Deadly Little Lessons
By (author) Valentine, Danielle
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By (author) Valentine, Danielle
Description:
Squid Game meets boarding school in this electric young adult thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Two Sides to Every Murder and How to Survive Your Murder. Luminary is more than just a school. It is a test of moral fibre, strength of will, and human resilience. Lia Michaels can pick any lock and break into most computer systems. But a life of delinquency has her bouncing between foster homes and juvie. So, when she applies to Luminary Prep, a new experimental school created to challenge academic conventions, Lia is surprised by the acceptance letter that follows. With state-of-the-art technology, fancy cafeteria food, and a campus that looks like a painting come to life, Luminary seems to be the break Lia needs. That is, if she can excel in class and be one of only five students who will be allowed to graduate. But classes at Luminary are . . . odd. And dangerous. There is a death-trap obstacle course in Physics, a Chemistry exam with explosives, and guillotines in Political Science. As students keep vanishing, one by one, Lia starts to wonder if it''s not that five students will graduate—but that only five will survive.
Review quote:
“This fast-paced narrative captures readers from the first page. . . Through the intentional worldbuilding and complex characters, Valentine builds tension that will leave readers on the edges of their seats, hanging on to every word. A heart-pounding thriller with shocking twists.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A winding thrill ride. . . this twisty mystery will thrill readers and prompt interesting discussions about education, morality, and the nature of good and evil.” —School Library Journal
“Squid Game fans will appreciate this thrilling YA interpretation that transposes survival-game stakes into a high-school setting. . . An empowering read that will resonate with students who have felt overlooked, this mystery/thriller is a must for YA collections favoring strong social commentary.” —Booklist
Biographical note:
Danielle Valentine is the bestselling author of young adult thrillers Two Sides to Every Murder and How to Survive Your Murder. Valentine is a pseudonym for bestselling horror novelist Danielle Vega. Her other work includes the Merciless series, The Dead Husband Cookbook, and Delicate Condition, which was adapted into a season of the TV series American Horror Story. Danielle lives outside New York City with her husband, daughter, and two ornery cats.
Excerpt:
Question One:
You are the mayor of a major city, and you know a devastating earthquake is about to hit. You have two choices: A) blow up half the city, which will release the seismic pressure and prevent the earthquake but kill half your population; or B) choose not to intervene, knowing the earthquake will devastate the city, likely resulting in many more casualties. What do you do?
Blue and red lights flash outside the Springfield school district office’s windows about twenty seconds after I break the lock on the office manager’s top drawer and find the notebook where he wrote all his passwords.
Several inventive curse words pop into my head. The final day of the school year was last week, but I wasn’t counting on this place having an alarm system. I mean, who breaks into the school district office? Besides me, of course.
This is disappointing.
I glance over my shoulder, at the open door behind me, the darkened hall. I saw a back door when I snuck inside. I doubt they left it unlocked, but I haven’t found a dead bolt that could hold me since I was six and figured out a straightened-out bobby pin will pop most basic door latches.
If I leave now, I can slip out that way, disappear down an alley before
Description:
Squid Game meets boarding school in this electric young adult thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Two Sides to Every Murder and How to Survive Your Murder. Luminary is more than just a school. It is a test of moral fibre, strength of will, and human resilience. Lia Michaels can pick any lock and break into most computer systems. But a life of delinquency has her bouncing between foster homes and juvie. So, when she applies to Luminary Prep, a new experimental school created to challenge academic conventions, Lia is surprised by the acceptance letter that follows. With state-of-the-art technology, fancy cafeteria food, and a campus that looks like a painting come to life, Luminary seems to be the break Lia needs. That is, if she can excel in class and be one of only five students who will be allowed to graduate. But classes at Luminary are . . . odd. And dangerous. There is a death-trap obstacle course in Physics, a Chemistry exam with explosives, and guillotines in Political Science. As students keep vanishing, one by one, Lia starts to wonder if it''s not that five students will graduate—but that only five will survive.
Review quote:
“This fast-paced narrative captures readers from the first page. . . Through the intentional worldbuilding and complex characters, Valentine builds tension that will leave readers on the edges of their seats, hanging on to every word. A heart-pounding thriller with shocking twists.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A winding thrill ride. . . this twisty mystery will thrill readers and prompt interesting discussions about education, morality, and the nature of good and evil.” —School Library Journal
“Squid Game fans will appreciate this thrilling YA interpretation that transposes survival-game stakes into a high-school setting. . . An empowering read that will resonate with students who have felt overlooked, this mystery/thriller is a must for YA collections favoring strong social commentary.” —Booklist
Biographical note:
Danielle Valentine is the bestselling author of young adult thrillers Two Sides to Every Murder and How to Survive Your Murder. Valentine is a pseudonym for bestselling horror novelist Danielle Vega. Her other work includes the Merciless series, The Dead Husband Cookbook, and Delicate Condition, which was adapted into a season of the TV series American Horror Story. Danielle lives outside New York City with her husband, daughter, and two ornery cats.
Excerpt:
Question One:
You are the mayor of a major city, and you know a devastating earthquake is about to hit. You have two choices: A) blow up half the city, which will release the seismic pressure and prevent the earthquake but kill half your population; or B) choose not to intervene, knowing the earthquake will devastate the city, likely resulting in many more casualties. What do you do?
Blue and red lights flash outside the Springfield school district office’s windows about twenty seconds after I break the lock on the office manager’s top drawer and find the notebook where he wrote all his passwords.
Several inventive curse words pop into my head. The final day of the school year was last week, but I wasn’t counting on this place having an alarm system. I mean, who breaks into the school district office? Besides me, of course.
This is disappointing.
I glance over my shoulder, at the open door behind me, the darkened hall. I saw a back door when I snuck inside. I doubt they left it unlocked, but I haven’t found a dead bolt that could hold me since I was six and figured out a straightened-out bobby pin will pop most basic door latches.
If I leave now, I can slip out that way, disappear down an alley before
