This book is creepy. I mean, I'm an adult and I was scared for Lorelei. She is a girl facing a great deal of sadness and guilt. We learn early on that her mother died last year and for some reason, Lorelei feels guilty about this. When a beautiful new school with an amazing playground suddenly appears, and their old school mysteriously burns down, Lorelei and her brother are enrolled at Splendid Academy. This school is unlike any school they have been to before. They are allowed to run in the halls, leave class whenever they want, don't have to raise their hands, and get to eat.... a lot. The school provides breakfast and lunch, and there is a bowl of candy at each student's desk that never goes empty. None of the students notice anything unusual, except for one overweight boy, Andrew. Andrew tries to convince Lorelei that something is wrong, but will she be able to see past her guilt to the truth, especially when the truth is so unbelievable? Lorelei is so sad and so alone. The new principal appeals to her loneliness and makes her feel warm and loved - she hasn't felt that way since her mother died. Lorelei wants to believe the principal is good, she needs to believe it. This book deals with so many serious issues and it is pretty dark. I enjoyed it and finished it quickly. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen next. ( )

I went into this book not expecting much, but in the end I really liked it and how it handled its self. The plot had a good conflict, the writing flowed well and the characters were well developed. The first reason I really liked this book was that the plot of the book was clear throughout the whole book and slowly built to the end of the story. A clear example of this is how the main character learns about how the teachers are witches and she figures out how to handle them. The second reason I liked this book was how the writing seemed to flow from page to page and chapter to chapter. An example of this is that the author does not really do any big skips, other than going to bed and getting up the next day. This allows for the flow of the book to not be choppy and the book easy to read. The final reason that made me like this book was that the characters are well developed, allowing the reader to see things how they were meant to be seen. An example of this is the main character expresses her feelings like any younger child would. She also thinks logically ways out her decisions before she makes them. The main message for this story is that not everyone is what they seem, so be careful who you trust. ( )

Everything in Lorelei Robinson’s life has changed recently, and not for the better. So when Lorelei and her annoying brother, Bryan, get accepted into the new charter school after their old school conveniently burned down, it’s like a dream come true. Things are great at first. Students can run in the hallways, text their friends, and eat special snacks during recess. A full service dining room featuring each student’s favorite dishes serves both breakfast and lunch. Additionally, there is candy galore.

But Lorelei is different from the other students. She resists the temptations of Splendid Academy along with her new friend, Andrew. As the largest boy in the school, Andrew knows all about food addiction and trigger foods. Together they resist being fattened up. However, Principal Trapp has other plans, and it seems that Lorelei is the principal’s special project. Being plagued by feelings of guilt and grief over her mother’s death, Lorelei wants to trust the principal. However, it’s not too soon before Lorelei and Andrew discover a chilling secret. It seems that things are not so sweet at Splendid Academy. Together Lorelei and Andrew must work as a team to save both themselves and their classmates from certain death.

The Bottom Line: Nikki Loftin’s debut novel is a winner. Both young readers and the young at heart will enjoy this modern twist on an old favorite, Hansel and Gretel. Like many fairy tales, there is an evil stepmother, a witch or two, and a lonely, good-hearted heroine. Lorelei is easy to identify with; her character is compassionate and sweet with real flaws.

This wickedly sweet confection is recommended for fans of magic, fantasy, and mystery. It’s a very quick read that is creepy and fun at the same time. Parents and teachers will appreciate the underlying themes of healthy eating, teamwork, and friendship. Highly recommended for kids in grades 4 – 7.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog. ( )

Take some fairy tale characters, a sweet heroine, and a school burning down and what do you get - this book. When a new school pops up in just three days and the old one mysteriously burns down soon thereafter, Lorelei couldn't be more thrilled - that is, until she actually starts school. Things at Splendid Academy are not as rosy as they seem and Lorelei and her new friend Andrew are determined to get to the bottom of it. And if she doesn't have enough issues to deal with she has an icky new stepmother problem as well.

This book has a little of something for everyone - it is a little bit scary, a little bit mystery, has a sweet mixed up and loveable heroine who is just having a rough time, a pesky older brother, a new stepmother and new school and incredible guilt over her Mom's death. I really enjoyed this middle grade novel and you will too. ( )

Nikki Loftin's The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is a deliciously creepy middle grade novel. Imparting lessons about friendship, eating well, and believing in yourself, Loftin's debut is sure to find fans among young and old readers alike.

I especially enjoyed the bits of The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy that were creepy and bore a strong resemblance to Roald Dahl's novels. In fact, this novel feels very much like an updated version of Dahl's novels The Witches and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Readers who like these types of novels will definitely enjoy Loftin's style as well!

Lorelei is a wonderful main character; she's caring, curious, and believes in herself. I was so happy to see her befriend Andrew, a boy who isn't always so sure of himself. Not only did they make a great team, they provided a fantastic example of the benefits of looking beyond outside and initial appearances to the person within.

The novel is packed with magic and mystery, making it more fantastical than realistic, but it still leaves readers with an important message about eating well and being healthy. In the real world, there (probably) isn't a witch who's trying to fatten you up so you make a better meal, but they are still definite negative consequences to bad eating habits and lack of exercise and The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is the perfect novel to start this discussion with young readers. ( )