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Book DetailsCategory: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy / Paranormal Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Publication Date: September 12, 2018 Page Count: 348 pages ISBNs: Paperback - 978-1-5092-2123-3 / Digital: 978-1-5092-2124-0 Audio ASIN: B07MLDKDC5 Available From: Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, iBooks, iTunes, Kobo, and Walmart. |
What readers are saying
“Grabowski writes in an engaging prose that summons Autumn’s excitement and anxiety while also deftly building the tensions surrounding the school’s mysteries…Autumn and her fellow students are well-developed and likable, and their interpersonal dynamics drive the plot in a way that feels effortless…the dream-making process—and Autumn’s successes and failures with it—provides a surprisingly apt metaphor for the concerns and desires of a teen. Rather than skating on the otherworldliness of the premise, Grabowski digs toward some relatable truths that her young readers will likely appreciate. She also avoids some of the more predictable tropes of the genre. Whether it’s a standalone or the first installment of a series, the book manages to satisfy and succeed.”
~ Kirkus Reviews READ FULL REVIEW (includes some spoilers)
"Young adults who enjoy boarding school stories, paranormal encounters, and stories of growth of a teen who receives lessons on romance, mistakes, and special abilities will find much to like about Dickensen Academy, an institution which specializes in making dreams come true in more than one way. Autumn's first-person character is nicely done and inviting, and the world of Dickensen with all of its conundrums and confusion comes to life through her eyes, making for a story that is hard to put down."
~ D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
"The setting of the story was described so well you felt like you were there with Autumn and her friends during their dream classes and around campus."
~ A. Stout, Reader View Kids READ FULL REVIEW (includes some spoilers)
"Autumn’s desire to succeed academically, her overbearing father, and her sometimes misguided attempts to make her own decisions while living away from home for the first time will likely resonate with readers..."
~ Jen McConnel, VOYA Magazine
"This was such a refreshing novel! I loved the setting, I loved our main character and her decision to succeed. There are so many interesting things happening here, but the most important of all, we see a young teenager develop. That’s what captured me." ~ Lilly, Goodreads Reviewer
"Dickensen Academy is one of the most refreshing, inspiring and thought provoking books I’ve read in a long time. I read it with my teenage daughters, and it prompted the most inquisitive and deep conversations between us. We discussed new ways of thinking, paradigm shifts and possibilities..." ~ Karla, Goodreads Reviewer
"This book had me hooked from start to finish. I would definitely be down to re-read it, it was that good. If you are a Harry Potter fan, I would definitely recommend this story. Looking for a great fantasy book with some mystery and a hint of romance? Read this book!" ~ Julianne, Goodreads Teen Reviewer
"I will be recommending this book to everyone I know. It’s a must read!" ~ Shelley
"I kept thinking about the book long after I put it down." ~ Michele
Check out more reviews on Goodreads.
~ Kirkus Reviews READ FULL REVIEW (includes some spoilers)
"Young adults who enjoy boarding school stories, paranormal encounters, and stories of growth of a teen who receives lessons on romance, mistakes, and special abilities will find much to like about Dickensen Academy, an institution which specializes in making dreams come true in more than one way. Autumn's first-person character is nicely done and inviting, and the world of Dickensen with all of its conundrums and confusion comes to life through her eyes, making for a story that is hard to put down."
~ D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
"The setting of the story was described so well you felt like you were there with Autumn and her friends during their dream classes and around campus."
~ A. Stout, Reader View Kids READ FULL REVIEW (includes some spoilers)
"Autumn’s desire to succeed academically, her overbearing father, and her sometimes misguided attempts to make her own decisions while living away from home for the first time will likely resonate with readers..."
~ Jen McConnel, VOYA Magazine
"This was such a refreshing novel! I loved the setting, I loved our main character and her decision to succeed. There are so many interesting things happening here, but the most important of all, we see a young teenager develop. That’s what captured me." ~ Lilly, Goodreads Reviewer
"Dickensen Academy is one of the most refreshing, inspiring and thought provoking books I’ve read in a long time. I read it with my teenage daughters, and it prompted the most inquisitive and deep conversations between us. We discussed new ways of thinking, paradigm shifts and possibilities..." ~ Karla, Goodreads Reviewer
"This book had me hooked from start to finish. I would definitely be down to re-read it, it was that good. If you are a Harry Potter fan, I would definitely recommend this story. Looking for a great fantasy book with some mystery and a hint of romance? Read this book!" ~ Julianne, Goodreads Teen Reviewer
"I will be recommending this book to everyone I know. It’s a must read!" ~ Shelley
"I kept thinking about the book long after I put it down." ~ Michele
Check out more reviews on Goodreads.
Excerpt
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“I feel like there’s something big we don’t know about. Something those students were protecting. I mean, really, why are we here?”
I thought it was just me who was confused. “Well…the recruiters said we’re creative and focused.” “Yeah, that’s what Principal Locke said too.” “And we have the right personality.” Ben looked up at the sky, sighed then turned toward the forest. “What did he say…something about how it will soon become clear why we’re here, and there’s some ultimate purpose for our creativity?” |
This school may be her dream come true… or her worst nightmare.
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“I know. That whole creativity part was a bit bizarre.”
He shrugged. “It seems everyone is going with the flow. But I have so many questions.” Then he touched my arm to stop me, so I turned toward him. “I’m thinking they’re isolating us for some special reason,” he admitted in an embarrassed tone.
I tried not to laugh—he was acting paranoid. But I didn’t know Ben well. Maybe he was joking, trying to freak me out. Or was he hitting on me? The flutter in my chest moved to my stomach. I was already anxious about being away from home and whether or not I could hack the academics. I didn’t need to obsess about anything else. But I still had to know about Ben’s dream.
“So…I also had a dream about Dickensen before I accepted the offer.”
Ben’s head snapped toward me. “You did?”
He shrugged. “It seems everyone is going with the flow. But I have so many questions.” Then he touched my arm to stop me, so I turned toward him. “I’m thinking they’re isolating us for some special reason,” he admitted in an embarrassed tone.
I tried not to laugh—he was acting paranoid. But I didn’t know Ben well. Maybe he was joking, trying to freak me out. Or was he hitting on me? The flutter in my chest moved to my stomach. I was already anxious about being away from home and whether or not I could hack the academics. I didn’t need to obsess about anything else. But I still had to know about Ben’s dream.
“So…I also had a dream about Dickensen before I accepted the offer.”
Ben’s head snapped toward me. “You did?”
First pages
Clues to the secret existed from day one, yet they appeared to belong to separate puzzles. Most students either missed these signs or chose to ignore them. We were busy acclimating—as the faculty called it—to a new environment. Some outsiders might call what they did to us those initial weeks a form of brainwashing or fostering a cult-like mentality.
But not me.
I agreed with Principal Locke. We weren’t ready. We needed time to separate from our families and become a cohesive group. And some of us, myself included, even needed a little nudge to accept the invitation. If someone had told us the truth on Day One why they’d brought us to Dickensen Academy, we would have never believed them. We’d think they were crazy. Or worse, we’d turn around and run back home. But if we left, we would have missed out on something extraordinary. Something worth the wait.
My first day was confusing enough. I hopped out of the backseat the moment our SUV stopped. The sun was bright without a cloud in the sky, but the air had a definite chill. Fall must have begun earlier in the mountains.
“Excited?” Dad said as he climbed out, along with Mom and my older brother Josh.
I nodded slightly as I took it all in. The parking lot occupied the edge of a huge clearing surrounded by towering evergreens and distant peaks. Birds sang a welcome and pine scent hung in the air. This place was larger than I’d imagined.
When I turned toward the cream-colored buildings, I gasped. Images of myself on campus flickered through my brain: walking between the dorm and the school, crouching below a huge modern art sculpture, and sitting near a pond reflecting this same wooded backdrop.
I’d been here before.
No. Impossible. The three largest buildings were plastered all over the academy’s brochure and website. That’s where I’d seen them. I ignored the fine hairs sticking up on the back of my neck. Must’ve been the breeze...
But not me.
I agreed with Principal Locke. We weren’t ready. We needed time to separate from our families and become a cohesive group. And some of us, myself included, even needed a little nudge to accept the invitation. If someone had told us the truth on Day One why they’d brought us to Dickensen Academy, we would have never believed them. We’d think they were crazy. Or worse, we’d turn around and run back home. But if we left, we would have missed out on something extraordinary. Something worth the wait.
My first day was confusing enough. I hopped out of the backseat the moment our SUV stopped. The sun was bright without a cloud in the sky, but the air had a definite chill. Fall must have begun earlier in the mountains.
“Excited?” Dad said as he climbed out, along with Mom and my older brother Josh.
I nodded slightly as I took it all in. The parking lot occupied the edge of a huge clearing surrounded by towering evergreens and distant peaks. Birds sang a welcome and pine scent hung in the air. This place was larger than I’d imagined.
When I turned toward the cream-colored buildings, I gasped. Images of myself on campus flickered through my brain: walking between the dorm and the school, crouching below a huge modern art sculpture, and sitting near a pond reflecting this same wooded backdrop.
I’d been here before.
No. Impossible. The three largest buildings were plastered all over the academy’s brochure and website. That’s where I’d seen them. I ignored the fine hairs sticking up on the back of my neck. Must’ve been the breeze...
