E.M Cooper s Xavier St Griswold College for Abandoned Boys is an atmospheric, psychological thriller, surreal and clever with a spine tingling, cloak and dagger mindset A haunting tale with steep twists and turns that make you think and want to delve into the mystery of the school s origin and what makes the main character Xavier and the other supporting characters tick It s a coming of age story with a tense and intriguing plot well organized around dark mystery and the spiritual world.

Read for challenge needed the letter X.Not very good IMO.

While in theory I am too old to like a book like this, I personally was not at all surprised when I did I quite liked Xavier and in a book like this that is all important I read the blurb and expected a Harry Potter rip off to be honest but it is anything but This is a book full of originality and flair that demonstrates just how to build and maintain dramatic tension I know that there are clearly books in the series and I suspect that they will be a big hit This book certainly has all the righ [...]

A difficult one to review as I don t really like books set in schools but I do love magic and fantasy I m not really a fan of YA either as I prefer my fantasy with some guts literally and humour.But actually this book was pretty good despite containing all the things I just said I don t like ha It s pretty original and the characters are fairly believable for thirteen year old boys I liked the people creatures they encountered.Yes it s a bit tame considering the enormity of what is happening no [...]

Xavier had been perfectly happy at Ravenwood High School until one Wednesday afternoon, when his father collected him and everything changed At the beginning, Xavier s story reminded me of Lemony Snicket s, A Series of Unfortunate Events , and, as with those stories, I read with my heart in my mouth, desperately wanting things to work out for the seemingly average, thirteen year old boy As the story developed, I was reminded at times of The Lord of The Rings , Harry Potter and The Never ending S [...]

Xavier St Griswold School for Abandoned Boys by E.M Cooper is a gripping tale of good versus evil with appealing teenage characters Xavier has been abandoned at a cruel orphan school, Gabe mysteriously appears after a bolt of lightning, and Ethan is the wild card Xavier misses his parents and sister deeply, while Ethan barely remembers his family because he s been there so long Gabe is busily, and at times humorously, learning what he is Their friendships deepen as they plot to escape, facing su [...]

Clever and believable characters populate author Cooper novel about a group of teens who find themselves in the midst of a battle between good and evil I loved that Cooper wasn t afraid to show the boys as fearful in scary situations, and her teen girl displayed intelligence and moxy The villains ranged from very bad indeed to trapped characters you felt sorry for.The setting is described in enough detail that I can picture it in my head without falling into overly verbose paragraphs that slow d [...]

I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed it thoroughly It s set in a boarding school in an isolated forest in the future although it had a mid 1950s feel Characters are interesting especially some of the offbeat angels and the sinister teachers.The world introduced in this first book of a series is vivid and well depicted on the author s website I m looking forward to the next in the series.

Alone and left without explanation by his parents at St.Griswold s College for Abandoned Boys, thirteen year old Xavier is scared and lonely St.Griswold s is a dark and creepy place with a sense of unexplained happenings going on beneath the surface Xavier and his friends, mysterious Gabe and troubled Ethan, embark on a perilous journey Along the way, they encounter many strange characters some helpful, some dangerous and many not what they first seem to be Help comes from unexpected sources The [...]

I was given a copy for review.Not everything and everyone are what they seem to be at St Griswold College for Abandoned Boys The School it s self is surrounded by a great forest which contain creatures or things that will cause harm to those that venture into it The teachers themselves are not friendly and appear to be sinister Once you are sent there you are unable to leave, when you are there long enough your soul won t let you.So why did Xavier s parents bring him Why did they leave them ther [...]

This is a good book with a plot that keeps you guessing and gets complex as the book goes on It s rewarding to read along and try to figure out what s going on, because even though you ll pick up on some of the things the author does, Cooper is generally one step ahead of what you re thinking and the plot twists will often surprise you There are several main characters within the book, along with a delightful cast of characters that range from cool, to quirky, to downright evil Add all this to [...]

This novel puts me in mind of that 1998 X Files movie Although even if you enjoy the ride, at the end, you re right back where you started.The novel ends on a dissatisfying cliffhanger, which is a pity because, until then, author E.M Cooper had crafted a pretty original quest tale in which three friends seek to escape a Dickensian orphanage of sorts Although a YA novel, it wasn t a ripoff of The Hunger Games, Twilight, or Harry Potter I enjoyed the novel until the last few pages when Cooper in a [...]

Ultimate examination of Good vs Evil.E.M Cooper can write Xavier St Griswold College for Abandoned Boys reads exceptionally smooth for a fantasy novel Most I ve read are choppy and focus on describing the fantasy world rather than character development Not this case here Cooper sets the stage well as he immediately draws you into the emotions of 13 year old Xavier, who is abandoned by his parents at St Griswold College You immediately feel Jones longing for his family and little sister He has d [...]

I loved this book Xavier St Griswold School for Abandoned Boys by E.M Cooper is a a YA tale about teenage Xavier who has been given up or abandoned by his parents at the unusual school for boys It is a fantastical adventure suitable for all ages He makes friends with Gabe whose appearance in the book is very strange indeed and Ethan I loved watching as their friendship grew as the trio banded together in spite of perilous teachers and strange happenings at the school I was sad with Xavier throug [...]

An explosion form of characters lend a hand to Xavier, with a magical vibe and splendorous adventure into a full availing of good verses evil This installment could very well become an entertaining series on television that people of all ages would enjoy The story draws you in from the beginning with a supernatural flavor with wizards and warlocks galore Realistic elements grab a sequence of an imaginative atmosphere as the words throughout its pages suspend the reader in time as we enter into t [...]

I loved this novel The author writes clearly, simply and with a strong dash of humour even though the atmosphere is often sinister and dark.I would like to read the next in the series It has the makings of being a good film.

What an incredibly good YA dystopian quest novel E.M Cooper has written the first of what is destined to become a series as memorable in its way as the Harry Potter books although it reminded me somehow of a souped up 21st century version of C.S Lewis s Narnia stories There are dark forces at work in this future world, and it does seem as though in the grand tradition of the best fantasy novels our hero stumbles into an often surreal landscape, where all the normal conventions of everyday exist [...]

I like it when a novel pulls you in right away and creates a vivid fantasy world that you enjoy delving into And that s exactly what E.M.Cooper managed to do I found Xavier to be a very atmospheric novel and was completely hooked from the beginning.The story begins with a young boy, Xavier, who is dropped off at a daunting building in the middle of deep woods, the St.Griswold College, without knowing the reason and whether his parents ever plan on coming back for him.The college is a spooky plac [...]

The story opens with Xavier as he recalls the mysterious events leading up to the car ride to St Griswold College, where his parents abandon him without cause There is a distinct feeling of pity as Xavier deals with this strange happening, and the audience is easily able to connect with our main character at this point and allow him to lead us through the rest of the novel Despite his circumstances, Xavier is quickly able to make friends with Ethan and Gabe, as they traverse their futuristic wor [...]

Pacy, with an intriguing start, my concerns that Xavier didn t put up much of a fight when his parents abandoned him soon faded as I was drawn into the story Alone, frightened and confused, Xavier s story at the fearsome school for boys melds usual school details with strange happenings.With truly unsettling events rolling out in front of him, Xavier takes things in his stride He joins up with pals Ethan and Gabe, the new boy with the odd mannerisms They go about their daily life at the school, [...]

Xavier is the first in a new and exciting young adult series The main character is a young boy who one day gets dropped off by his parents without any explanation as to why He suspects it s a boarding school but after a while he learns it s a place for abandoned boys that are different He starts to hear a voice that advices him what to do and he discovers abilities He meets new friends but all the while he hopes to escape What follows is an exciting adventure of angels and demons and self discov [...]

Xavier St Griswold College for Abandoned Boys is a very captivating story The story is centered on young Xavier after he is abandoned at a school for boys E M Copper did an amazing job at crafting a well developed and believable narrative as I was hooked after reading only the first few pages The author is really good at making the reader feel the emotion I found it upsetting to read about Xavier being abandoned As the story unfolded, secrets and mysteries are revealed and not everyone or every [...]

At first, St Griswold College reminded me of school stories pushed to the back of family bookshelves and battered by two or three generations of children Mostly the schools were for boys, discipline was strict and physical so new boys, often bullied, did feel abandoned by parents paying for their education though, reading them, I didn t realise that at the time The story rapidly took a turn, and a firmer grip so firm I bought the sequel long before I d read half of this one Xavier left at St Gri [...]

Xavier St Griswolds College for Abandoned Boys, follows main character Xavier and his never ending journey to escape the confines of the boys college his parents dropped him off at at the age of thirteen There s something very off at St Griwolds, and it isn t until we get to know Xavier s new roommate Gabe that we find out just how weird the school really is.This is a great book for young teens it has everything a preteen wants in a book suspense, light humour, perhaps a little scary in some par [...]

Xavier St Griswold College for Abandoned Boys by E.M Cooper.I received a copy of this book to review.Straight off the bat you need to know how much this story draws you in It is one of those books which manages to bridge the reading gap between youth and adult Really this book would be perfect for ages 12 and up It has something for everyone Action and adventure, coming of age, good verse evil, paranormal edges and fantasy Did I get everything It was a true pleasure to read such a professional b [...]

E M Cooper s novel Xavier, St Griswold College For Abandoned Boys, is an exciting, clean, read for young adults As the title indicates, the story takes place in a college for boys who have been abandoned by their parents The staff have free reign on the students since parents never visit The boys live in fear of disapproval by the teachers The author s beginning scene has just the right tone to trap the reader into her tale All the elements of a horror story are in place mean teachers, terrorize [...]

This is a book that teens, adults, and those who like books about boys schools will enjoy In this case, the school is not a preppy, elite school it is one for abandoned boys Even so, it has the essential elements for a good story the weak, quiet new boy Xavier and those who befriend him Ethan and Gabe , as well as the school bully Alex The friends join forces on a mission to save the boys at the school.The book immediately starts out with suspense that draws you in Why would Xavier s parents lea [...]

The story revolves around 13 year old Xavier who is dropped off at a mysterious school in the woods Right out of the gate, the author had me hooked as she built Xavier s new world around me He s left at a creepy school in the middle of a deep forest There s a secretive vibe in the air that gives me the chills He is abandoned by his parents, and frightened by his new home But he quickly learns that he s not alone Along with the other children, they must uncover the secrets of St Griswold The writ [...]

This book took me on a wonderful adventure With all the magic of The Enchanted Wood and Harry Potter , it reminded me of books I would get lost in as a child I loved the way the fantasy world developed At first the book s world seemed quite close to our own and then there were unusual details mysterious visions, ghosts in the library that made me realise this book was something else altogether Every plot twist was so unexpected and it was always a surprise to meet the wonderful array of supporti [...]

Xavier, a teenage boy who is reasonably happy at home, is suddenly dropped off by his parents and sister to the St Griswold College for Abandoned Boys Something catastrophic seems to have happened in their life and they leave him there without explanation If this wasn t bad enough, the college is in the midst of a forest full of monsters and strange creatures who often are not what they seem shape shifters It s also at the top of a high cliff so there is seemingly no escape from the cruel admini [...]