are in search of good Halloween-esque books for teenagers. This one remains to be spooky however perhaps lower than a few of her others.
I don’t wish to give away an excessive amount of however if you’re in search of a extra spooky boarding faculty learn, examine this one out.
It facilities round a mysterious river behind the boarding faculty, a lady who the principle character witnessed fall into it and truly survive (one thing that’s by no means occurred) and the unusual issues that begin occurring years later when she will get nearer to the lady who fell into the river.
Women With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Younger
At A Look: YA dystopian, all ladies boarding faculty, collection, patriarchy-smashing
Oh this collection is so good (although I want to complete the later books that got here out)! For those who love dystopian e-book with ladies smashing the patriarchy, take a look at The Women With Sharp Sticks.
Not your typical boarding faculty learn however it’s such a page-turner as you watch the women at this all ladies boarding faculty — the place they’re anticipated to be excellent and obedient — begin to unravel the darkish secrets and techniques behind their faculty and take their energy again.
The world-building of this boarding faculty was so good and you actually really feel transported to this stifling and sterile feeling surroundings.
Nice for those who liked The Grace 12 months or The Handmaid’s Story — would make a fantastic teen e-book membership e-book!
This Might Finish Badly by Samantha Markum
At A Look: YA modern, prank warfare, faux courting, rival boarding colleges
After ending You Wouldn’t Dare (a fantastic YA summer season romance), I went again to examine this one out and I instantly grabbed it off Libby as a result of it was giving main Frankie Landau Banks vibes with the boarding faculty setting + pranks!! And I positively did really feel a Frankie-esque story whereas studying!
That is set at an all-girls boarding faculty that finds out it’s going to merge with their rival all-boys boarding faculty subsequent yr — a college they’ve an enormous pranking warfare with that has gone on for generations.
The women put collectively a plan to show the 2 colleges completely can’t merge and Doe makes use of this opportunity to take down her rival from the boys’ faculty by faux courting his cousin.
Pranks get heated however issues come to a halt when one thing larger comes up and the rivals should come collectively. That a part of the story was in all probability my least favourite as a result of I believe it felt compelled given the remainder of the e-book and sort of glossed over in a basic sense however I nonetheless actually loved this one!
OG FAVORITES
Pay attention, these will at all times be my without end favorites however a few of them could haven’t aged in addition to others.
Jellicoe Highway by Melina Marchetta
One in all my favourite books in the entire world — the e-book that hooked me into the world of Melina Marchetta. This one has not aged poorly.
For those who’ve learn this, you realize it’s greatest to not say an excessive amount of about it. It might probably even be complicated at first as you are attempting to determine how sure facets of the story join/are going to come back collectively. However it is likely one of the most rewarding studying experiences of my life.
It’s set at a boarding faculty in Australia and is a few lady named Taylor who has been at this boarding faculty ever since her mom deserted her and a lady (who turned her good friend and mentor type of individual) discovered her.
At first it looks like it’s nearly boarding faculty life and this little territory warfare happening between the boarding faculty and the Townies however OH it’s about a lot extra.
There’s the thread of thriller when Hannah, the mentor, disappears and the one clue Taylor finds is a narrative about 5 youngsters who lived there 18 years in the past.
Simply belief me, please.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Perpetually a favourite in nearly any class you may give me even remotely associated to it! I really like this e-book and this collection and positively the most effective YA boarding faculty books which are modern romance.
This boarding faculty expertise is one from the POV of a lady who has been shipped to a boarding faculty in Paris on the insistence of her father (a best-selling creator) and she or he is NOT completely satisfied about spending the final yr earlier than school someplace she doesn’t know anyone or communicate the language — even when that place is Paris. Not when she had one of the best senior yr ever deliberate along with her mates and the man she likes.
You’ll be transported to the Metropolis of Lights whilst you watch Anna discover a entire lot of experiences (and folks) she didn’t know she wanted. The romance in that is one which I’ll at all times depend amongst my favorites!
In search of Alaska by John Inexperienced
I really like John Inexperienced’s books a lot and Trying For Alaska is a without end favourite even when a few of it, a few years later as a bonafide grownup, makes me wish to roll my eyes and assume WOW it’s in all probability not factor at how a lot youthful me associated to Alaska. However I nonetheless find it irresistible!
It’s a few boy who’s heading to Culver Creek Boarding Faculty and hopes it’s actually going to be the jumpstart his life wants from the boring existence he’s had to date.
And life at boarding faculty is actually by no means uninteresting! He makes himself a bit good friend group – together with the mysterious and moody lady named Alaska — and his life actually does change.
Hex Corridor by Rachel Hawkins
Ah I liked this YA paranormal set at boarding faculty a lot (and this collection generally though it isn’t all set on the faculty).
It’s a few teen lady, who discover out she was a witch a pair years in the past, who will get herself into an excessive amount of bother and shipped proper to a reform faculty for all kinds of different paranormal teenagers like herself.
Settling into her new faculty is tough sufficient however issues get tougher (and approach over her head) when she finds herself caught up in a thriller surrounding one thing or somebody attacking college students on the faculty.
I can’t stress simply how enjoyable this collection is!!
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
For those who solely learn one YA paranormal collection from again within the day, LET IT BE THIS ONE. It’s tremendous addictive and, whereas trying again has a pair issues I side-eye now, it nonetheless holds up for me. One in all my favourite YA vampire books ever!
This boarding faculty — set in an remoted Montana woods — is for vampire royalty and those that defend them. It facilities round two mates: one is a princess and the opposite who’s coaching to guard/guard her.
Whereas they learn to defeat a sure kind of harmful vampire, there’s additionally forbidden romances, common teen drama and hazard lurking. It’s really easy to get caught up on this setting!!
The Disreputable Historical past of Frankie Landau-Banks
Earlier than We Have been Liars notoriety, E. Lockhart was out right here writing a few of my most favourite teen characters in Frankie Landau Banks and Ruby Oliver. Simply such enjoyable books that ought to have been much more well-liked than they even had been. Truthfully I want they may get a refresh just like the Jessica Darling collection.
Frankie Landau Banks is such a enjoyable boarding faculty learn all a few teen lady attempting to buck the patriarchy when she finds out about an all-male secret society at her faculty (that does quite a lot of pranks round campus) and decides to take issues into her personal palms.
It’s so enjoyable and I liked watching Frankie tackle these narratives and take a look at to determine (messily as all of us do) what feminism means and particularly what it means for her.
Inform me a few of your favourite boarding faculty books within the feedback!