Moira Dreyfuss is seventeen years old and she lives in Manhattan. Even though she lives in one of the most exciting cities in the world, Moira feels alone. Her best (and only) friend, Nathan, has recently lost his battle with cancer and Moira is truly struggling to cope with this loss. She starts skipping school, acting out, refusing to eat, and even uses a fake ID to get a tattoo behind her parents’ back. At their wit’s end because they don’t know how to help her, Moira’s parents opt to send her away to The Castle School, a boarding school located in rural Maine along the coast. The headmaster is a doctor so not only will Moira attend classes to continue her school, but she will also attend therapy sessions with the headmaster.

As the school’s name implies, The Castle School is just that, a castle, and it looks like something out of a Gothic novel. Couple that with bars on the windows and the confiscation of all electronics and Moira is practically a prisoner, completely cut off from the outside world. I think because of this eerie, remote setting and the way Moira is introduced to the school, I was expecting this novel to be a mystery, thriller, or even a horror story (something along the lines of a Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children novel), but it’s none of those things. While there are a few small mysteries sprinkled throughout, by and large, The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) by Alyssa Sheinmel is a YA contemporary that explores grief, mental illness, and dysfunctional family relationships.

There are actually twelve girls in all at the school, but Moira is the one we follow most closely. We follow her as she meets and gradually begins to bond with the rest of the girls and as she learns why each of them has ended up at the school. Each girl’s story was just as heartbreaking and lonely as Moira’s, and each girl also had a history of mental illness, so it was great to watch them all bond and act as a support system for each other. Aside from watching Moira interact with these girls and start to form friendships, we also follow Moira to her therapy sessions, which were unusual, in part because Moira is so resistant to the idea of exploring her own thoughts and feelings about where she is in life. Instead, she spends most of her sessions asking the Doctor questions about his school. Why a castle? Why only twelve girls?, etc. He patiently humors her and answers her questions as he waits for her to come around and willingly discuss why she has landed at his school. I found that doctor/patient relationship quite interesting to watch develop, particularly because it is through Moira’s questions that we learn more about the school and rhyme or reason as to why the doctor runs thing as he does.

In addition to being an exploration of grief and mental illness, The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) is also a coming of age story in the sense that Moira has to figure out who she is and what her place in this world is without her best friend by her side. Moira’s journey is heartbreaking at times and the author does a wonderful job of making the overall story a compelling one that I found myself completely invested in.

The blurb will make you think this is a strange, Gothic mystery of some kind, with lightning and hidden rooms and possibly damsels in distress. It's not; it's a careful, involved, nuanced exploration of grief and other mental difficulties. Although the story is mostly Moira's, her classmates each get a chapter to describe ther background and what brought them to the school. They are from all backgrounds and have many different problems, but they are all teenage girls and it's lovely to see them come together.

I did think the relationship was kind of bolted on, but I find that's often true in YA novels, and it was kind of sweet. I just felt it was a little unnecessary.

I loved watching Moira slowly start to realise the motives of people around her, watching her start to notice things again and pay attention to things. It was very touching.

Over all, a great read and really nice. I cried a bit! I'll be recommending this one.

I received an ARC thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a fan of the author's prior work (A Danger To Herself And Others), which made me want to read this on it's own. The cover, title, and blurb only solidified that desire. Mental illness is addressed. Grief. Family conflict. All of these big topic things that need to be discussed with teenagers because these experiences are normal but largely ignored. This creates the stigma that it is not okay to not be okay, which is not okay (had to, sorry!).

It addressed all this tough topics well, but it felt surface level. None of it was really fully explored. Yes, we experience Moira's emotions and struggle, but I didn't feel fully connected to her. I love the looks into the past (of Moira and the other girls), but wish there was more. I think the surprise in the forest really took away from the story rather than adding to it. I would have rather had Moira exploring all aspects of The Castle to find evidence rather than those trips, which felt pointless in the end. The other character those trips did effect could had the same arc without it if approached from a different way.

I enjoyed Randy, and wish there was more development with him and his relationship with Moira. My favorite scenes were those in the kitchen and I would have loved to see more of that.

Overall, it'll likely be for some, but not for me.

I started reading The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) awhile back after I was approved for it. I enjoying it and the writing. It's a wonderful book about the different mental illnesses people deal with. But it IS a slower and thought provoking novel. I'm not sure if I'm in the right headspace, myself, to have fully enjoyed the book to it's full potential. Which is why it took me awhile to finish it. I definitely recommend giving it a try, though.

The Castle School (For Troubled Girls) by Alyssa Sheinmel is a young adult contemporary novel about a teenage girl grieving a loss so large her parents send her to a therapeutic girl’s school in a castle in the woods of Maine.
Alyssa is a factoid loving Manhattanite who has spent months in deep mourning. Without consulting her her parent’s hire a duo of bodyguards to escort her to a mysterious school called The Castle School run by Dr. Prince. At first, Alyssa is predictably reluctant to participate in any of the opportunities at the unusual school but finds herself drawn into the personalities of the other eleven girls residing there and the mystery of the matching boys castle on the other side of the woods.
The Castle School (For Troubled Girls) is partly a literary novel about what unchecked trauma looks like in teen girls but also with a mystery with hints of a modern day retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. From the point of view of the other girls we see struggles with compulsive stealing, cutting, excessive drinking, anorexia and drug abuse. As Moira explores the two castles, she learns more about her new roommates and discovers more about what method of healing they are supposed to be practicing at The Castle.
I think readers will enjoy Moira and her researched facts into the everyday words and expressions we use. It adds a little extra to the novel and elevates the text. She is deeply affected by her loss but still interested enough in the people around her to move the story forward. The lessons she learns about grief, forgiveness and life after loss are something we can all apply to our own lives and I found it really relatable. I recommend this novel to readers of all ages. 3.75 stars rounded up to 4

My copy of The Castle School (For Troubled Girls) by Alyssa Sheinmel was provided by NetGalley and the publisher for review purposes.

The Castle School(for Troubled Girls) follows Moira, a girl who is sent to a boarding school/recovery center after the death of her best friend.
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This book wasn’t anything like I expected, but not necessarily in a bad way. I thought it would be a high action thriller, but it was quieter and more contemplative. It discussed more about mental illness and some trauma in teenagers, and how they are not only their struggles. I cannot speak to all of them being good representation, but some of them definitely resonated. I think it is written in a way to see yourself in these struggling girls who are able to recover. They are a sum of all there parts and still have other personality traits.
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I loved the female friendships and the bond that they formed, although the romance was not my favorite and felt unnecessary.
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Overall, I would recommend this to those looking for a slower, more thoughtful read.
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MAJOR tws- self harm, eating disorders, grief, addiction, alcoholism, cancer, drug abuse, death, blood, suicidal thoughts

I thought this book was really unique read. I think this book reminds me so much of a book like recovery road or the older t.v show higher ground. I LIKED how this book tackled so many issues that young people face today like drugs, alcohol cutting but also a massive focus on grief and PTSD. This book also focused on the lost of friendship and that really struck. me. I really did like the chapters the POV of the girls in this story. The mystery did not wow me, but I really enjoyed the read!

The Castle School was a phenomenal read. I got Truly Devious vibes the whole way through and this was hard to put down. Definitely one of my favorite titles I’ve received on here! I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Only "troubled" girls are sent to The Castle School, so why is Moira being sent there? Moira isn't a troubled kid, right? Sure, she got a tattoo, skipped a lot of school, and sometimes forgets to eat, but that doesn't make her a troubled kid. Plus she's still dealing with the death of her best friend so who can really blame her? Apparently, her parents can. Upon arrival at The Castle School, it's clear that things really aren't right here. Why are there only 12 girls, why don't they have real classes, and why is there another castle not far away? Upon discovering a second castle, seemingly the exact opposite of the first castle, the story really develops. As we learn more about Moira, the Castle school really develops and takes some surprising twists. Overall, a positive portrayal of mental health diagnoses, trauma, and processing it all through therapy.

4/5 Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book wasn’t what I expected and it’s still a good thing because it was amazingly written. I enjoyed every minute reading this book. I felt like I could really relate to the characters and I really liked what the author did with the plot. It sorta keeps you guessing as to what’s really happening in the story because it’s coming from the point of view of Moira who is figuring everything out at the Castle school and thinks that there’s something not quite right about what’s going on at the school. We don’t really know what truly is going on until nearly the end of the book and it definitely takes your mind on a trip psychologically. I’m giving it 5 stars, loved it, was here for it. Everyone should give this book a read!

THE CASTLE SCHOOL (FOR TROUBLED GIRLS) is a story of healing and friendship. Moira has been cast adrift since the death of her BFF, Nathan. She feels so much guilt about a promise she broke and she misses him terribly. After she gets a tattoo, which is forbidden because of her Jewish faith, her parents tell her that they are sending her to The Castle School, which seems like a new age reform school.

Moira arrives feeling rejected and highly skeptical of the school and its mission. There are eleven other girls there, who are each dealing with their own issues. They have group therapy in the morning, followed by a loose class, and then personal therapy in the afternoon. When Moira finds the lock on the window broken, she sneaks out and finds another Castle School that seems completely different, beginning with the students being boys.

As Moira spends time with the girls at the school, she begins to learn more about herself, her emotions, and how to move forward. The book is told mostly from Moira's perspective over time, with interludes from each of the girls in the school about the way that they developed the symptom that led them to The Castle School. I found the writing to be compelling, and although it seemed like a mystery/thriller, this ended up being more of a contemporary fiction about grief and healing.

The story took a few twists I was not expecting, but I found it all to come together fairly well. I appreciated seeing Moira's interactions with the others and getting insights into her therapy, as well as glimpses into her past and how these reflections change over time. The pacing seemed to change between the beginning, middle, and end, and the tone similarly changed. While it was not what I expected, I did appreciate the story. I really found the interludes of each of the girls to be particularly compelling, almost as short stories that pulled the reader in and which could have stood alone.

Overall, I found it to be a compelling YA contemporary. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Jumping into this book, I wasn't sure what I would feel. I knew this story was about a girl who lost her best friend. I knew that this girl was so devastated that her parents couldn't feel like they could give her what she needed to heal. But as I read more, I realized that was only part of this story.

One thing I loved about this book was that it included scenes from the other girl's POVs. We get a view at teenage alcoholism and drug abuse, self harm, depression, anorexia, trichotillomania (pulling your hair out), selective mutism, grief, and more. In this home of twelve girls, even though Moira is our main point of view, we get to see the other girls stories and understand why there were at The Castle School as well.

Following along with Moira, her journey with grief gave me a lot of insight on my own journey with grief. Unfortunately, everyone will lose someone in their life. Someone they love will die and while some deaths are easier to accept, others will devastate us. I have felt that devastation before. That feeling that the death wasn't fair and somehow, someway, if something was different, maybe this wouldn't have happened. But it did. Watching Moira learn about her grief and come to accept that she not only wasn't at fault, but that she can enjoy life after losing her best friend, made me really emotional. I was tearing up a lot at the end.

I loved the message of this book and while it was interesting to see the dichotomy of the two schools, I was more invested in the girl's journey of healing. I was so happy for Moira at the end, after she felt like she had some closure, and while I was sad for another character (no spoilers), I felt like the book ended on a sounding note. This is what it is.

This book was not what I was expecting at all. I assumed based on the blurb that this was a thriller/mystery. But The Castle School (for troubled girls) was much more than that. I only put this here so people can know what they’re reading. I would hate to see bad reviews because someone was expecting a thriller.

Moira Dreyfus has been acting out since the death of her best friend. Her parents decide to send her to a boarding school where she can get therapy and start to heal.

This book was deep. I really enjoy books that touch on mental health, the author did a great job of showing different mental health issues. It’s so important for YA readers to read books like this one.
I sped through this one, I found myself so invested in all the girls from the school.

This is a story about grief, loss, friendship, and more. If you’re searching for a book with lots of mental illness rep, this is definitely the book for you.

Super grateful to Sourcebookss Fire and Netgalley for the eARC of this book.

I assumed this book would just be a mystery about a boarding school, but it ended up being so much more than that. The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) dealt with mental illness, grief, and more in an honestly beautiful and true way. The main character, Moira, was extremely relatable, and even though this book is about grief, by the end, Moria learns not to let her grief define her as a person. The author did a great job exploring what it is like to have to move forward and survive after a loved one dies. This is truly a really good book, and I would definitely recommend The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) to anyone facing grief themselves and anyone who is interested in character growth and acceptance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

*I'd like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review*

Okay, so let me preface this review by saying: This book is not what I expected it to be. I looked at the cover, saw the blood-splotch-like design and crooked lettering and thought, Ooh, a mystery! Can't wait to dive into this one!

Spoiler warning, people: This book isn't much of a mystery. It's maybe 11% mystery. I read through the entire book expecting some grand reveal, an evil plot thwarted, the mad scientists caught in the act of conducting crazy experiments, something. ​But we didn't get that. There wasn't really much of a mystery, and most of the "suspicious" things were just figments of Moira's imagination due to her grief. There were also some mysteries related to Moira's past experiences and choices, but none of them were particularly shocking.

So I'll admit that I was a little disappointed that there wasn't much mystery in this book since that's what I was expecting. And okay, okay, I probably shouldn't have gone ahead and assumed it was a mystery just based on the cover (don't judge a book by its cover, I know), but I mean, ​look at the cover: It's such a mystery novel cover! It just screams ​MYSTERY!!!

But I digress. What I'm trying to say, in an extremely long-winded manner, is that my expectations for this book didn't match the actual content of the book.

HOWEVER. That is not to say that I didn't enjoy this book. I think that I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't had such skewed expectations, but I still thought it was a great book.

So, having now ranted for several hundred words about this book's cover, let's talk about the content of this book (which is what truly matters!).

This book surprised me by how much it centered around mental health and mental illnesses. I hadn't realized that this was the main subject of this novel when I picked it up, but I found that I really enjoyed it. After losing her best friend to cancer, protagonist Moira struggles with grief, so much so that her parents decide to send her away to The Castle School, which is supposed to help girls who deal with mental health issues. One thing that I found very interesting in this book were Moira's sessions with Dr. Prince, the school's peculiar but kind headmaster. Their discussions were very engaging and made me think about and reconsider some of my own behaviors and thoughts. I also felt that these sessions were portrayed realistically and honestly.

While this book focused on Moira and her struggle with grief, it also touched on the experiences and mental illnesses of the other girls whom Moira meets and lives with at The Castle School. Between every few chapters from Moira's perspective, there would be a chapter from the third-person perspective of one of the other girls. These chapters were actually some of my favorites because they allowed a brief look into the other girls' lives and their experiences with their mental illnesses. The author discussed mental illnesses in an honest manner without turning any of the characters into stereotypes. I appreciated how each character had their own unique story for how her mental illness developed and what experiences she endured because of it.

​Also, I'd lastly like to note that I found the ending immensely satisfying. That heart-to-heart between Moira and her mom was so touching, it almost brought me to tears (and that's saying something because it takes a lot for a book to make me cry). It was inspiring to to see Moira's character grow and change throughout the book; she had a beautiful character arc. I also liked how there was just a little bit of romance in this book, but nothing distracting or overpowering, just enough to be sweet. I enjoyed reading about the friendships in this book, too; it was heartwarming to see Moira and the other girls grow close and form friendships.

Even though this book wasn't what I expected it to be, I still enjoyed it a lot! I highly recommend this to anyone looking for an interesting contemporary that centers around mental health with a teeny tiny touch of mystery (like that little glob of wasabi on the edge of an hors d'oeuvre platter). I gave this book 4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨. Thank you for reading my review of The Castle School (For Troubled Girls)!

The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) by Alyssa Sheinmel is an unexpected story, something unique and innovative on the YA contemporary scene. When main character Moira is sent away to an all-girls boarding school, she must navigate grief, loss, and friendship in unusual circumstances.

The Castle School seems like an experiment. Home to twelve girls with a range of mental illnesses, the school offers light therapy, opportunities for friendships, and seclusion from the rest of the world. This unique setting is unlike the inpatient facilities of other books; it is something new and unpredictable. Author Alyssa Sheinmel’s worldbuilding plays an important role in establishing the tone for Moira’s story.

As Moira navigates grief and guilt in the wake of losing her best friend, she is forced to think about her other relationships and her responses to all the events in her life. Likewise, the other girls at the Castle School are dealing with personal struggles, ranging from eating disorders to depression, trichotillomania, self-harm, ADHD, alcoholism, drug addiction, and more. The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) represents a diverse range of mental illnesses.

The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) is a story about grief, loss, friendship, and more. If you’re searching for a book with lots of mental illness rep, you might like this story.

*PLEASE LOOK UP TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING THIS BOOK*

This book was not what I thought it was going to be. I was expecting a campy boarding school romance, but what I got was a beautifully written description of what it is like to grieve. Sheinmel included a lot of different issues in this book, and it was hard to read about some of them, especially in the way that she wrote about them so openly. This book made me uncomfortable at some points, but I think that's a good thing, because there are not a lot of books that talk about the issues like she does. Sometimes we like to pretend that the issues these girls are facing are not as drastic as they seem because it is hard to imagine someone going through something like that, but since Sheinmel writes about them in a way that makes it impossible to ignore them, it allows the reader to understand that there is more to these issues than we could ever imagine. I loved how Sheinmel described Moria's journey with her grief, and how she opened up her heart to those around her without even realizing it.

You know how sometimes books start out seemingly innocent enough but then it turns out there’s a dark plot that the main character uncovers? This book has the opposite; the main character starts off untrusting and slightly paranoid, and over the course of the book, she heals, grows, and realizes the truth of the “school” is exactly as it seems, and nobody’s motives were what she assumed. That may sound boring, but it was refreshing, and really beautiful.

My main complaint: The main character is grieving throughout the story and at the beginning she hears her dead friend’s voice (pretty frequently) narrating her life. I understand why this was done, and at the risk of sounding unsympathetic, for me it was just too much. I became frustrated with her grief because I didn’t care enough to feel for her yet, and the interruptions from Nathan were just that...disruptive and didn’t seem to add anything. I wouldn’t have gotten rid of them entirely, just toned it down a bit.

Overall, I loved the main character’s journey, and thought her growth was portrayed in a lovely manner. I even cried (twice!!) so I eventually did become emotionally tied to Moira, it just took some time because it takes time for her to let down her walls, even to us, the reader (which I liked). This book was different than I’d anticipated based on the description, but I was happily surprised by the depth of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 4/5 stars.

This book wasn't at all what I was anticipating. I was predicting it would be a dark academia novel, where sinister things happen to the girls at this school in the middle of nowhere. It took some unexpected turns, and I love how the author gives the girls' backstories throughout the novel. Even though it was different than anticipated, I really loved the story and how the characters changed over time, especially Moira.

This is a fun mystery thriller set in a boarding school. I thought Alyssa did a good job addressing mental illness relating to the loss of someone close to you from a teenager's perspective.