Meet New Books
Book Cover

The Swallows

Save:
Find on Amazon

The Swallows by Lisa Lutz is a gripping novel set at an elite boarding school in New England, where a new teacher, Alex Witt, uncovers disturbing secrets about the toxic masculinity among the students. As the girls decide to fight back against the boys' behavior, a revolution ensues, leading to a high-stakes battle for justice. The narrative is filled with suspense, rage, and compelling characters, offering a thought-provoking exploration of power dynamics and the objectification of women within the school's environment.

Characters:

The characters are complex, with strong female protagonists who challenge the establishment, while male characters frequently embody the negative qualities associated with toxic masculinity.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and humorous, with a feminist tone, enriched by multiple perspectives that add depth to the complex narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around the misogynistic culture at a boarding school and the resulting fight against it, sparked by an anonymous writing assignment that reveals troubling dynamics among students.

Setting:

The setting of an elite New England boarding school juxtaposes its picturesque surroundings against the troubling events that unfold within.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally fast and engaging, with rising tension and a climactic build-up, though some sections may drag slightly.
I don’t hate teaching. I don’t love it either. That’s also my general stance on adolescents. I understand that one day they’ll rule the world and we’ll all have to live with the consequences. But ther...

Notes:

The Swallows is set in a New England prep school called Stonebridge Academy.
Alex Witt, the main character, is a disgraced teacher starting fresh after a scandal.
The novel deals with heavy themes such as sexual harassment, misogyny, and revenge.
A secretive group of boys at the school ranks female students based on their sexual performance.
The girls fight back against the toxic culture, leading to a dramatic and fiery conclusion.
Unlike typical boarding school narratives, this story tackles serious subjects in a contemporary context.
The characters' perspectives alternate, offering multiple viewpoints on the issues presented.
There is a unique element called a 'blowchart' created by Alex to help guide the girls' decisions on sexual encounters.
The book highlights the failure of adults and institutions to protect students and address sexual misconduct.
Themes of empowerment and female solidarity are central as the girls band together against the boys' actions.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of misogyny, homophobia, sexual assault, suicide, and emotional trauma, making it a heavy and potentially triggering read.

From The Publisher:

A teacher at a New England prep school ignites a gender war-with deadly consequences-in this dark and provocative novel by the bestselling author of The Passenger

"Riveting . . . full of imagination and power."-Caroline Kepnes, author of You and Providence

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NEW YORK

WINNER OF THE ALA'S ALEX AWARD

When Alexandra Witt joins the faculty at Stonebridge Academy, she's hoping to put a painful past behind her. Then one of her creative writing assignments generates some disturbing responses from students. Before long, Alex is immersed in an investigation of the students atop the school's social hierarchy-and their connection to something called the Darkroom. She soon inspires the girls who've started to question the school's "boys will be boys" attitude and incites a resistance. But just as the movement is gaining momentum, Alex attracts the attention of an unknown enemy who knows a little too much about her-and what brought her to Stonebridge in the first place.

Meanwhile, Gemma, a defiant senior, has been plotting her attack for years, waiting for the right moment. Shy loner Norman hates his role in the Darkroom, but can't find the courage to fight back until he makes an unlikely alliance. And then there's Finn Ford, an English teacher with a shady reputation, who keeps one eye on his literary ambitions and one on Ms. Witt. As the school's secrets begin to trickle out, a boys-versus-girls skirmish turns into an all-out war, with deeply personal-and potentially fatal-consequences for everyone involved.

Lisa Lutz's blistering, timely tale of revenge and disruption shows us what can happen when silence wins out over decency for too long-and why the scariest threat of all might be the idea that sooner or later, girls will be girls.

Praise for The Swallows

"The Swallows is fast-moving, darkly humorous and at times shockingly vicious. The battle of the sexes within its pages couldn't be more compelling. . . . Lutz delivers a frantic, morbidly funny story."-BookPage

"A decade before the #MeToo movement kicks off in full force, women are coming for the patriarchy in this big ol' novel, ripe with idiosyncratic characterization and memorable scenes."-Refinery29

Ratings (1)

Incredible (1)

Reader Stats (18):

Read It (3)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (10)
Not Interested (4)

About the Author:

Lisa Lutz is the New York Times bestselling, Alex Award-winning author of the Spellman Files series, as well as the novels Heads You Lose (with David Hayward), How to Start a Fire, and The Passenger. She has also written for film and TV, including HBO's The Deuce. She lives…

 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.