When I first came across this series, I was ecstatic. I definitely have a thing for Academy/Boarding school books and this series isn't necessarily based in one, (yet, perhaps) but it certainly has the mystery that was exactly what I was looking for.


This short first book was exactly as the title suggests. Since the series is supposed to be almost 20 books long, with 7.5 out so far, I think this was a very good idea. It was cute, sweet and had me on my knees looking for more, (still does).

" I was empty. Strangers in a strange family.”

The story is told from Sang Sorenson's point of view who is a 15 year old girl who's family have just moved to a little secluded road of houses outside Charlesville. For Sang, life has never been easy having a psychotic, sick mother who seems to hide her in the house and have her punished for disobeying her. Sang has always tried to do as her mother said, abiding by the warnings of what society is really like. She has never really had friends and isn't close with her family much at all. With her sick mother, an absent father and a sister that doesn't really like her, Sang is quite naive when it comes to people.

“It worried me that perhaps my voice was permanently damaged. I couldn’t stand to think that was the case. I would be Sang, the girl with nothing to say, and no voice to say it.”

The night she wishes to escape, she runs into Kota, a neighbour down her road, who brings her in and takes care of her on that blustery eve. She learns that he wishes to be her friend and although she is wary, Sang has no idea what to think of letting someone in.

And then there were 7.

Kota. Victor. Silas. Nathan. Gabriel. North. Luke.

And what she finds out from being with them will change her future forever.

" Will you buckle in? It’s bad enough we kidnapped you.”

With 7 newfound friends, Sang is overwhelmed but terrified of what her mother will do to her if she ever found out. It's all new for her but the boys seem willing to do anything for her as they gradually learn of her situation at home. They become her world as they take care of her and they seem to be able to handle anything, bringing her into their group. Sang wants to let them in but old habits still leave her hesitant to trust them, especially when she begins to learn of why the mysterious group who seem so well off, are really doing in Ashley Waters High in Charlesville.

She notices the looks they share, their disappearances. And when she learns of 'The Academy', she's intrigued. No one knows where it is. But the students there are different. They have skills that normal kids don't have. They don't have a normal education.

And Sang finds herself on the verge of being sucked into their dangerous world.

This book is the beginning of a series which I am intrigued to read more about. The situation is really unique and I am find myself getting lost in all the personalities of each of the boys.

I was confused by how touchy they all were, and I could understand why Sang, who would've never been around people much at all before, is overwhelmed by it all. These boys who start to look out for her, even though she's new to it all, I really liked the moments where she could be independent. Her trust issues meant that she didn't want to depend on them, or rather admit that she may have needed them more than she realised. But in her situation, it seems she's never really known what it was like to have someone care for her.

With secrets and complications, this series is so promising and I am super excited to get stuck in.