Spotlight: The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy

Looking for magic, mystery, and feminism? You’ll find it in Anne Ursu’s middle-grade fantasy The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy.

Marya is overlooked by her parents, who only pay attention to her brother Luka. He may possess the magic to become a sorcerer. They are the only defense their land has against the Dread, a terrible and mysterious force that kills whole villages with almost no warning, like a deadly fog.

When Luka fails the magic test, the family blames Marya, who is then banished to the Dragomir Academy, a strange and strict school for girls who don’t fit in the the norms of their society.

Marya suspects the teachers at the Academy are not telling the students the whole truth about magic and the Dread. She decides to dig into the history of the school and its secrets. I loved that she headed to the school library for help and answers. Marya forges friendships with the other students as she tries to solve the mystery.

This book has so much to offer with its magic, suspense, and mystery, and I admired how Marya questioned the status quo. Give it to your favorite social justice warrior in training.