I’m a sucker for YA books with a boarding school setting. From the get go, Sheinmel drew readers into the lives of Castle School students and their journey to recovery. As the book cover states, it’s for troubled girls, but not in the way you’d first look at it. This book touches on sensitive topics, mental health and relationships teenagers have and go through in their youthful years.
When Moira Dreyfuss's parents announce that they're sending her to an all-girls boarding school deep in the Maine woods, Moira isn't fooled. She knows her parents are punishing her; she's been too much trouble since her best friend, Nathan, died―and for a while before that. At the Castle School, isolated from the rest of the world, Moira will be expected to pour her heart out to the odd headmaster, Dr. Prince. But she isn't interested in getting over Nathan's death or befriending her fellow students.
On her first night there, Moira hears distant music. On her second, she discovers the lock on her window is broken. On her third, she and her roommate venture outside...and learn that they're not so isolated after all. There's another, very different, Castle School nearby―this one filled with boys whose parents sent them away, too.
Moira is convinced that the Castle Schools and the doctors who run them are hiding something. But exploring the schools will force Moira to confront her overwhelming grief―and the real reasons her parents sent her away.
The plot focused on Moira, the new girl at Castle School which her parents sent her to because she assumes it’s because she got a tattoo and became out of hand after her best friend’s death. There are also chapters on the other girls and how they all ended up at Castle School. Thus, making it a breeze to read as we’re not only getting the school from one perspective.
Castle School took a unique approach to dealing with teenagers and what they’re going through. The school took on only twelve students, no cellphones or other technology (yet you could reach a computer privilege once you’ve shown improvement) and situated remotely away from distractions. It wasn’t the cliche boarding school with strict teachers, uniform and an eerie atmosphere. Doctor Prince, the so-called headmaster / therapist, created an independent and safe environment for his students to get comfortable and reflect on what they’re going through.
Our protagonist, Moira, has lost her best friend, Nathan, and acts out by sneaking out to his grave at night, not attending school and getting a tattoo. For these reasons, Moira is convinced her parents sent her to Castle School. Moira looks at the school as an institution since there’s a therapist and she isn’t used to their different methods of learning. It only becomes worse in Moira’s life when the lock on her window breaks and she sneaks off with Eleanor—her roommate — and they find another Castle School like theirs but filled with boys. They have a Doctor Prince too and Moira is convinced they’re working together on an experiment and the students are their test subjects.
Moira is so convinced on this ideology she doesn’t realize she’s building it to distract her from facing her best friend’s death and accepting what happened. Once the other girls get involved and they head off to the boy’s castle at night, Moira realizes what she has done. With the help of Randy, Doctor Prince’s son who lives in the castle and gives her insight to the other castle, but also makes her realize that it’s okay to grieve about a person’s death who was so close to you.
The author showed how escaping from our normal lives can create a new perspective for us. The other castle school wasn’t the only one that helped the girls, but Dr. Prince too and his ways of teaching. Not directly, but having therapy sessions where he doesn’t ask all the questions. It took some time for Moira to open up about Nathan because she was so paranoid and constantly drank water to keep that lump in her throat at bay. The bonding of the girls helped, as well as breakfast discussions and independent learning. Not a lot of traditional methods were used because it gave the girls time to focus on other things.
Realizing the character development Moira goes through is unforgettable. From not even mentioning Nathan’s name, to openly talking about him and accepting what happened, which wasn’t her fault. She doesn’t get over his death. He’s constantly mentioned throughout the story, but it’s coming to terms with what happened and moving forward.
This book must be read with caution, as it may confront some readers. However, it’s a beautiful story written about the serious challenges teenagers go through in their daily lives. Another amazing read which gladly received a ten star rating for its indulging writing and focusing on topics that should be crucial to have knowledge about in society.
