This May Go on Your Permanent Record

by Kelly Swails

Sally Clark is curious about how technology works, which would be fine except her experiments tend to be illegal. She's also a terrible liar, which lands her in court for stealing groceries with nothing but a hacked smart phone. While the judge isn't impressed that her alcoholic mother had traded the grocery money for booze, she is intrigued by her hacking skills. Given a choice between juvenile detention and something called The School for Extraordinary Youth, she rolls the dice and chooses the latter. She's barely unpacked her bags when she discovers that SEY is a prep school for world domination.

292 pages, Paperback

Published February 24, 2016

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a crossover between the characters appearing in "Mysterious Ways" as well as the previous "Homeland Security Services" novel "Perfectly Invisible" set in an alternate universe where the Twin Towers fell in the 1990s, the Democratic National Convention was also bombed leading to a considerably more conservative United States.

I was confused about the reasoning behind the alternate United States portrayed in "Perfectly Invisible". Was Michael A. Stackpole writing about a world he preferred? It didn't seem to gel with the kinds of characters he'd written for "Star Wars", but it's sometimes hard to tell which science fiction authors are going to turn out to be homophobic douchebags using their religion as an excuse for being a dick to people not like them. (A quick look at Stackpole's twitter reassured me that he's cool, so that's a relief.)

So then I read "Mysterious Ways", and figured Stackpole is not a big fan of organised religion after all, at least he's not a big fan of the big religions that seem bent on exploiting the vulnerable or using their vast wealth to influence politics. This world he's created isn't a dream, it's a nightmare. At least that's how I interpret it. But it's not without those good hearted people who are still struggling to do the right thing.

Merlin Bloodstone from "Mysterious Ways" steams up with Agent Miracle Dunn to investigate the murder of Connor Moran, Bloodstone's former assistant and it quickly turns into something far more sinister.

I really like the clash between Bloodstone and Dunn. They come at things from very different perspectives and Stackpole manages to write them both as fleshed out individuals to the point where you can understand both points of view.

[Cale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short novel set in an alternate US where Homeland Security is a more powerful organization crosses over with Stackpole's Merlin Bloodstone series. When Melody and her partner Fyn get sent to investigate what looks like a ritual killing in Phoenix, they cross paths with Merlin Bloodstone as they methodically explore the details and find a much larger conspiracy. It's interesting that the larger conspiracy here crosses over into a topic I was just reading about in another book, making it feel extremely timely. This is very much a mystery novel, with the clues pointing to and then away from several different suspects before revealing the greater issues at stake. There's also a bit of military action, but the resolution goes in an unexpected but very satisfying manner. On top of the mystery, there's also a fair bit of philosophical exploration of the costs of security in terms of freedom. But all of that is secondary to the story. The characters have Stackpole's traditional wit and spark, although there are perhaps one or two too many characters juggled to keep everyone straight on the military side. Still, that's a minor qualm - if you've enjoyed any of Michael Stackpole's books or series, this is a worthy addition, and makes a decent starting point even if you haven't read Perfectly Invisible (the first story in the Homeland Security Services series).

[Ray A · Rating 4 out of 5]

very well written story, nice character development for the HSS team. this publication by silence in the library could use proofreading for typos.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun, enjoyable story, about a young woman attending (on a scholarship from an unnamed benefactor) a secret School for World Domination. As an outsider stepping in a cloistered, privileged group, she shakes things up and comes into her own. This first volume (of a projected series) is mostly concerned with developing characters and relationships and establishing the world of the school, but it's still an effective page-turner, and I cheered her on!

I took it with me on a work trip, and it was the absolutely perfect diversion, just lovely. I anxiously await the second book!

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent premise

Excellent premise for a story. I was hooked and couldn't stop reading. Learning how to use one's power for good is important.

[Erin Penn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, but full read, which took me about five hours last night, this Young Adult (YA) story follows a fourteen-year-old girl from August to October of her freshman year in high school. Wow that sounds boring, but this book is anything but.

I picked it up thinking it sounded a lot like a superhero academy story, "a school for world domination" is the tag line, and it reads like one too. Only instead of superpowers, the students are all children of world leaders except for a few potentials brought in to shake things up. Sally comes from trailer trash but determined to rise above it - or at least stay out of juvie where the judge says she will go if she flunks out of this school. Thrust into the world of movers and shakers, she proves to be a true shaker. The class president goes after her with blood in her eye; maybe the daughter of leaders should have blinked first to clear the eye so she could see Sally clearly because this girl doesn't back down from nobody. The two duke it out for class domination in a school teaching them how to take over the world and giving them the tools to do it.

Follows the present YA formula of two love interests - one helpful and like a buddy - and the other intriguing, strong, and handsome, but not a close friend yet. She doesn't go for either in this book but knows she has a crush on one and gets flashes of interest in the other.

We don't see much personal growth of the character in this book as it more concentrates on setting up the world and defining the characters. Plus the overall story arc with the class president. Lots of little things happening keeping the story moving - I didn't have any interest in taking a break while I read it.

I do enjoy all the name dropping - the leadership of the school also comes from old, powerful families. If you like history, this book makes you want to break out a "who's who" to see what Easter eggs the author is writing in the series - names like Custard, Curie, and Bush tease the reader.

This manuscript is a very nice read. Plus I think the series will rock - for example book two, now that we know everyone and the world, should blow this one out of the water. The writing is tight and I expect Ms. Swails to only improve in the future.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable* fun!

This captivating YA novel is the first in a series written by Kelly Swails. It was released in January 2016, originally as an ebook.

'This May Go On Your Permanent Record' was published by Silence in the Library, and will appeal to readers of Ally Carter, amongst others. I found it to be heaps of fun!

*When I say 'Unputdownable', I mean that the ereader has been in my hand, or at hand, all day, and that I read the entire novel in approximately 24 hours.

[Beth Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Secret school for world domination, classes like Fun with Chemical Warfare and Money Laundering I: Hiding Money From Your Parents, drama and intrigue! And the main character, Sally Indiana Clark, felt very real: lost and scared and damaged, but also determined and smart and brave. I will definitely buy the next book the very minute it's available.

[Hisham El-far · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and gripping.

This story set in an (hopefully) imagined boarding school for future world leaders and despots is well imagined.

The main character Sally is extremely likeable and humble in a confused rags to sponsored enrollment tale.

Think Harry Potter - but without the fantastical/magic and more money laundering and chemical warfare.

[Deanna Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good start to an interesting series.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really impressed me! I went into it with low expectations and came out loving it. I really want to read the next book, having fallen in love with the School for Extraordinary Youth and it's students.