The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy

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The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy

by Nikki Loftin (Goodreads Author)

3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 267 ratings · 105 reviews

When Lorelei's old school mysteriously burns down, a new one appears practically overnight: Splendid Academy. Rock-climbing walls on the playground and golden bowls of candy on every desk? Gourmet meals in the cafeteria, served by waiters? Optional homework and two recess periods a day? It's every kids's dream.

But Lorelei and her new friend Andrew are pretty sure it's too...more

Kindle Edition, 305 pages

Published August 21st 2012 by Razorbill

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Aug 01, 2012 Leah (The Pretty Good Gatsby) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairy-tales-retellings, 2012, america, fantasy, mythology, mg

http://theprettygoodgatsby.wordpress....

2012 is the year of retellings and until now, I can't think of any other retelling of Hansel and Gretel. The moment I heard about this book, I desperately needed to read it. Luckily I was provided with an ARC (thank you, thank you, thank you!!!) and were it not for work - and, trust me, I was seriously tempted to call off - I would have finished The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy in one sitting.

Lorelei Robinson is an eleven year old girl harboring...more http://theprettygoodgatsby.wordpress....

2012 is the year of retellings and until now, I can't think of any other retelling of Hansel and Gretel. The moment I heard about this book, I desperately needed to read it. Luckily I was provided with an ARC (thank you, thank you, thank you!!!) and were it not for work - and, trust me, I was seriously tempted to call off - I would have finished The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy in one sitting.

Lorelei Robinson is an eleven year old girl harboring a terrible secret. Since the death of her mother a year earlier, she's felt alone and ignored by her older brother and father. And her new stepmother Molly is an absolute terror.

When her school burns down, there's talk of where to send the now-schooless children. Over the weekend a new school suddenly is built and the only one who seems to notice just how quickly it appeared is Lorelei. Despite the costs of a private school, Lorelei's father agrees to check it out (much to the dismay of Molly; she'd much rather spend that money on herself).

Splendid Academy is unlike any other school. Not only does it have a pretty fantastic playground, but there are hardly any rules and it's nearly impossible to get in trouble. Students are free to wander the halls or leave their classroom if a particular lesson doesn't interest them. There are bowls of candy on every desk. Multiple recesses a day. Feel like playing with your phone instead of learning math? Go right ahead!

Even with these unbelievable perks, Splendid Academy's claim to fame is the food. Oh, that food. Students are encouraged to eat as much as they'd like and upon touring the school, they were asked about their favorite foods. In many cases, students eat better at school than they do at home.

The only one who seems to suspect something strange is going on is Andrew, a boy in Lorelei's class. Andrew is overweight and over the summer his mother had sent him off to camp. It was there he learned about controlling his eating and how to avoid cravings. While all the other students are stuffing their faces with plate after plate of food, Andrew is able to fight the temptation - and winds up dealing with the repercussions of going against the plans the school has for him.

Without giving too much away - although, given this book is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, what do you think will happen? - The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is a dark, delightful tale. I tore through this book, not just because of the quick pace, but because it was seriously that good. This book is described as Hansel and Gretel meets Coraline and that alone should send readers running to preorder it.

The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is the reason I love Middle Grade. :)(less)

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Apr 27, 2012 Samantha Clark rated it 5 of 5 stars

Quick confession, I got an early copy of this book by begging the author, who thankfully lent me one of her ARCs. How much did I like it? I can't wait until it's in stores so I can buy a copy for myself.

The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is the kind of middle grade book that's a fun adventure, bringing readers into a world we'd like to inhabit, even if there is some spooky stuff there.

But like all good stories, this novel also tells a deeper emotional tale of a girl who's trying to deal...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Sarvenaz Tash rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: apocalypsies-books

The sinister sweetness of Roald Dahl lives on (and I do not say that lightly) in this extraordinary book that combines fairy tale folklore with streaks of effortless originality all its own. The story is delightfully dark and deep: perfect for kids (and adults) who suspect that sometimes adults really have no idea what's going on and that it's up to kids to see the magic (and evil) right in front of them.

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Jul 11, 2012 Bonnie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade, mystery-thriller, fairy-tales-and-retellings, arcs-read, edelweiss-netgalley

Tagged as 'Coraline' meets 'Hansel and Gretel' but this also reminded me a lot of 'The Witches' by Roald Dahl (in a good way!)

As of late, Middle-Grade books seem to be popping up everywhere but there have been some amazingly good ones that I never would have thought I'd be able to enjoy. This is one those stories that is perfectly suited for the younger crowd but are still a fun adventure for adults as well. Highly recommended!

This debut novel was extremely well-written and will keep any reader...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Karen Yingling rated it 3 of 5 stars

Lorelei's family life is difficult. Her mother passes away from cancer, and her new stepmother Molly just doesn't understand her. When a new charter school opens near the family's home and Lorelei's regular school burns down, the decision is made to send both Lorelei and her brother Bryan to Splendid Academy. Things are suspect there, too-- bottomless bowls of candy and tons of food are provided, but as Lorelei's new friend Andrew points out, the candy and food seem to hypnotize the children. Le...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Laura Jennings rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think the thing that struck me the most about about this book was how fun it was. It was ridiculously fun, in a way that adults far too often disregard when writing for children. When you're a kid, adults are strange gods and weird tyrants, especially in landscapes twisted by emotional turmoil and social doubt. Far too many authors forget that kids still hanker for whimsy, and accept the ludicrous, because to kids, the ludicrousness of adults who ignore you, are emotionally distant, or don't b...more I think the thing that struck me the most about about this book was how fun it was. It was ridiculously fun, in a way that adults far too often disregard when writing for children. When you're a kid, adults are strange gods and weird tyrants, especially in landscapes twisted by emotional turmoil and social doubt. Far too many authors forget that kids still hanker for whimsy, and accept the ludicrous, because to kids, the ludicrousness of adults who ignore you, are emotionally distant, or don't bother to get you tested for dysgraphia is no less ludicrous than witches fattening kids up to eat them. Lorelei is a sympathetic character, but not pitiable. You root for her. The sort of school that makes no demands, gives you all the food you want, and lets you do whatever you want is an acknowledgement of the spoiled, bratty child in all of us adults in a consumerist-driven society.

I also liked the subtle social commentary within the book. If you think the idea of school that gives out candy and asks their kids to balloon up is far-fetched a silly, you haven't been paying attention to the epidemic of diabetes and obesity overtaking the children of this country. Really, the institutions that encourage rampant "eat what makes you feel good" aren't schools: they're corporations. And when parents express bewilderment that they have no idea how their kid got so fat eating fast food and sugary snacks, it makes me laugh about as much as some of the more far-fetched scenarios in the book.

I also have to say the author acknowledged the dark side of fairy tales. Long before fairy tales were sanitized, they definitely inhabited places of shadows, blood, and death. Fairy tales as metaphors for the abused and the lost act as golden threads in the labyrinth: the story teaches you how to survive the trek through dark woods with your spirit intact. Lorelei invokes the spirit of lonely latchkey kids, misunderstood populations and entire generations all too used to being left alone in single-parent households. Lorelei journeys towards redemption and confronts a truly dark, real-life truth. And considering the number of Moral Guardian writers who scold and shame the idea that children's literature have anything even remotely dark or controversial in it, I couldn't be more pleased that a fantasy novel manages it. (Fantasy, for some reason, is the genre LEAST allowed to be controversial.)

The silliness of this book is its strength: it posits that the world ensnaring Lorelei and her fellow students is our world, insanity, magic and all. Children can and are aware that darkness exists, they just stand against it with a good deal more optimism than most adults. When the sanest voice around is just a kid, that's a pretty good message for the target audience. (less)

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Sep 03, 2012 Whitney rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review isn't 100% fair because I know the author as a Zumba instructor and as the only woman who can make my mom shimmy in public, but I was very impressed by this book. It is very good for a middle range reader because it is scary and detailed enough to keep their interest, but isn't overly complicated either; that's a tough balance to have. What I really appreciate that this book is a good retelling of a fairy tale. In recent history, fairy tales haven't been told as often as they had bee...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: abusive-relationships, bullies, community, fairy-tales, families, friendship, school, teachers, ncbla2013

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 12, 2012 YA Reads Book Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nichole

Originally posted on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Nichole

A deliciously spooky middle-grade debut that’s Coraline meets Hansel and Gretel

Lorelei is bowled over by Splendid Academy–Principal Trapp encourages the students to run in the hallways, the classrooms are stocked with candy dishes, and the cafeteria serves lavish meals featuring all Lorelei’s favorite foods. But the more time she spends at school, the more suspicious she becomes. Why are her classmates growing so chubby? And why do the tea...more Originally posted on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Nichole

A deliciously spooky middle-grade debut that’s Coraline meets Hansel and Gretel

Lorelei is bowled over by Splendid Academy–Principal Trapp encourages the students to run in the hallways, the classrooms are stocked with candy dishes, and the cafeteria serves lavish meals featuring all Lorelei’s favorite foods. But the more time she spends at school, the more suspicious she becomes. Why are her classmates growing so chubby? And why do the teachers seem so sinister?
It’s up to Lorelei and her new friend Andrew to figure out what secret this supposedly splendid school is hiding. What they discover chills their bones–and might even pick them clean!
Mix one part magic, one part mystery, and just a dash of Grimm, and you’ve got the recipe for a cozy-creepy read that kids will gobble up like candy.
Lorelei’s life has been turned upside down after her mother died in a tragic (and secret) accident. Now Lorelei’s father is remarrying a wicked witch (figuratively) of a woman, and Lorelei feels like nothing could get much worse. Boy, was she wrong.
Before Lorelei knows it, her school burns down to a crisp and a new school, Splendid Academy, is built overnight. Splendid Academy is like every kids dream. At Splendid Academy you can eat whatever you want, do whatever you want. It’s acceptable to run in the hallways and miss class. Heck, you even get candy dishes to munch on during class! Deep inside, Lorelei knows that it’s strange that her school burnt down and this new school was built overnight, but why pass up something that seems so perfect?
With the help of her new pal Andrew, Lorelei soon finds out that Splendid Academy isn’t so splendid after all. As it turns outs, the new faculty is full of witches! And they’re trying to fatten all the kids up for a big feast! Lorelei and Andrew must race to save the day. If not, they might just be a midnight snack for one very hungry witch.
While I do not read middle grade books very often, I find a sweet sort of comfort in relaxing down with one. As soon I saw the cover for The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy (my cover is different than the finished copy), I knew that I just had to read this book. Just by looking at the cover, I felt that it would have a similar feel to the Lemony Snicket books. The books ended up being completely different, but I found myself tearing through the pages, as they were addicting and relaxing all at the same time.
Although I did enjoy The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the main character, Lorelei. I found her to be very whiney. However, I did keep reminding myself that this is a middle grade novel. Children at Lorelei’s age are supposed to be whiney. On the other hand, I loved the character of Andrew. I had a serious soft spot in my heart for him. Heavy children are picked on relentlessly and that really came across nicely in this book. I thought that it was an excellent thing to show reality in a paranormal book.
The ending of this book was pretty predictable, but I found that that didn’t bother me. As I said before, there’s something very relaxing about reading middle grade books. I may have known what was going to happen next, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to read it for myself.
I had a huge problem with the characters of Lorelei’s father and stepmother. I’m often very judgmental about parenting and what was going on really disturbed me. I know it’s just a book. I do, but I just wanted to reach into the book and smack Lorelei’s father. I felt that it was very unclassy of him to expect his children to respect, appreciate and acknowledge the new woman in his life as their mother. I know it’s just a personal issue, but I had a really hard time reading the book when those characters made appearances.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. I think that it would appeal more to younger teenagers, but adults who occasionaly read middle grade book should be pleased with the outcome of this book. I know that I will be keeping my eye out for more books by Nikki Loftin.
Pages: 304
Publication Date: August 21, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Rating: : 3

Teaser Quote: “When my mom was alive, she read me stories every night. ”Use your imagination, Lorelei,” she’d say, “and your whole life can be a fairy tale.” I wanted that to be true. But I should have paid more attention to the fairy tales.
Because not all of the children in them come out alive. And sometimes there are witches hiding in the woods.”(less)

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Jul 13, 2012 Chelsea rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: unfinished-previewed-arcs

While I think the premise is intriguing and will make a good hook for book talks (a modern Hansel and Gretel tale), I found this title to be difficult to get into. The protagonist is hard to pin down age-wise - she has childish interests but her reflections are often much more mature than your typical kid. A few chapters in, I still struggled with placing her. Additionally, the author struggled with consistency in tone. Sometimes, the story had a sense of a twisted fairy tale, but then something...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Kristina Cardoza rated it 5 of 5 stars

SUMMARY

The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is a great middle school story! Lorelei's school has mysteriously burned down...so now she has to go to Splendid Academy, every kid's dream school--optional homework, unlimited candy on each desk, permission to leave the classroom at any time, and luxurious food served by waiters and more! But something's not right...is Splendid really splendid? And will Lorelei be finished before the school year is?

AUTHOR BIO

Nikki Loftin is a writer and native...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Erica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Since I heard about this book ages ago, I have been SO excited for The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy. I love middle grade - it is a growing love of mine. I keep finding more and more fantastic middle grade, which is awesome. I am happy to say that The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy did not disappoint in the least and I have found a new favorite.

With all the elements of a good fairy tale, Nikki Loftin has woven a tale that is filled with the trials of friendship and a chilling pl...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars

THE SINISTER SWEETNESS OF SPLENDID ACADEMY

BY NIKKI LOFTIN

PUBLISHED BY PENGUIN YOUNG READERS, USA

AVAILABLE AUGUST 21, 2012

A truly fantastic middle grade level story. Just the right amount of spookiness to keep the reader enthralled and entertained.

The main character is Lorelei Robinson, a young girl facing her own demons. Her mother has died of a tragic accident and her father has remarried the proverbial wicked stepmother. Both Lorelei and her brother Bryan dislike Molly, the stepmom, and the f...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I first read the summary, I thought it would be a little too young for me, but I ended up liking it. The main character is a sixth grader, which is a vast jump from the books I usually read where the main character is in the middle of high school. By the first paragraph, I was hooked. This is the first book I have ever read where when a kid is being bullied, another kid does the smart thing and goes to tell an adult. It was a refreshing change. And while in that scene it seems possible that...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was quite a hoot and is adorable for middle grade readers combining aspects of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Hansel and Gretel. You'll have to wait though as it will not be released until August 21.

Lorelei's school suddenly and mysteriously burns down and her father and stepmom have to quickly look for another school. Luckily, another school, Splendid Academy, just happens to pop up nearby and Lorelei is registered for the school. This school is quite different from traditiona...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Paul Hankins rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: march-2012-reads, middle-grade-fantasy, middle-grade-fiction, middle-grade-humor

Ask any middle grade reader about school and you might get a response along the lines of "School is tough."

But Splendid Academy is not like any other school. Here, students and faculty meet for breakfast each day, students are allowed to run from place to place, and candy dishes that never seem to empty are to be found in every desk in every room.

Education reform aside, most would agree that this would be a fantastic school to attend.

And the noun form of fantastic?

Fantasy.

So, what is happening...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Book Twirps rated it 4 of 5 stars

No one other than Lorelei seems to think it’s strange that a new school popped up near their house in just 3 days. One day she noticed a construction crew breaking ground, and as soon as she returns from her father’s wedding to her new stepmonster, the school is complete.

When her old grade school burns down, her father and stepmother decide to go check it out, even though a private school is not in their budget. Lorelei and her brother are immediately won over by the teachers and especially the...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

A deliciously creepy take on Hansel and Gretel with elements of The Witches, The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is a solid debut novel from author Nikki Loftin. She provides middle-grade readers a story with well-developed characters, a plot that's full of surprises, and strong friendships.

Lorelei has dealt with a lot the past year: the death of her mother, her father's remarriage to her evil stepmother Molly, and now her school has burnt down. But just before she's forced to hike all th...more A deliciously creepy take on Hansel and Gretel with elements of The Witches, The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is a solid debut novel from author Nikki Loftin. She provides middle-grade readers a story with well-developed characters, a plot that's full of surprises, and strong friendships.

Lorelei has dealt with a lot the past year: the death of her mother, her father's remarriage to her evil stepmother Molly, and now her school has burnt down. But just before she's forced to hike all the way across town each morning, Splendid Academy opens right down the street. This school has everything a kid could want from the ultimate playground to candy bowls at your desk to virtually no rules! But is this academy as sweet as it seems? Lorelei adores Principal Trapp. She's beautiful, nice, and seems to understand Molly in a way that few others can. Her teacher, Ms. Morrigan, however, is a complete witch that gives Molly the creeps from the get go. So when Andrew, the class outcast, shows Lorelei some disturbing behavior the school brings out in their classmates, the pair team up to save their peers and form a heart-warming friendship.

Loftin has created a story with well-defined characters that have quirky characteristics. Children who fit into the middle-grade age group are just beginning to come into their own and tend to butt heads with authority a bit, so they will likely empathize with Lorelei's problems with the adults in her life. In Splendid, most of the adults are evil or just can't help her. Her teacher, Ms. Morrigan, and the new music teacher definitely have mean streaks. Lorelei's new stepmother, Molly, is having a difficult time balancing the responsibilities of being a mom with what she wants. Loftin sets her up so that I was constantly wondering if she is eviler than she seems. And, even Lorelei' dad is unable to help her. Still recovering from the death of his wife and trying to help Molly and the children come to terms with one another, Dad is having trouble coping with less-immediate-but-still-important problems in their lives, like Lorelei's writing issues or her problems with her teachers. He has a tendency to be dismissive of his daughter's concerns, not out of a lack of concern but just out of an inability to deal.

Even though Splendid is based on a fairy tale, it tackles real issues that children face: obesity, peer pressure, bullying, and dysplasia, to name a few. Many of the characteristics that are considered negative in our culture work out to be a plus for the kids at Splendid Academy. For example, if Andrew did not have weight issues, he would never have noticed the other students' weird reaction to the school. Or, if there wasn't bullying on the playground, its curious ingredient would never have been uncovered.

Nikki Loftin has written a fantastic present-day spin on a treasured fairy tale. The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy was a quick read that drew me in and kept me guessing throughout the story.(less)

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Oct 28, 2012 Jeanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lutzdigitalbookshelf

Summary: This like a modern day Hansel and Gretel tale, set in modern times. The main character, Lorelei, goes to a new school where there is candy in the hall and the cafeteria serves all her favorite foods. As all her classmates star getting chubby, she senses something isn't right and wants to find out what is really going on.

Audience: This book is for children 8-12. It is clever but not too spooky.

Appeal: This book is clever and children love to read scary books. If they had never heard the...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Charlou Lunsford rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: j, middle-grade

Maybe 3 1/2 Lorelei isn't in a good place. She misses her mother and is not so fond of her new step-mother. Her school burns down. Then, almost magically, a new school seems to have built overnight. With a most magnificent playground including skateboard ramps. You can even eat all the candy you want. In fact, you are encouraged to eat. And eat. And eat. Lorelei and her new friend Andrew seem to be the only ones who think something is wrong. Think Hansel and Gretel. Very creepy.
Why I picked it u...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Nayna P. rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am currently reading The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy by Nikki Loftin. Lorelei's mom died last year and things have been going downward from there, her brother has changed, her best friend left her, and worst of all she has a wicked new stepmother. After her school burnt down a new school seemed to appear across the street, Splendid Academy. At this school it is like an all you can eat buffet all day everyday. They don't even care about what you learn. You can go wherever whenever as...more

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May 04, 2012 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Eleven-year-old Lorelei seems to have it made when she's sent to a new school with a sparkly playground, two huge meals day and magical bowls of candy that automatically refill themselves. In fact, there's so many snack breaks during the day you might think the teachers are fattening up the kids. But why would they? (Pause for evil laugh.) In the flavor of Hansel and Gretyl, we're treated to a story with many twists and turns as Lorelei uncovers the secrets of the Splendid Academy. But Lorelei h...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Mary Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned, 2013-favorites, fairy-folktale, fantasy-sci-fi, middle-grade, mystery

Take some fairy tale characters, a sweet heroine, and a school burning down and what do you get - this book. When a new school pops up in just three days and the old one mysteriously burns down soon thereafter, Lorelei couldn't be more thrilled - that is, until she actually starts school. Things at Splendid Academy are not as rosy as they seem and Lorelei and her new friend Andrew are determined to get to the bottom of it. And if she doesn't have enough issues to deal with she has an icky new st...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Carina Olsen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was pretty amazing. I loved it. I adore middle grade books, and I just love the exciting ones. This is sort of based on a fairytale. And that was amazing. The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is a great book. I really enjoyed it, and I really wish there would be a sequel. Because oh. I want to read more about Lorelei and Andrew :) Maybe as teenagers, with a bit romance too ;p But would love another middle grade as well.

I don't know how to describe this book. I will try. It isn't...more This book was pretty amazing. I loved it. I adore middle grade books, and I just love the exciting ones. This is sort of based on a fairytale. And that was amazing. The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is a great book. I really enjoyed it, and I really wish there would be a sequel. Because oh. I want to read more about Lorelei and Andrew :) Maybe as teenagers, with a bit romance too ;p But would love another middle grade as well.

I don't know how to describe this book. I will try. It isn't very long, and it was easy to read, which I loved, and it was just amazing. Took me some time to finally start it, but once I did I could not stop reading at all. I just had to know what happened next. Another thing I loved about this book is the few drawings inside. I love those a whole lot. They are a bit weird, but perfect :) Wish there had been even more of them, though ;p

The book is told from the point of view of eleven year old Lorelei. Whom I adored. She was pretty amazing. I felt so sorry for her. Which sucked, but was also amazing. She doesn't have it good. She lives with her dad and brother Bryan, and her new stepmom, Molly. I didn't really like her father much. But he wasn't all bad. I'm unsure about Bryan, cause he kind of sucked most of the time, but I do think he might have been an awesome brother. But Molly. I hated Molly. And I kind of want a sequel just to know how things end with her. She was just evil. I really hated how she treated Lorelei.

But anyway. I loved Lorelei. She's kind and loving and strong. But broken too, because of what happened to her mom a year ago. She died. And Lorelei blames herself. Which was awful, but so perfect, because it made a whole lot of sense, and it just made her such a better character. Then there is Andrew. He is really fat, as she says. And oh. I just adored him so. He's kind of the only smart one. And he's just really special. He's different. And oh so kind. I loved him. He just deserves all the best. He really does.

I won't say that much about the plot. Since it is a short book, and also because you can almost read all about it in the summary; but not really, because so many amazing and awful things happened that I had no idea about. But yeah. It's about this school. The Splendid Academy. And the teachers there. Three different women. I hated them all. But oh. At first they seem so sweet, and it was a bit heartbreaking. But also amazing, because this book is all kinds of interesting and a bit mysterious. I loved it all.

This book is also about witches. Sort of. It was pretty amazing, and I loved reading about it all. I'm giving it a four star because while I loved it a lot, I had some trouble with the writing, and a few things about the story I wished had been better. But for the most part I loved it all. Lorelei's heartbreak. Andrew's pain. Their friendship. Yeah. This book has it all. And I just loved reading about everything. Even the evil things that happened at the school.. Shudders. Some things were just heartbreaking.

There is a lot of characters in this book. Many I loved. But even more that I hated. I really disliked Lorelei's friend, Allison. I didn't like her at all. She was just cruel and mean and a bit selfish too. But I did love reading about Vasalisa. Even though her story broke my heart. This book was just so amazing, and you really should read it, because I loved it, and I think you will too. I even enjoyed reading about all the food. Was a tiny bit disgusting, though ;p But I loved it. And the bones.. Ah. Creepy and amazing.(less)

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Mar 15, 2013 Melissa Jackson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fairy-tales, mg-and-childrens, contemporary

The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is a modern retelling of Hansel and Gretel... it's easy to forget sometimes how truly creepy fairy tales can be!

Splendid Academy is a charter school that sprung up just days after our MC, Lorelei's, school mysteriously burned to the ground. Splendid has no rules, a playground that's every kid's dream come true, and self-filling candy dishes at every desk. But, if the title doesn't give it away, it's clear very early on that there's something very wrong...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

Lorelei couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the new building being built by her house was complete three days later. Worst of all no one believed her. This new magically built building was the Splendid Academy school, and it just so happens her old school burns down day's later. The Splendid Academy seems to good to be true when Lorelei and her brother Brian and her wicked stepmother visit the school. To good to be true, is exactly right, Lorelei notices right away that something strange is g...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Mindee Arnett added it

Loved this book. Deliciously gruesome and wonderful, a definite modern fairy tale.

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Mar 26, 2012 Lexie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-levels-of-adorable, awesome-side-characters, awesome-awesome-villain, cuteness-overload, great-concept, incredible-mc-is-incredible, lovable-mc, middlegrade, creepiness-factor

This book helped remind me why I still adore middlegrade.

It managed to be cute, sweet, genuinely emotional, and creepy, sometimes all within the span of a few pages. In a YA novel, that'd be almost bizarre; but in here? Not in the slightest. Children have such a fantastic array of emotions, and are so very capricious. They can switch from delighted to horrified to curious within the span of minutes. And they have this honest, black and white view of the world that has always fascinated me more t...more This book helped remind me why I still adore middlegrade.

It managed to be cute, sweet, genuinely emotional, and creepy, sometimes all within the span of a few pages. In a YA novel, that'd be almost bizarre; but in here? Not in the slightest. Children have such a fantastic array of emotions, and are so very capricious. They can switch from delighted to horrified to curious within the span of minutes. And they have this honest, black and white view of the world that has always fascinated me more than anything.

At first, this tripped me up. While some of the characters were wonderful and real and intensely likable--Lorelei, Andrew, even Brian, despite his jerkiness--some of them seemed to be flatly evil, with no redeeming traits to speak of. But then I remembered something, something I suppose I'd forgotten in the many months between my last middlegrade read. I remembered that simply because Lorelei perceived these people as purely awful did not mean they were, in actuality, evil incarnate; it was simply how she saw them. Lorelei is not a little kid, but even at her age, children have this tendency to make things out in such a way that the world is easier to grasp. There are blacks and whites, rights and wrongs, but there are no shades of gray.

I'd accepted this, so it came as a very, very pleasant surprise when Nikki Loftin showed me that Lorelei could see the shades of gray, at least a bit.

Even those characters that should be completely despicable, the ones you know you're supposed to hate, root against, hope for their demise, etc., were not the evil, mustache-twirling (hair-twirling, since they're female?) villains that one might find in a middlegrade book for the younger ages. They were terrible, yes, and I was rooting for Lorelei to defeat them, yes, but there were these small moments, these small emotions, that made them so very real, despite the fantastic circumstances.

I adored that. I adored every last character in here, but most of all, I adored Lorelei. She was sweet and troubled and determined and far, far better than most MCs you'll find in YA today. They could learn a thing or to from this girl, this eleven-year-old who loves her family and loves her friend and will do anything to save the people around her, no matter how they may act towards her.

That's not the only thing I was fond of. I liked the writing, simple and smooth; I liked the plot, with its fast, even pacing that rushed me through this in less than a day; I liked the whole concept, completely creepy and completely original. Granted, I guessed the main plot within the first 30 pages, but I do not fall within this book's intended audience. I suspect that for the average 7-12 year old, the plot will be a wonderful mystery.

More than all this, though, the characters made the story. Nikki Loftin has a real talent for creating characters that you can't help but love, and that, that guarantees I will read anything she writes, no matter the genre.

4.5 stars, but I loved the characters enough that it's being rounded to 5.(less)

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Feb 15, 2013 Elevetha Houre rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Lovers of fairytales retold, reimagined, or twisted on it's side

Shelves: 2013, characterize-please, dark-and-sometimes-creepy, decent-enough, hidious-covers, magic-and-other-magical-substances, middle-grade, fairytale-retelling, fairytales, cookie-cutter

2.5 stars.

I felt so stupid. I really did.

So I'm reading this book and I'm just frustrated at all the cliches and such. I go through this entire book, the whole thing. I get to the end and....it hits me that this is a retelling of "Hansel and Gretel." And then, after slapping myself, I came to the realization that it was pretty good.

PROS:

Never read a "Hansel and Gretel" retelling. Fairly well-written.

CONS:

The main characters were very cookie-cutter. Exactly like every other MG main character,...more

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Nov 07, 2012 Kimberly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 52-books-in-52-weeks-2012

Lorelei's school mysterious burns down and so Splendid Academy is their only choice. It helps that Splendid Academy is a new and beautiful school, a sparkling playground, prestine classrooms and free breakfast and lunch every day. It helps that the principal has taken a shine to Lorelei. But something isn't right in this perfect school where the kids eat candy all day and create their own schedules. Something isn't right in the way Lorelei's teacher looks at her. And what isn't right might just...more

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About Nikki Loftin

Nikki Loftin is a writer and native Texan who lives just outside Austin, Texas, with her two boys, two dogs, nine chickens, and one very patient husband. She writes Middle Grade novel-length fiction as well as personal essays, puppet plays, articles, poems, and short stories. Nikki is represented by Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary Agency. Her debut novel, The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Aca...more

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“When my mom was alive, she read me stories every night. ”Use your imagination, Lorelei,” she’d say, “and your whole life can be a fairy tale.” I wanted that to be true. But I should have paid more attention to the fairy tales.” — 7 people liked it

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