Secrets, Lies, and Scandals

Gr 8 Up—Summer school is never fun, especially when the teacher is known for hating and berating every student. After the particularly brutal first test, five teens are in the room when their actions result in the death of their teacher. Ivy (formerly top of the popularity food chain), bad boy Tyler, new boy Mattie, teacher's pet Kinley, and privileged Cade all must decide to what lengths they will go to cover up the death of their teacher. They were not friends before the event, and now they must depend on one another for their future. Personal relationships continue to develop and add tension through romantic entanglements and Ivy's cop brother, who gets assigned the case. Morgan weaves a tale that is a tense blend of The Breakfast Club and How To Get Away with Murder. Told in five alternating perspectives, the work focuses on the motivations and story of each main character, but the different points of view can muddy the narrative and confuse those trying to keep them straight. Strong language doesn't inhibit readability but may dissuade certain readers.