Table of Contents
About The Book
“A twisty, deeply satisfying ride.” —Sara Shepard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars
In this dark academia young adult thriller for fans of The Female of the Species and People Like Us, a teen girl’s search for answers about her mother’s mysterious death leads to a powerful secret society at her new boarding school—and a dangerous game of revenge that will leave her forever changed.
Six years ago, Calliope Bolan’s mother drove the family van into a lake with her three daughters inside. The girls escaped, but their mother drowned, and the truth behind the “accident” remains a mystery Calliope is determined to solve. Now sixteen, she transfers to Tipton Academy, the same elite boarding school her mother once attended. Tipton promises a peek into the past and a host of new opportunities—including a coveted invitation to join Haunt and Rail, an exclusive secret society that looms over campus like a legend.
Calliope accepts, stepping into the exhilarating world of the “ghosts,” a society of revolutionaries fighting for social justice. But when Haunt and Rail commits to exposing a dangerous person on campus, it becomes clear that some ghosts define justice differently than others.
As the society’s tactics escalate, Calliope uncovers a possible link between Haunt and Rail and her mother’s deadly crash. Now, she must question what lengths the society might go to in order to see a victory—and if the secret behind her mother’s death could be buried here at Tipton.
Product Details
- Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (April 5, 2022)
- Length: 416 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534449756
- Ages: 14 - 99
- Lexile ® HL770L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
Raves and Reviews
“Very Bad People has it all: family secrets, mysteries, lies, romance, a secret society, activism, mischief, and more. So perfectly paced, so well-wrought, I was kept guessing until the end. A twisty, deeply satisfying ride.”
– Sara Shepard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars
“A multi-layered mystery and a razor-sharp indictment of privilege in all its forms, Very Bad People is a stunning thriller.”
– Kara Thomas, author of The Cheerleaders and That Weekend
"Very Bad People is a chilling dive into the dangers of dark academia and family secrets. Kit Frick spins a propulsive tale that twists through hidden rooms and the shadowy wooded edges of an elite boarding school where secrets must be protected at all costs. A startling and addictive thriller!"
– Jennifer Moffett, author of THOSE WHO PREY
* "A doozy of a ride, with thrills and chills aplenty."
– Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Awards and Honors
- ALA/YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults - Top Ten
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Very Bad People eBook 9781534449756
- Author Photo (jpg): Kit Frick Photo: © Carly Gaebe / Steadfast Studio(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit