The Headmaster's List

December 15, 2022
Four teens are in a car crash that leaves one of them dead and badly injures another. Eighteen-year-old Spencer Sandoval is an ambitious overachiever who, unlike some of her more privileged peers, has worked ceaselessly to secure a spot on the coveted headmaster's list at her predominantly White Los Angeles prep school. Serious physical injuries are the less troublesome parts of the trauma Spencer sustains from the crash, however--she also experiences traumatic flashbacks about the accident, all the more upsetting because she can't remember much from the night it occurred. The third-person narration and Spencer's continued Vicodin use lend themselves well to sustaining the tension, with transcripts from a true-crime podcast created by a fellow Armstrong Prep student interspersed throughout. When Spencer teams up with Jackson Chen, her ex-boyfriend Ethan Amoroso's best friend, in an effort to find out the truth about the accident, they develop a relationship that will pull in romance fans. Unsubtle foreshadowing may lead to readers' working out pieces of the mystery before Spencer does. Still, some original details, such as the presence of Ripley, a service dog given to Spencer, add to this story's appeal. Ethnically ambiguous Spencer is described as brown with immigrant parents; names cue ethnic diversity in several secondary characters. A twisty thriller with a likable and complicated protagonist. (Thriller. 13-18)

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January 9, 2023
After leaving a party, four teens get into a car crash that results in traumatic injuries and death in this riveting mystery by de la Cruz (Going Dark). Eighteen-year-old Spencer Sandoval, an astronaut hopeful with plans to attend Caltech, is a top student and on the coveted Headmaster’s List at her elite L.A. prep school. Following the accident—which involved über-popular Christopher Moore, who was killed in the crash; classmate Tabby Hill; and ex-boyfriend Ethan Amoroso—Spencer wakes up in the hospital with serious injuries and few memories of the party. She’s given a service dog named Ripley and assigned a student aide, Ethan’s best friend Jackson Chen, to help her take notes in class. As she and Jackson grow closer, rumors claiming that Ethan was responsible for the crash begin circulating. Spencer and Jackson decide to investigate the incident, hoping to prove Ethan’s innocence, especially as an even more concerning rumor comes to light: that the crash was actually a premeditated murder. Employing familiar prep school tropes, de la Cruz renders an invigorating thriller populated by well-rounded characters and teeming with anticipatory tension. Character descriptions imply racial diversity throughout. Ages 14–up.

May 19, 2023

Gr 10 Up-Spencer Sandoval, 18, was top of her class and one of several students chosen for the coveted "Headmaster's List." She had a plan, and nothing was going to get in the way of her attending her dream college, CalTech. That is, until the night her boyfriend Ethan cheated on her and drove recklessly, resulting in the crash that killed fellow classmate Chris. Unable to remember the crash, Spencer struggles with a developing anxiety disorder that requires her to have a service dog and she relies heavily on Vicodin to manage her pain. A school crime podcast starts rumors about what really happened the night of the crash, and everyone seems to agree that with Ethan's history of reckless driving, it was most certainly his fault. But despite her heartbreak, Spencer believes that something else happened that night. Why else would she get into a car with Ethan moments after breaking up with him? And why was Chris in the car in the first place? The unanswered questions lead Spencer down a rabbit hole of detective work, all while balancing college admissions, fractured friendships, and a budding romance. Readers who have experienced physical or emotional trauma will relate to Spencer's struggle to adjust to her new reality. This is a compelling, if predictable thriller. The cast of characters is diverse, including a protagonist who is Black and several LGBTQIA+ supporting characters. Depictions of underage drinking, taking prescription medication, and reckless driving make this an appropriate title for mature readers. VERDICT With relatable teen protagonists and a satisfying conclusion, this is an essential purchase for teen collections.-Ashley Grillo

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