Knightley Academy - Violet Haberdasher

Title: Knightley Academy
Author: Violet Haberdasher
ISBN #: 1416991433

Today, for my first review (ever!) ... Knightley Academy! I hope I do it justice; please remember that I am new at this!

I will start off by saying that Knightley Academy (KA) was a nice change of pace. While I do love magic and I can tolerate vampires, it was good to read something that focused on a different subject. Although we do come across some familiar elements, it is still quite refreshing and entertaining.

KA tells the story of Henry Grim, an orphan working as a servant at the Midsummer School for Boys, and he's not too thrilled about it. He's treated poorly by those he works with, and is the recipient of a lot of negativity from the students with wealthier upbringings. What keeps him going are his secret lessons with Professor Stratford--which are actually preparation for an exam for the school for knights, Knightley Academy. The thing is, no one has passed the entrance exam for years--but wait; Henry isn't even a student! Through a little loophole in the exam rules (anyone that resides at the Midsummer school may participate), Henry is allowed to sit the exam. He is accepted after getting spectacular marks, but he's the only one at the school to pass--and a commoner, nonetheless! His acceptance causes quite a stir not just at the Midsummer School, but across the country as well.

Things get a little crazier once Henry is actually at the academy. He meets Frankie (the tomboy daughter of the headmaster) and his roommates, Adam and Rohan, who are also not your typical students. Their presence causes some controversey, and they are the targets of many a prank--some from Henry's rival, Valmont, and others much more mysterious and even sinister. Who is behind it all? The answer may surprise you... but I'm not telling!

The narration of the story is what really got me. It's witty without being overdone, and just gripping enough to make you want to sit there and read. I laughed at the little things and really sympathized with Henry and his friends, who were only trying to get used to their new surroundings. Adam, a Jewish boy, has only ever known a life of inevitable boredom--his family is full of accountants. Going to Knightley was, without a doubt, a much more preferable option for him, and was surprised to get in. Rohan (who is Indian), on the other hand, had a more privileged upbringing, but shares his struggles with the other boys. I also found a lot of amusement in Valmont, Henry's rival from the Midsummer School. After forcing his way into the school via his uncle, the disgruntled history professor, he and Henry face each other on a number of occasions and sometimes you don't know whether to love him or hate him.

There is, of course, that little familiarity I was talking about earlier... At times I felt like I would soon be walking the halls of Hogwarts, but the interesting thing about that is that Haberdasher acknowledges it (hence my favorite quote: "What do you think this is, magic school?"). There isn't a dull moment that I can recall. The plot is extremely imaginative, and I give the author a lot of credit for coming up with something as unique as Knightley Academy, because, really--sword fights? Mysterious goings-on in a Victorian setting? Competitions and something unusual brewing just underneath the surface? It's so exciting and fun!

I would recommend Knightley Academy to anyone looking for adventure, mystery, or even just something to try after reading all of the Harry Potter books. I am very much looking forward to the sequel!

For some added fun, here is a YouTube video of the author herself reading the first part of chapter 1:



(I hope that wasn't too much summary...! As I said, I'm a newbie!)