Knightley Academy

In Violet Haberdasher's Knightley Academy, the first commoner accepted at a prestigous boarding school uncovers a conspiracy that could lead to war.

Henry Grim has never been in trouble for borrowing a sword from the headmaster?s private stores. He has never discovered a forbidden room in a foreign castle, or received a death threat over breakfast.

All Henry knows is life as an orphaned servant boy at the Midsummer School, bullied by the privileged sons of aristocracy. But all that changes when Henry is the first commoner to pass the entrance exam for the prestigious Knightley Academy, where he will be trained as a modern-day knight alongside the cleverest and bravest fourteen-year-olds in the country.

Henry and his roommates, two other students from decidedly un-Knightley backgrounds, are not exactly greeted with open arms by their classmates. In fact, it soon becomes apparent that someone is going to great lengths to sabotage the trio?s chances at becoming knights. But Henry soon learns that there is more at stake than his future at Knightley, and only he can sound the alarm. Is anyone going to believe a former servant on the brink of expulsion?

Brimming with wry humor, page-turning suspense, and surprising twists, this first adventure in a memorable new series is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.

Reviews

Robyn Schneider (The Social Climber's Guide to High School), writing as the pseudonymous Haberdasher, delivers a cute novel that balances its simple plot with a solid lead character, witty dialogue, and a jaunty narrative voice. Henry Grim, a servant at the Midsummer School for Boys, is allowed to take the test to enter the prestigious Knightley Academy and becomes the first commoner to enter the austere school. Like the other groundbreaking commoners in his class—Adam, who's Jewish, and Rohan, who's Indian—he finds life among the elite daunting at first. However, his talent for languages and history, as well as the friendship of the headmaster's daughter, help him get by. There are the usual shenanigans involving mean classmates and teachers who appear to have hidden agendas, and the threat of war with the oppressive Nordlands looms as well. The nebulous historical setting and focus on military training and chivalry are a welcome change of pace from fictional academies that revolve around magic. If the story runs on a predictable path, Henry and his friends are lively and entertaining characters to follow. (Publishers Weekly)