September 1, 2026 by Viking Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by the publisher
The Stadler Ballet Conservatory in Vermont is very exclusive, but some of the pupils are not excited to begin their studies there. Neve has seen how the school affected her older sister Bex, and she remembers the phone call four years ago when Bex told her to never come to the school. Now Bex is prim, proper, and follows all the rules, and the spark seems to have gone out of her. Gemma doesn't fit the profile of a Stadler student, but her mother and stepfather think the school will help her to gain some poise and social skills. Once they arrive at the school, the girls meet the others in their cohort; Chloe, Chris, Esther, and Ivy. The teachers, who are all referred to as "Madame" along with the color of their outfits, have a lot of rules. Students are not to be alone, and may only be in designated areas. The older students all seem to have been conditioned like Bex, and eat very little and calmly follow the rules. Gemma balks at this, and does some exploring, but of course gets in trouble. After Esther seems to have changed in the same way that the older girls have, Gemma is devastated to lose her friend, and she and Neve combine forces to try to solve the mystery of what is affecting the students. Are the vines that surround the campus somehow draining their personalities? Gemma manages to break into the office to try to get back her phone to call for help, but is aghast to find from her file that her mother sent her to the school because she considered her socially awkward and friendless. When she wins the lead role of Clara in the production of The Nutcracker, she thinks that turning into one of the "perfect" older students might not be all bad. Still, as the investigation leads the girls into town, they stumble across a possible antidote. Will Neve be able to rescue her sister, and will the girls be able to retain their own personalities?
The Stadler Ballet Conservatory in Vermont is very exclusive, but some of the pupils are not excited to begin their studies there. Neve has seen how the school affected her older sister Bex, and she remembers the phone call four years ago when Bex told her to never come to the school. Now Bex is prim, proper, and follows all the rules, and the spark seems to have gone out of her. Gemma doesn't fit the profile of a Stadler student, but her mother and stepfather think the school will help her to gain some poise and social skills. Once they arrive at the school, the girls meet the others in their cohort; Chloe, Chris, Esther, and Ivy. The teachers, who are all referred to as "Madame" along with the color of their outfits, have a lot of rules. Students are not to be alone, and may only be in designated areas. The older students all seem to have been conditioned like Bex, and eat very little and calmly follow the rules. Gemma balks at this, and does some exploring, but of course gets in trouble. After Esther seems to have changed in the same way that the older girls have, Gemma is devastated to lose her friend, and she and Neve combine forces to try to solve the mystery of what is affecting the students. Are the vines that surround the campus somehow draining their personalities? Gemma manages to break into the office to try to get back her phone to call for help, but is aghast to find from her file that her mother sent her to the school because she considered her socially awkward and friendless. When she wins the lead role of Clara in the production of The Nutcracker, she thinks that turning into one of the "perfect" older students might not be all bad. Still, as the investigation leads the girls into town, they stumble across a possible antidote. Will Neve be able to rescue her sister, and will the girls be able to retain their own personalities?
Strengths: I picked this book up because it reminded me a bit of Duncan's Down a Dark Hallway; I wasn't a big fan of Gothic horror, but there was something about a creepy boarding school that is intriguing. There are a lot of students who dance, and very few ballet books. The world building is strong, and there are lots of good, mysterious details about how the school is run. Most of the book is from the alternating perspectives of Gemma and Neve, but we do get a little peek at Ivy, whose family started the vines. The sisterly bond is nice, and there is even so science connections with the vine's relationship with fungus that reminded me a little of Short's The Mutant Mushroom Takeover. There are a few scenes of solid ballet work, and plenty of drama surrounding the casting of The Nutcracker, which are both things my readers who like ballet stories request. I can't think of any other ballet horror books unless you count fairy tale ballet themed books like Sutton and Hannuniemi, The Song of the Swan or Smith's The Toymaker's Apprentice as horror.
Weaknesses: There isn't much ballet until page 100, and the story isn't all that scary. This starts with very poetic, philosophical language, so will need a very specific reader. The cover is not overly appealing.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to combine performing arts with gentle horror and enjoyed Parris' Stage Fright or Key's Twelfth.
Weaknesses: There isn't much ballet until page 100, and the story isn't all that scary. This starts with very poetic, philosophical language, so will need a very specific reader. The cover is not overly appealing.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to combine performing arts with gentle horror and enjoyed Parris' Stage Fright or Key's Twelfth.
