The first bell

When sixteen-year-old Lila Bennett is abruptly sent to Northwood Academy by her stepmother, she’s certain it’s just a cruel way to get her out of the house. Forced to leave behind her friends, her hometown, and the last traces of her old life, Lila arrives at the sprawling, ivy-covered boarding school feeling like an outsider. Between navigating the strict rules, decoding the unspoken social hierarchies, and sharing a room with a mysterious new roommate, she struggles to find her place. But as secrets about the school—and her own family—begin to surface, Lila realizes that Northwood might be more than a prison. It could be the place where she finally learns who she is, if she’s brave enough to adapt.