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yeojinqueen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
a great book but i only wish it had been a bit longer or less fast paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
kaitlyn54679's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, and Grief
cortanasreadingnook's review
Heads up, this book is full of CONTENT WARNINGS. Before reading ahead, please be informed of the following CWs/TWs:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Drug Use/Addiction
- Self-Harm
- Trichotillomania
- Eating Disorder (ED)
- Anorexia
I unfortunately had to DNF at 20%. I did not find myself enjoying this book at all. I really wanted to give it a try, but the story wasn't interesting enough for me to continue. I applaud how this book brutally deep dives into mental illnesses, but the pacing was enough put me off. With that amount of progress, I expected at least something to keep me afloat, but it did not live up to my expectations of this book as a whole.
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Drug Use/Addiction
- Self-Harm
- Trichotillomania
- Eating Disorder (ED)
- Anorexia
I unfortunately had to DNF at 20%. I did not find myself enjoying this book at all. I really wanted to give it a try, but the story wasn't interesting enough for me to continue. I applaud how this book brutally deep dives into mental illnesses, but the pacing was enough put me off. With that amount of progress, I expected at least something to keep me afloat, but it did not live up to my expectations of this book as a whole.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Self harm
sting_ray_'s review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Great depictions of mental illness
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
tbwhite23's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Blood, and Alcohol
annieslibrary's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book felt like free therapy
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
alisazhup's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“‘What?’ I forget to keep my voice down. ‘Are you crazy?’
Eleanor grins. ‘Of course. Aren’t you? Aren’t we all?’”
I knew I had to read this after how much I enjoyed Sheinmel’s other book, A Danger to Herself and Others, and because of the way the synopsis promised to bring together my two favorite themes: boarding schools and mental health.
The characters’ issues are diverse- anorexia, kleptomania, selective mutism- and I was excited to see that the author devoted one chapter to each of the backstories. I was disappointed that some of the characters seem stereotyped, especially the characters with ADHD and OCD (ADHD goes deeper than being unable to concentrate and OCD is more than wanting to be organized). However, these stereotypes didn’t show up enough to take away from my experience. Plus, some of the characters seem very realistic in contrast (Eleanor is well done).
I was interested in the chapters where we got to see Moira (the protagonist) have therapy with Dr. Prince. I read a lot of books centered around mental health and most of them skip over when the character goes to therapy. Sheinmel most likely researched how a therapist would work through grief with a person. There are certain phrases/teachings I’ll remember from Dr. Prince (“move forward, not on”) (“this is what it is”).
I remember loving A Danger to Herself and Others because it showed the truth about how not everyone with mental health issues gets a happy ending. The Castle School showed that sometimes people with mental illnesses do recover. We need to see both things in literature.
Themes:
✅Boarding schools
✅Mental health
✅Therapy
✅Grief
Similar Books:
✅The Year After You by Nina de Pass
✅A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel
✅It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
Eleanor grins. ‘Of course. Aren’t you? Aren’t we all?’”
I knew I had to read this after how much I enjoyed Sheinmel’s other book, A Danger to Herself and Others, and because of the way the synopsis promised to bring together my two favorite themes: boarding schools and mental health.
The characters’ issues are diverse- anorexia, kleptomania, selective mutism- and I was excited to see that the author devoted one chapter to each of the backstories. I was disappointed that some of the characters seem stereotyped, especially the characters with ADHD and OCD (ADHD goes deeper than being unable to concentrate and OCD is more than wanting to be organized). However, these stereotypes didn’t show up enough to take away from my experience. Plus, some of the characters seem very realistic in contrast (Eleanor is well done).
I was interested in the chapters where we got to see Moira (the protagonist) have therapy with Dr. Prince. I read a lot of books centered around mental health and most of them skip over when the character goes to therapy. Sheinmel most likely researched how a therapist would work through grief with a person. There are certain phrases/teachings I’ll remember from Dr. Prince (“move forward, not on”) (“this is what it is”).
I remember loving A Danger to Herself and Others because it showed the truth about how not everyone with mental health issues gets a happy ending. The Castle School showed that sometimes people with mental illnesses do recover. We need to see both things in literature.
Themes:
✅Boarding schools
✅Mental health
✅Therapy
✅Grief
Similar Books:
✅The Year After You by Nina de Pass
✅A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel
✅It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Blood, Medical content, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying
imstephtacular's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was wholly unexpected. I thought I was going to get a dark psychological thriller, but ended up getting a messy, poignant analysis of grief.
This book was beautifully executed with smart pacing. I was compelled to read it in one sitting.
It dealt with a lot of heavy issues through the perspective of a teen really working through huge emotions and circumstances. I liked that therapy was woven into the story and thought the therapy sparked some interesting discussions and points.
I look forward to reading this author’s previous works.
This book was beautifully executed with smart pacing. I was compelled to read it in one sitting.
It dealt with a lot of heavy issues through the perspective of a teen really working through huge emotions and circumstances. I liked that therapy was woven into the story and thought the therapy sparked some interesting discussions and points.
I look forward to reading this author’s previous works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Forced institutionalization
theartsybookwitch's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Tw // blood, tattoos, death, ADHD, anorexia, drugs, addiction, heroin, eating disorders, PTSD (briefly mentioned), alcoholism, depression, knives, razor blades, self sabotage, cutting, needles, self violence, OCD, food, selective mutism, forced to leave, mention of experimentation, cancer, car accident, brain cancer, drugs
Spoilers below
“Saying what if never helped anyone. You can’t undo the bad things that have happened. Pain can’t be avoided, but it can be accepted.”
YALL.
I went into The Castle School thinking it was a mystery novel, but what I got was so much better.
The Castle School took a deep dive into the taboo subjects ((grief, depression, alcoholism, to name a few)) and in my opinion turned it into something beautiful.
I loved reading the chapters of how all the girls were subjected to coming to The Castle School, and how each girl deals with her vice in their own ways.
I feel like this couldn’t have come to me a better time, as I am dealing with grief and death over half a year later. Sheinmel describes grief with a stunning outlook.
Moira’s journey and self discovery was dynamic and reflective of how she was feeling. I feel like Moira was good as a main character but I would’ve loved to see the others as main characters as well.
Overall, TCS has a slow pace but is so powerful and beautiful.
"For one second before I fall asleep, I think I hear music. But maybe I’m already dreaming."
"Natural beauty, Mei decided, was not a straight thing, not a right-angled thing. Beauty was alphabetization and carefully laid plans. Beauty was counting each bristle on a toothbrush, each slat in the blinds hanging above the living room windows. What was beautiful about something as random as the looks she’d been born with? Something over which she had no control, over which her parents had no control?"
"I always hated it that teachers got to choose what books we read during the school year—I firmly believe that what you read is a deeply personal choice—but I quickly realize why our English classes were structured that way. It’s very dull—not to mention confusing—to listen to eleven girls talk about books I’ve never even heard of."
"In stories, things always go wrong at midnight. That’s when Cinderella’s coach turned back into a pumpkin, when she was exposed for who she really was."
"For one second before I fall asleep, I think I hear music. But maybe I’m already dreaming."
"Natural beauty, Mei decided, was not a straight thing, not a right-angled thing. Beauty was alphabetization and carefully laid plans. Beauty was counting each bristle on a toothbrush, each slat in the blinds hanging above the living room windows. What was beautiful about something as random as the looks she’d been born with? Something over which she had no control, over which her parents had no control?"
"I always hated it that teachers got to choose what books we read during the school year—I firmly believe that what you read is a deeply personal choice—but I quickly realize why our English classes were structured that way. It’s very dull—not to mention confusing—to listen to eleven girls talk about books I’ve never even heard of."
"In stories, things always go wrong at midnight. That’s when Cinderella’s coach turned back into a pumpkin, when she was exposed for who she really was."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Eating disorder, and Blood
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, and Violence
Minor: Gore and Car accident
TW // tattoos, death, ADHD, anorexia, drugs, addiction, heroin, eating disorders, PTSD (briefly mentioned), alcoholism, depression, knives, razor blades, self sabotage, cutting, needles, self violence, OCD, food, selective mutism, forced to leave, mention of experimentation, cancer, car accident, brain cancer, drugsgoldengirlbookclub's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I don’t even recall what drove me exactly to request this book—maybe it was the idea of a boarding school or maybe that Moira was dealing with the grief of losing her best friend—but whatever it was, I am so glad this book found its way to me.
CW:
MC-nonpracticing Jewish rep, grief,
Supporting-portrayal of cutting/self harm, depression, hair pulling, adhd, anger, selective mutism, ED, etc
This book was such a great, realistic look at mental illness and grief and in a way that didn’t glorify or abhor them but just presented it as it is.
I went in thinking from the description that there would be some sort of fantasy or escapism mystery but instead the author showed us in real time that it’s exactly that kind of thinking that allows us to avoid dealing with our pain and ourselves. While the MC Moira is showing us how she is adjusting to life in the castle school, we also see glimpses into the other 11 girl’s’ viewpoints and how they ended up at the school as well. And through the escape to the other school we see Moira and the others begin to face their own inner turmoil with the help of eachother and Dr. Prince.
Moira’s experience with loss and grief resonated so powerfully for myself, not only because it was so raw and real and true but because it is so similar to that of my own story and the loss of my brother. This is a book that I think will provide catharsis for readers who have lost someone who died too young and didn’t know how to deal with that loss. This book will speak to those who have dealt with mental illness and been told they were too much to deal with, too broken, for their families or therapists to deal with anymore. It’s a book that says it’s okay to show those parts of yourself, to grieve, to be vulnerable, and that everyone is going through things that may or may not be visible to others. It’s about the messiness of loving and dying, of living with mental illness, of resentment and forgiveness and second chances and seeking help.
It’s one of those books that will stay with me for my life and that I hope to recommend to others struggling with these things in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and Source Books Fire for this arc.
CW:
MC-nonpracticing Jewish rep, grief,
Supporting-portrayal of cutting/self harm, depression, hair pulling, adhd, anger, selective mutism, ED, etc
This book was such a great, realistic look at mental illness and grief and in a way that didn’t glorify or abhor them but just presented it as it is.
I went in thinking from the description that there would be some sort of fantasy or escapism mystery but instead the author showed us in real time that it’s exactly that kind of thinking that allows us to avoid dealing with our pain and ourselves. While the MC Moira is showing us how she is adjusting to life in the castle school, we also see glimpses into the other 11 girl’s’ viewpoints and how they ended up at the school as well. And through the escape to the other school we see Moira and the others begin to face their own inner turmoil with the help of eachother and Dr. Prince.
Moira’s experience with loss and grief resonated so powerfully for myself, not only because it was so raw and real and true but because it is so similar to that of my own story and the loss of my brother. This is a book that I think will provide catharsis for readers who have lost someone who died too young and didn’t know how to deal with that loss. This book will speak to those who have dealt with mental illness and been told they were too much to deal with, too broken, for their families or therapists to deal with anymore. It’s a book that says it’s okay to show those parts of yourself, to grieve, to be vulnerable, and that everyone is going through things that may or may not be visible to others. It’s about the messiness of loving and dying, of living with mental illness, of resentment and forgiveness and second chances and seeking help.
It’s one of those books that will stay with me for my life and that I hope to recommend to others struggling with these things in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and Source Books Fire for this arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, and Grief