In the Company of Crazies

When things take a turn for the worst after the death of a classmate, shoplifting Mia Singer is sent away by her parents to an alternative school where, with the space and distance from friends and family, she actually gets to evaluate past events and honestly meet herself for the very first time in her life.

Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce for TeensReadToo.com

When Mia Singer's life gets to be a little too much too handle after a volleyball teammate dies, it changes drastically. When she's caught shoplifting, her family has had enough, and she is shipped off to an "alternative" boarding school, Mountain Laurel. Mountain Laurel is home to the "crazies" mentioned in the title, and it's nothing like any school Mia has ever attended.

Much of their time at Mountain Laurel is devoted to journal writing, and the snippets from Mia's journal included in the text make an interesting addition to this book. The characters in the story, Mia included, are wonderful, and the idea of the story is interesting enough, yet much of the book lacks the "spark" that show more would make it fabulous. However, Mountain Laurel is a very interesting setting, and the issues addressed in the book make it smart and thought-provoking, as well as a good read.

IN THE COMPANY OF CRAZIES is a very well-written book, enough so that I'd consider reading other books by Nora Raleigh Baskin, but not so much that I'd spend much time actively seeking them out. Still, though, it's certainly worth reading! show less