Publishers Weekly
03/02/2020
When popular Emmalynn Donahue goes missing from elite Redemption Prep in 1995, it sparks a campus-wide manhunt as well as concern among friends and rivals at the Christian school, located on a remote Utah mountain. Among those concerned are her boyfriend, basketball star Aiden; her roommate, Neesha; and Evan, a student who’s been stalking her. Did Emma find a way to escape the school, or was she taken? Was her vanishing connected to her selling an experimental study drug to most of the student body? As the mystery behind Emma’s disappearance deepens, other secrets—including Redemption’s strange past and true purpose—come to light, prompting Aiden, Neesha, and their new allies to seek answers and explanations at any cost. Miller (A Lite Too Bright) crafts an unpredictable, twisty story of ambition, competition, and manipulation. While a multiperspective approach, coupled with interview transcripts and student journal entries, allows Miller to get inside his characters’ heads, slow pacing and a sometimes meandering story line may keep readers from becoming fully invested in the mystery. Ages 13–up. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
"The moody atmosphere, the science/religion dichotomy, and the constant cliff-hangers will keep readers hooked till the shocking finale." — Booklist
"Readers looking for a unique take on the isolated-house mystery, with a bizarre setting and a cast of unstable characters, will enjoy losing themselves in this strange yet compelling tale of drugs, power, and the future of the human race." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A tense and atmospheric thriller with a truly surprising twist. I can’t wait to see what Samuel Miller does next!” — Kara Thomas, award-winning author of The Cheerleaders
“Clever, drama-filled, and mind-blowing. My mind is still reeling from the twists and turns, and I loved every second of it.” — Sasha Alsberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Eerie, atmospheric, and smart as a whip, Redemption Prep kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page.” — Brittany Cavallaro, New York Times bestselling author of the Charlotte Holmes series
Praise for A LITE TOO BRIGHT: “What a compelling journey this is—and what an accomplished debut too. Beautifully conceived and executed, it has an irresistible premise; an ingenious plot tinged with mystery; compelling, multidimensional characters; and a haunting ethos that will linger in readers’ minds long after they have finished.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)
“Jumping from clue to clue and train to train across the country, Arthur stumbles upon extraordinary discoveries, from long-lost family members to secret societies. This fresh incarnation of the great American road trip novel is bursting with big ideas, enigmas, poetry, and flashes of humor.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Charmingly written, this debut novel introduces rounded characters and an engaging mystery. Wonderfully mirroring the disjointed feelings and thoughts of young Arthur and those who have dementia, this literary piece has a satisfying conclusion. A highly recommended purchase for fans of literary and realistic fiction centered around family.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“Miller’s debut novel weaves together several other larger-than-life literary figures and events, including gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, the beat generation, and the Kent State shootings, creating a love letter to social justice and American literature.” — Publishers Weekly
“Debut author Miller peppers his well-paced chapters with the poetry of ALP the First. This earnest homage to writers, rebels, and the evergreen ideals of youth will appeal to devotees of John Green and Gayle Forman.” — The Horn Book
Booklist
"The moody atmosphere, the science/religion dichotomy, and the constant cliff-hangers will keep readers hooked till the shocking finale."
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"Readers looking for a unique take on the isolated-house mystery, with a bizarre setting and a cast of unstable characters, will enjoy losing themselves in this strange yet compelling tale of drugs, power, and the future of the human race."
The Horn Book
Debut author Miller peppers his well-paced chapters with the poetry of ALP the First. This earnest homage to writers, rebels, and the evergreen ideals of youth will appeal to devotees of John Green and Gayle Forman.
Brittany Cavallaro
Eerie, atmospheric, and smart as a whip, Redemption Prep kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page.
Kara Thomas
A tense and atmospheric thriller with a truly surprising twist. I can’t wait to see what Samuel Miller does next!
Sasha Alsberg
Clever, drama-filled, and mind-blowing. My mind is still reeling from the twists and turns, and I loved every second of it.
ALA Booklist (starred review)
Praise for A LITE TOO BRIGHT: “What a compelling journey this is—and what an accomplished debut too. Beautifully conceived and executed, it has an irresistible premise; an ingenious plot tinged with mystery; compelling, multidimensional characters; and a haunting ethos that will linger in readers’ minds long after they have finished.
Booklist
"The moody atmosphere, the science/religion dichotomy, and the constant cliff-hangers will keep readers hooked till the shocking finale."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Readers looking for a unique take on the isolated-house mystery, with a bizarre setting and a cast of unstable characters, will enjoy losing themselves in this strange yet compelling tale of drugs, power, and the future of the human race."
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"Readers looking for a unique take on the isolated-house mystery, with a bizarre setting and a cast of unstable characters, will enjoy losing themselves in this strange yet compelling tale of drugs, power, and the future of the human race."
School Library Journal
02/01/2020
Gr 7 Up—Miller takes on the boarding school trope with mixed results. Students at Redemption Prep are all exceptional in some way—plucked from their ordinary lives and sent, tuition-free, to the revered school in the wilds of Utah. Emma's published a book of poetry, Evan can beat computers at chess, Aiden is a basketball champion, Neesha is a science genius—the list of accomplished students is never-ending and intimidating. When Emma disappears, her friends scramble to find her, all while dealing with the high-stakes atmosphere at Redemption, where succeeding can mean a jump-started, lucrative career and failure equals expulsion and a return to a family no longer familiar. Neesha, Aiden, and Evan parse clues and duck menacing maintenance workers, all while trying to avoid Redemption's unwavering scrutiny. They learn more about their friend's life, and their place in it, as they search for Emma. Readers will enjoy this 1990-set mystery, particularly the evocative, foggy, remote Utah setting. The ins and outs of the school—why students were selected, details of the pressure and accolades—will keep readers engaged. Shifting points of view work to some extent, and Evan's perspective, in particular, is well done. The villain's motive is surprising and a bit unfounded, and the conclusion doesn't coalesce as much as one would hope. VERDICT Fans of Maureen Johnson's "Truly Devious" trilogy and John Green's Looking for Alaska will enjoy this mostly entertaining mystery that takes a close look at the pressures of student life.—Elissa Bongiorno, Washington, DC
Kirkus Reviews
2020-01-19
In a remote part of Utah, in a “temple of excellence,” the best of the best are recruited to nurture their talents.
Redemption Preparatory is a cross between the Vatican and a top-secret research facility: The school is rooted in Christian ideology (but very few students are Christian), Mass is compulsory, cameras capture everything, and “maintenance” workers carry Tasers. When talented poet Emma disappears, three students, distrusting of the school administration, launch their own investigation. Brilliant chemist Neesha believes Emma has run away to avoid taking the heat for the duo’s illegal drug enterprise. Her boyfriend, an athlete called Aiden, naturally wants to find her. Evan, a chess prodigy who relies on patterns and has difficulty processing social signals, believes he knows Emma better than anyone. While the school is an insidious character on its own and the big reveal is slightly psychologically disturbing, Evan’s positioning as a tragic hero with an uncertain fate—which is connected to his stalking of Emma (even before her disappearance)—is far more unsettling. The ’90s setting provides the backdrop for tongue-in-cheek technological references but doesn’t do anything for the plot. Student testimonials and voice-to-text transcripts punctuate the three-way third-person narration that alternates among Neesha, Evan, and Aiden. Emma, Aiden, and Evan are assumed to be white; Neesha is Indian. Students are from all over the world, including Asia and the Middle East.
Only marginally intriguing. (Mystery. 15-18)
