Vita Nostra

For some reason I had it in my head that this was going to be like Harry Patter because it's about kids being selected to go to a special school. And I guess in that way it is, but with a few major diffferences: The kids are coerced not only into going to the school, but required to complete strange (and often humiliating) challenges in order to enter the school; once they're there, if they don't get good grades members of their families may be injured or die; and what they are taught at the school is far more mysteirous than casting spells. Instead of playing quidditch, they chain smoke and brew moonshine. Once I got over the surprise of the very different tone of this book, I completly loved it. I thought the setting, the characters, and their relationshps were really different from other "magic school" types of stories I've read - not sure if these were the result of cultural differences or just idiosyncrasies of the authors. Unlike a lot of other books I've read (probably American/British books, now that I think about it) - the main character doesn't learn that studying is less important than family and friendship, or that authority is meant to be challenged, sacrifice has to be made for some clearly-stated purpose, or that natural ability or cleverness will always triumph over grim determination. This book turns all of those YA tropes on their heads. And even better, the purpose of the school is very strange, which makes the story even more unpredictable. This might not be a great read for people who like their speculative fiction a little more concrete and literal, but a treat for people who have a high tolerance for weird.