From the author of Little Creeping Things, a twisty YA thriller about a boarding school secret society that opens unheard-of doors of privilege for some of its initiates, while it leads others to a sinister fate
Maren Montgomery is certain her best friend Polly didn't run away from their elite boarding academy, no matter what the school administration or the authorities say. The two girls were inseparable...until Polly started wearing clothes she couldn't possibly afford, staying out after curfew, and growing increasingly anxious. When Maren finds an invitation to a meeting of the Gamemaster's Society hidden in Polly's belongings, she knows there's something more at play.
To find the truth about Polly's whereabouts, Maren makes it through a risky initiation, joining her longtime crush Remington in the high-stakes world Maren never knew existed within their school, competing to move up in the ranks for Ivy League connections and gilded futures. Maren however, gets sucked into an entirely different game. For every win, she'll receive a clue to get her closer to Polly; if she refuses to play, Polly dies.
With no one to trust as those around her—even the school administration—are seemingly under the Gamemaster's control, Maren advances in the games, only to discover that the Society's game is bigger and deadlier than she ever imagined. Now Maren must choose between her friendship and her own life.
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Gr 9 Up—Maren Montgomery's best friend, Poppy St. James, has gone missing. While everyone around her seems to accept that she ran away, Maren isn't buying it. In fact, she's certain the Torrey-Wells Academy's exclusive and mysterious Gamemaster's Society is behind her disappearance. After months of dead ends, Maren finally accepts that the only way to find out what happened is to join the society and uncover their secrets from the inside. What ensues are a series of increasingly high-stakes games, pranks, and tricks. Does life and death hang in the balance? Or is just a game? Maren's indecisiveness and inability to trust those closest to her creates a satisfying air of suspense. Readers be warned: once you descend into the catacombs underneath the school, you won't want to resurface until the game is done. All characters default to white except for Maren's love interest Remington Cruz and friend Jordan Park. VERDICT A quick, immersive read. Give to fans of Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's Ace of Spades or Maureen Johnson's "Truly Devious" series.—Katie Patterson