Get our latest book recommendations, author news, and competitions right to your inbox.
Table of Contents
About The Book
From New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young comes the start of a thrilling, subversive new series about a girls-only boarding school with a terrifying secret and the friends who will stop at nothing to protect each other.
Some of the prettiest flowers have the sharpest thorns.
The Girls of Innovations Academy are beautiful and well-behaved—it says so on their report cards. Under the watchful gaze of their Guardian, they receive a well-rounded education that promises to make them better. Obedient girls, free from arrogance or defiance. Free from troublesome opinions or individual interests.
But the girls’ carefully controlled existence may not be quite as it appears. As Mena and her friends uncover the dark secrets of what’s actually happening there—and who they really are—the girls of Innovations Academy will learn to fight back.
Bringing the trademark plot twists and high-octane drama that made The Program a bestselling and award-winning series, Suzanne Young launches a new series that confronts some of today’s most pressing ethical questions.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (March 19, 2019)
- Length: 400 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534426153
- Ages: 14 - 99
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
"This book has enough plot twists to give a reader whiplash."
– Cosmopolitan, "Books You Won't Be Able To Put Down in 2019"
"Readers will be revved up for the inevitable uprising . . . a suspenseful and timely read. Readers will look forward to the sequel."
– Kirkus Reviews
"The story presents a clear, overt examination of gender and power, and it’s a carefully constructed one, highlighting the complexities of a patriarchal system that is so ingrained and so absolute that even the most well-intentioned men and women unwittingly uphold it. . . . A timely, perceptive read, this will leave readers, especially those grappling with the implications of the #metoo era, anxious for the sequel."
– BCCB
Awards and Honors
- TAYSHAS Reading List (TX)
- Florida Teens Read Award
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Girls with Sharp Sticks eBook 9781534426153
- Author Photo (jpg): Suzanne Young Photo credit Dawn Goei(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit