One Year at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks

But it also has that touch of magic, which comes as a bit of a surprise when it enters the story. The girls help each other through Jun's first year and protect each other from Emily and the other mean girls.Ĭlearly, this novel deals with a lot of classic issues in kids' books: bullying, friendship, disparities in wealth, and more. One day while out on the grounds, Cassie tells Jun a rumored story about a mysterious creature that lives in the woods, from before Ellsmere was even a school. Cassie welcomes Jun with open arms, and the two girls are soon inseparable. Luckily, Jun has a very sweet roommate named Cassie, who is one of Emily's favorite targets. The other girls all come from wealthy families and immediately snub the new girl and 'charity case.' Emily is the meanest of the mean girls, but Jun puts her in her place on the first day, which creates a powerful enemy. Jun is smart enough to be there, but she can see right away that she doesn't exactly fit in.

Jun, the daughter of a single mother, is their first scholarship student, and she's happy to have the opportunity since their graduates go on to attend some of the most prestigious universities.

Juniper (Jun, for short) has just arrived at Ellsmere, an exclusive boarding school. I recently enjoyed reading the middle-grade graphic novel One Year at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks, a realistic boarding school novel with just a hint of magic mixed in.