Honor Code

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 12, 2018

Review

A young woman is eager to attend a prestigious boarding school called Edwards Academy, but is dismayed to find that the wealthy students there abide by a code that encourages faculty and students alike to turn a blind eye to activities ranging from hazing to rape. Fourteen year old Sam and her roommate Gracie are both new to Edwards and establish a tight friendship right off the bat. However, when theyfall for the same upperclassman and he seems to reciprocate Sam's interest, it drives a wedge between the two girls. However, when he sexually assaults Sam, she must decide whether to stay quiet or risk upsetting the privileged, insular community. While predictable, the premise of this novel reflects the reality of the culture of many a private school. Readers will be deeply sympathetic to Sam's heartbreaking experience, though its treatment through the second half of the novel becomes more sensational than the initial set up. Sam's contact with a reporter who takes over narrating toward the end, a courtroom fight and an eleventh hour twist are all part of this story.. An engaging and important premise that loses its way in overly clever plot devices, this will still find a readership among teens who favor serious drama.

Overall Book Score: fair