For fans of Riley Sager, The Hawthorne School is a twisty
psychological suspense about the lengths one mother will go for her
child, inspired by present-day obsession with cults and true crime.
Claudia Vera is overwhelmed. She's a single parent trying the best that
she can, but her four-year-old son, Henry, is a handful--for her and for
his preschool. When Claudia hears about a school with an atypical
teaching style near her Chicagoland home, she has to visit. The
Hawthorne School is beautiful and has everything she dreams of for
Henry: time to play outside, music, and art. The head of the school,
Zelma, will even let Claudia volunteer to cover the cost of tuition.
The school is good for Henry: his behavioral problems disappear, and he
comes home subdued instead of rageful. But there's something a bit off
about the school, its cold halls, and its enigmatic headmistress. When
Henry brings home stories of ceremonies in the woods and odd rules,
Claudia's instincts tell her that something isn't quite right, and she
begins to realize she's caught in a web of manipulations and power.
The author's work as a psychotherapist, with a focus on narcissistic
manipulation and addictive power dynamics, guides this exploration of a
young mother wanting to do the best for her child.
