Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund

genre: young adult

Aerin has a secret. The kind of experience that closes you up and hides in the deepest part of you. She determines to keep the secret of her past hidden when she arrives at Academy 7, the universe’s most exclusive school. But soon, Aerin discovers that she’s not the only student with secrets. The school year brings questions Aerin didn't even know to ask and it takes a friendship with the least likely of boys for her to find the strength she needs to find, and accept, the answers.

What a zinger. Science Fictiony, full of stern adults and bad boys (who win our hearts of course) in a time period thousands of years beyond our own. Aerin is a strong but wounded heroine and she’s easy to root for. The love story is witty and satisfying. There are larger, more political forces at stake and the ethical discussions are well done. I’ll just say it: I loved it and can’t think of a thing I would change. Great young adult fare.

book 29 for the 2010 Young Adult Challenge