The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy

I will say upfront that if you call something a fairy tale retelling, I am probably going to read it. My love of fairy tales really knows no bounds, and I am always especially intrigued when an author sets the retelling in modern times. The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is indeed set in modern times, and is one of those books where hardly anyone realizes just what's happening and how odd (or magical) the occurrences are. The narrator is a fifth grade girl named Lorelai, who is still reeling from her mother's death, which she feels she played a role in. It's her secret guilt, and it's basically burying her. When you combine what Lorelai is going through (she also struggles with a learning disability that her father won't seek show more treatment for) with the fairy tale aspect, you get a book that is quite dark for its target age group, at least in my opinion. That's not to say it's over the top dark, because it's not, but there's really nothing fluffy about this book in the slightest.

The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, and definitely goes the way of the Grimm Brothers in terms of its "happily-ever-after" qualities. While her father marries her "stepmonster" Molly, a school is literally built over the weekend. When the school Lorelai was supposed to attend mysteriously burns down, her father and Molly decide to send Lorelai and her brother, Brian, to the new Splendid Academy. The school seems too good to be true: the children get two meals for free, the class sizes are fairly small, there are hardly any rules at all, and the playground is straight out of every single child's combined imagination. But Lorelai and her classmate, Andrew, soon discover that something very strange is going on at the school, and become the only two to realize who's really in charge and what the ultimate plan is for the students.

Considering that this is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, you can probably guess where this book goes in terms of its overall plot. But there were a lot of things that made me wince; Lorelai's stepmonster is absolutely awful and I wanted to shake her father for not seeing just how terrible a person she really is; one of the teachers in the school treats the children absolutely terribly, which hurt my educator-trained heart; and Lorelai is clearly suffering from her mother's death and no one has done a single thing for her. Add to that Andrew's problem with obesity, and this book has no shortage of deep and dark topics. But I found it all to be handled really well; nothing was dumbed down in any way, but it was still something that's readable and able to be comprehended by the age group that's most likely going to be drawn to the book. I give the author two thumbs up for not shying away from the darkness and even embracing it at some points. I felt like it added a richness to the story that wouldn't have otherwise been there if she'd gone made things "happily-ever-after" fluffy.

All in all, I found The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy to be a very enjoyable read. It deals with some heavy topics, particularly for the age group it's marketed for, but it does it in a way that anyone would understand and be able to relate to the story. Throw in some fairy tale magic, a fabulous climax, and a headstrong main character, and you get a book that's engaging and thought-provoking, without the completely over-the-top ending that usually occurs in the fairy tales we all know and love. If you want a book where the main character isn't perfect, but takes control of her destiny and tries to right the wrongs in her life, then I'd definitely recommend this. It's now available in North America from a bookseller of your choice.

An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less

This book is creepy. I mean, I'm an adult and I was scared for Lorelei. She is a girl facing a great deal of sadness and guilt. We learn early on that her mother died last year and for some reason, Lorelei feels guilty about this. When a beautiful new school with an amazing playground suddenly appears, and their old school mysteriously burns down, Lorelei and her brother are enrolled at Splendid Academy. This school is unlike any school they have been to before. They are allowed to run in the halls, leave class whenever they want, don't have to raise their hands, and get to eat.... a lot. The school provides breakfast and lunch, and there is a bowl of candy at each student's desk that never goes empty. None of the students notice show more anything unusual, except for one overweight boy, Andrew. Andrew tries to convince Lorelei that something is wrong, but will she be able to see past her guilt to the truth, especially when the truth is so unbelievable? Lorelei is so sad and so alone. The new principal appeals to her loneliness and makes her feel warm and loved - she hasn't felt that way since her mother died. Lorelei wants to believe the principal is good, she needs to believe it. This book deals with so many serious issues and it is pretty dark. I enjoyed it and finished it quickly. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen next. show less

Originally posted at A Reader of Fictions.

Middle grade fiction is my new favorite thing. I still haven't read that much, but I have yet to be seriously disappointed by any of the ones I've picked up. The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is incredibly delightful, one of my favorites thus far. Full of dark humor and classic fairy tale plot elements, it's a story that delighted me from beginning to end, giving me a perverse desire to eat everything.

If you pay attention to my little reading widget, you might know that it took me weeks to read this despite its brevity. This was my iPod touch book, for reading while in lines. I read a lot of it while waiting at the DMV so I could get my license renewed. Thank goodness I had a delightful show more book to buoy me up during that harrowingly mind-numbing experience. While, you could easily devour this delicious book in one sitting, it also worked well as a book to nibble at and savor. I had no trouble picking it back up after a week of not reading, the story remaining fresh in my mind.

I will say that TSSoSA is not a book you should read if you want to be surprised. Maybe if I were a middle grader, I would feel differently, but, as a lover of fairy tales, I always knew where the plot was headed. Sometimes, though, I think that's a good thing. There's something comforting about that, like a big ol' bowl of mashed potatoes. This retelling of Hansel and Gretel (with a whole bunch of other tales mixed in) does some unique clever things, but reads very much like a classic fairy tale.

Nikki Loftin's writing is simply perfectly matched to the tale. She's witty and clever. The story is told in first person by Lorelei. Unlike a lot of children's books, she's not a prodigy, just a regular girl. Her voice rings pure and authentic, complete with childish snits, self-recrimination, and problem solving. She struggles with feelings of guilt over her mother's death and anger at her father's marriage to the obnoxious Molly.

The one thing I don't get about TSSoSA is Molly. She certainly fills the role of evil stepmother incredibly well, money-grubbing and child-hating. However, I fail to see why Molly would ever have married Lorelei's dad. She obviously has expensive tastes and begrudges any money spent on the kids, but she married a poor man. Why? It really doesn't matter from a plot perspective, but I found myself musing on that a lot.

When Splendid Academy pops up over night in their little town, Bryan and Lorelei desperately want to go, lured by the siren call of the coolest playground ever. Due to the convenient burning of the local school and the affordable nature of Splendid, they get to go. Not only that, but it turns out to be every child's dream, school days consisting solely of breakfast, lunch, snack times, and recesses. I think I'm getting old because instead of being even slightly envious, I kept worrying about how much their education would be set back if they survived Splendid and went back to public education.

Also, I loved Andrew. He's Lorelei's only friend, the fattest boy in school. I feel like there are rarely fat people in fiction, and they are usually figures of mockery. Not so, Andrew. He does get mocked of course, children being terrible, vicious creatures (something Loftin does not flinch away from depicting), but he is obviously one of the best and smartest in the school. Even better, Andrew knows why he's overweight and is working on it, which has given him incredible self-control to the degree that he figures out what's going on at Splendid, having had to train himself not to pig out on food.

TSSoSA is utterly charming. If you're looking for a wonderful fairy tale, look no further. Get yourself a big bag of M&Ms and start reading! show less

Nikki Loftin's The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is a deliciously creepy middle grade novel. Imparting lessons about friendship, eating well, and believing in yourself, Loftin's debut is sure to find fans among young and old readers alike.

I especially enjoyed the bits of The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy that were creepy and bore a strong resemblance to Roald Dahl's novels. In fact, this novel feels very much like an updated version of Dahl's novels The Witches and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Readers who like these types of novels will definitely enjoy Loftin's style as well!

Lorelei is a wonderful main character; she's caring, curious, and believes in herself. I was so happy to see her befriend Andrew, a boy who show more isn't always so sure of himself. Not only did they make a great team, they provided a fantastic example of the benefits of looking beyond outside and initial appearances to the person within.

The novel is packed with magic and mystery, making it more fantastical than realistic, but it still leaves readers with an important message about eating well and being healthy. In the real world, there (probably) isn't a witch who's trying to fatten you up so you make a better meal, but they are still definite negative consequences to bad eating habits and lack of exercise and The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is the perfect novel to start this discussion with young readers. show less

No one other than Lorelei seems to think it’s strange that a new school popped up near their house in just 3 days. One day she noticed a construction crew breaking ground, and as soon as she returns from her father’s wedding to her new stepmonster, the school is complete.

When her old grade school burns down, her father and stepmother decide to go check it out, even though a private school is not in their budget. Lorelei and her brother are immediately won over by the teachers and especially the massive playground. When they learn that all students attend on scholarship, they’re ecstatic to find out that this will be their new school.

But there’s something strange going on at Splendid Academy. The teachers seem determined to show more fatten up the kids, and the once charming teachers seem to be growing more and more sinister. It’s up to Lorelei and her new friend ANdrew to uncover the secrets before it’s too late.

I absolutely adored this book. A modern retelling of Hansel & Gretel, Nikki Loftin’s The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy reminded me a lot of Coraline and Roald Dahl’s The Witches. It totally took me back to grade school when I would devour this type of book. Ms. Loftin has reimagined one of my favorite fairytales, giving it a new and modern twist. I really enjoyed her writing style, the characters and the drawings. This is one that should be on all of your middle grader’s lists this year! show less

Everything in Lorelei Robinson’s life has changed recently, and not for the better. So when Lorelei and her annoying brother, Bryan, get accepted into the new charter school after their old school conveniently burned down, it’s like a dream come true. Things are great at first. Students can run in the hallways, text their friends, and eat special snacks during recess. A full service dining room featuring each student’s favorite dishes serves both breakfast and lunch. Additionally, there is candy galore.

But Lorelei is different from the other students. She resists the temptations of Splendid Academy along with her new friend, Andrew. As the largest boy in the school, Andrew knows all about food addiction and trigger foods. Together show more they resist being fattened up. However, Principal Trapp has other plans, and it seems that Lorelei is the principal’s special project. Being plagued by feelings of guilt and grief over her mother’s death, Lorelei wants to trust the principal. However, it’s not too soon before Lorelei and Andrew discover a chilling secret. It seems that things are not so sweet at Splendid Academy. Together Lorelei and Andrew must work as a team to save both themselves and their classmates from certain death.

The Bottom Line: Nikki Loftin’s debut novel is a winner. Both young readers and the young at heart will enjoy this modern twist on an old favorite, Hansel and Gretel. Like many fairy tales, there is an evil stepmother, a witch or two, and a lonely, good-hearted heroine. Lorelei is easy to identify with; her character is compassionate and sweet with real flaws.

This wickedly sweet confection is recommended for fans of magic, fantasy, and mystery. It’s a very quick read that is creepy and fun at the same time. Parents and teachers will appreciate the underlying themes of healthy eating, teamwork, and friendship. Highly recommended for kids in grades 4 – 7.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog. show less

Not sure how this got on my shelves. It starts off being basically a cliched plot-driven MG "I hate my stepmother and big brother" whine fest and then got creepier and creepier. About 2/3 nothing was still actually happening but the 'sinister' aspects were getting actually graphically yuckier and yuckier. Skipped to the end and it looks abrupt. Not my kind of book... but maybe a young reader who gets bored with all the nice & wholesome stories would like it?