Review: Rites of Passage

Title: Rites of Passage

Author: Joy N. Hensley

Pages: 416

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Publisher: Harper Teen

Publication Date: September 9th 2014

 

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Sam McKenna’s never turned down a dare. And she's not going to start with the last one her brother gave her before he died.

So Sam joins the first-ever class of girls at the prestigious Denmark Military Academy. She’s expecting push-ups and long runs, rope climbing and mud-crawling. As a military brat, she can handle an obstacle course just as well as the boys. She's even expecting the hostility she gets from some of the cadets who don’t think girls belong there. What she’s not expecting is her fiery attraction to her drill sergeant. But dating is strictly forbidden and Sam won't risk her future, or the dare, on something so petty...no matter how much she wants him.

As Sam struggles to prove herself, she discovers that some of the boys don’t just want her gone—they will stop at nothing to drive her out. When their petty threats turn to brutal hazing, bleeding into every corner of her life, she realizes they are not acting alone. A decades-old secret society is alive and active… and determined to force her out.
At any cost.

Now time's running short. Sam must decide who she can trust...and choosing the wrong person could have deadly consequences.  

 

Review:

I usually like to start out a review with some descriptive line but in this case nothing will be able to describe this phenomenal read, so I will just say you have to go buy this book now. If you love contemporary or strong female protagonists I guarantee you will  love this book too.

 

This is definitely a breath of fresh air in young adult contemporary. You don't see many books about military schools, especially ones about females. I loved the setting of the military school it added a whole new feel to the book. It was very intense and left me on the edge of my seat. I know this is just a stand alone but I would have loved to read another book taking place at this school, it was so well written.

 

The storyline was exceptional. It was able to cover so many bases in one story. You get to read about Sam and her life as a military brat. You get to see how it has affected her family and the struggles they are going through at home. The story follows Sam as she fights for the rights of females at the Denmark Military Academy and stands up for herself. And weaving through these storylines of real life issues and struggles you get an intriguing and dangerous mystery about a secret society. The story was well  crafted and blended and I loved every moment of the plot and each sub plot.

 

We all know in literature today it is hard to come across strong female role models as protagonists. Sam McKenna is one of the best I have seen to date. She stands up for herself, her family and friends, and what she believes in. She is a determined young woman who does not give up. Girls will love Sam and her story. She will inspire and motivate woman to act, believe, and stand up for what they want for themselves and the people around them.

 

This is one of the best debut novels I have seen in 2014. Hensley hit it out of the park. I cannot wait to see more from her in coming years and already know I will be picking up her next book immediately when it comes out.

Rites of Passage is a must read!