Move-In Day Shadows

The school year at Tiffin Academy begins under a cloud of grief and anticipation. Head of School Audre Robinson welcomes students with warmth, but the memory of Cinnamon Peters's suicide haunts the campus. Newcomer Charley Hicks arrives, awkward and bookish, filling the void left by Cinnamon. Social hierarchies are quickly reestablished, with influencer Davi Banerjee and quarterback Dub Austin at the center. Audre senses the fragility beneath the surface, aware that the school's veneer of tradition and excellence masks deeper pain and secrets. The stage is set for a year where every arrival, every handshake, and every forced smile carries the weight of what's been lost—and what's yet to be revealed.

Rankings and Revelations

Tiffin Academy is stunned when national rankings place it as the number two boarding school in the country, a meteoric rise that baffles staff and students alike. The news brings a surge of pride and optimism, but also suspicion and pressure. Audre feels the scrutiny of the board, especially Jesse Eastman, whose son East's presence is both a blessing and a threat. The students, meanwhile, ride the high of newfound prestige, but the shadow of Cinnamon's death and the mystery of the school's sudden success linger. The ranking becomes both a badge of honor and a source of anxiety, setting the tone for a year where appearances matter more than ever.

The Alibi and Aftermath

As classes begin, the faculty's own struggles come to light. Rhode Rivera, the new English teacher and Tiffin alum, grapples with returning to his alma mater after literary disappointment and heartbreak. His budding friendship with history teacher Simone Bergeron is tinged with loneliness and the desire for connection. Meanwhile, Chef Haz, hiding a gambling past, finds solace in transforming the school's food culture. The students, especially Charley, navigate isolation and the pressure to fit in. The memory of Cinnamon's death remains raw, shaping relationships and fueling a collective need for distraction, achievement, and belonging.

Outsiders and Alliances

Charley's outsider status is cemented as she resists overtures from Davi and the popular girls, preferring books to parties. Davi, mourning Cinnamon and feeling the burden of her own image, oscillates between benevolence and manipulation. The first school dance becomes a crucible for social dynamics, with Charley refusing to conform and Davi plotting her transformation. East, enigmatic and privileged, begins to take an interest in Charley, setting off ripples of intrigue and jealousy. The alliances and rivalries formed here will shape the emotional landscape of the year, as each character seeks connection on their own terms.

Admissions and Ambitions

The school's newfound prestige brings a flood of applications and heightened expectations. Cordelia Spooner, head of admissions, juggles the demands of parents, the board, and her own clandestine relationship with college counselor Honey Vandermeid. The faculty's personal lives bleed into their professional roles, with Simone's inexperience and vulnerability becoming increasingly apparent. The students, meanwhile, navigate the rituals and pressures of Tiffin life, from academic competition to the pursuit of social capital. The tension between tradition and change, authenticity and performance, grows ever more acute.

First Dance, First Impressions

The First Dance is a microcosm of Tiffin's social order. Charley's refusal to participate marks her as an outsider, but also piques East's interest. Davi's attempts to control the narrative are challenged by her own insecurities and the unpredictable behavior of her peers. Dub, still grieving Cinnamon, finds himself adrift, while Taylor and Hakeem's relationship is tested by jealousy and unspoken desires. The faculty, too, are drawn into the drama, with Simone and Rhode's awkward flirtation and Haz's quiet observations. The night ends with secrets kept and new ones born, as the boundaries between students and adults blur.

Secrets Beneath the Surface

East leads Charley into the literal and figurative underbelly of Tiffin—a hidden tunnel and bomb shelter beneath the dorms. Their shared secret becomes a foundation for intimacy and risk, as East proposes turning the space into a clandestine speakeasy. Simone, meanwhile, is drawn into a dangerous flirtation with East, her professional boundaries eroding. The school's traditions and rules are revealed to be both protective and suffocating, as students and faculty alike seek escape and meaning in forbidden places. The stage is set for a year where what's hidden below threatens to upend everything above.

Routines and Rivalries

As autumn settles in, routines take hold, but beneath the surface, rivalries and resentments grow. Charley finds a place on the school newspaper, clashing with Ravenna's desire for sensationalism. Dub and Hakeem's friendship is strained by Taylor's affections, while Davi's influence is both coveted and resented. The faculty struggle to maintain order and relevance, with Simone's authority increasingly undermined. The school's traditions—meals, classes, sports—become battlegrounds for status and belonging. The sense of possibility that accompanied the new ranking is tempered by the realities of grief, ambition, and the relentless pressure to perform.

Friday Night Lights Fractures

The football team's unexpected success brings both celebration and conflict. Dub and Hakeem's friendship erupts into physical violence over Taylor, exposing the fragility of their bonds. The game against Northmeadow becomes a metaphor for the school's own struggle for legitimacy and respect. Audre faces pressure from rival heads and the board, while the students grapple with the costs of competition and the pain of unspoken truths. The night ends with both triumph and loss, as the lines between teammates, lovers, and rivals blur.

Family Weekend Fault Lines

Family Weekend exposes the fault lines in Tiffin's community. Charley's fraught relationship with her mother and stepfather comes to a head, while Davi's parents arrive with their own unconventional baggage. The faculty's personal lives are on display, with Cordelia and Honey's romance strained by secrecy and Simone's insecurities laid bare. The school's traditions are both celebrated and questioned, as parents and students alike confront the realities behind the school's polished image. The weekend ends with new wounds and old resentments, as everyone is reminded that family—chosen or given—is never simple.

Zip Zap Unleashed

The arrival of the anonymous Zip Zap app throws the school into turmoil. Secrets, rumors, and accusations spread like wildfire, targeting students and faculty alike. Annabelle's fabricated senior speech is exposed, Tilly's private life is made public, and even Chef Haz's gambling is revealed. The app becomes a weapon, wielded by unseen hands to destabilize the community. Audre and the staff scramble to contain the damage, but the boundaries between truth and lies, justice and vengeance, are increasingly blurred. The sense of safety and order at Tiffin is shattered, replaced by suspicion and dread.

Ghosts in the Machine

As Zip Zap's influence grows, paranoia takes hold. Students and faculty alike fear exposure, and the search for the app's creator becomes an obsession. Simone's past is dredged up, and her relationship with East becomes increasingly reckless. Charley and East's secret project progresses, but the risk of discovery looms. The school's rituals and routines are disrupted by the constant threat of public shaming, and the community's trust is eroded. The ghost of Cinnamon Peters haunts not just the students, but the very machinery of the school, as everyone wonders who is watching—and who will be next.

Limerence and Lies

Romantic entanglements reach a fever pitch. Simone and Rhode's disastrous date exposes their incompatibility, while Simone's obsession with East deepens. Taylor and Dub's friendship is tested by unspoken longing, and Hakeem's betrayal with Cassie Lee fractures old alliances. The boundaries between love, lust, and manipulation blur, as characters pursue connection at any cost. The consequences of desire—both fulfilled and frustrated—ripple through the community, setting the stage for betrayal and heartbreak.

Priorities and Impunity

East's speakeasy, Priorities, becomes a reality, drawing a select group of students into a world of exclusivity and risk. The thrill of breaking the rules is tempered by the knowledge that some are protected by privilege while others are expendable. Simone's jealousy and resentment boil over, leading her to confront East and set in motion a chain of events that will have far-reaching consequences. The illusion of impunity is shattered, as the costs of secrecy and ambition become impossible to ignore.

The Kringle and Consequences

The Kringle, Tiffin's elegant winter tradition, becomes a stage for both triumph and disaster. Charley's transformation is complete, but her happiness is fragile. Simone's obsession with East is exposed, leading to her downfall. The school's secrets—romantic, academic, and personal—are laid bare, and the consequences are swift and severe. The sense of community is tested as alliances shift and betrayals come to light. The year's accumulated tensions erupt, forcing everyone to confront the reality behind the rituals.

Spring Break and Suspicion

Spring break offers a brief respite, but the fractures in the community deepen. Charley and East's relationship is strained by suspicion and the weight of secrets. Simone's drinking escalates, and her behavior becomes increasingly erratic. Olivia H-T, feeling excluded, begins to investigate her peers, setting the stage for exposure. The return to school is marked by unease, as everyone senses that the reckoning is near. The illusion of safety is gone, replaced by a pervasive sense of vulnerability and mistrust.

Tiffinpalooza and Exposures

Tiffinpalooza, the school's spring festival, is both a celebration and a crucible. Old friendships are tested, new alliances are formed, and the consequences of past actions come due. Olivia's suspicions lead her to uncover the truth about Priorities, while Davi and Charley's friendship is put to the ultimate test. The festival's joy is tinged with anxiety, as everyone senses that the end of the year will bring both liberation and loss. The stage is set for the final unmasking of secrets and the reckoning of relationships.

The End of Zip Zap

The identity of the Zip Zap creators—third-formers Grady and Levi—is finally exposed, bringing a measure of closure and relief. The school community grapples with the fallout, as the damage done by the app becomes clear. Audre and the staff work to restore trust and order, but the scars remain. The revelation forces everyone to confront the ways in which power, privilege, and anonymity have shaped their lives. The end of Zip Zap marks the beginning of a new chapter, but the lessons learned will not be easily forgotten.

Priorities Unveiled

With Zip Zap gone, East's speakeasy flourishes—until he abruptly announces its closure for the year. The select group of students who participated are left with memories of risk, intimacy, and belonging. The experience cements their bonds but also highlights the disparities in power and consequence. As the year draws to a close, the thrill of rebellion gives way to the reality of accountability. The legacy of Priorities lingers, a testament to both the allure and the danger of secret societies.

Betrayals and Breakdowns

Simone's drunken confrontation with East leads to her dismissal, and the truth about her relationship with him—and her own vulnerabilities—is laid bare. Charley, devastated by East's betrayal, withdraws from her friends and contemplates leaving Tiffin. The faculty's own secrets and failures come to light, with Honey's inappropriate advance on Simone leading to her resignation. The community is rocked by scandal, and the boundaries between victim and perpetrator, justice and mercy, are blurred. The cost of secrecy and ambition is finally paid, as the school struggles to heal.

Commencement and Closure

Prize Day arrives, marking both an end and a beginning. The sixth-formers graduate, carrying with them the scars and wisdom of a tumultuous year. Charley and East's relationship hangs in the balance, as forgiveness and trust are tested. Audre reflects on the challenges and triumphs of her tenure, determined to learn from the past and build a better future. The school's traditions endure, but the community is forever changed. As the students gather on the Senior Sofa, they realize that the true legacy of Tiffin is not its ranking or rituals, but the messy, beautiful, and painful process of growing up together.

Characters

Audre Robinson

As Tiffin's Head of School, Audre is both a visionary and a caretaker, striving to modernize the academy while honoring its traditions. The suicide of Cinnamon Peters weighs heavily on her, fueling both her compassion and her anxiety. Audre's relationships with staff, students, and the board are complex—she is both respected and scrutinized, especially by Jesse Eastman. Her intuition, the "Feeling," guides her through crises, but she is not immune to self-doubt or the pressures of institutional politics. Audre's journey is one of resilience, as she navigates scandal, betrayal, and the relentless demands of leadership, always seeking to protect her students and preserve the school's integrity.

Charley Hicks

Charley arrives at Tiffin as a fifth-former, burdened by grief and family dysfunction. Her intelligence and independence set her apart, making her both a target and an object of fascination. Charley's relationships—with Davi, East, and the faculty—are marked by ambivalence and vulnerability. She is drawn into the school's secrets, from the newspaper to the speakeasy, and her journey is one of self-discovery and hard-won belonging. Charley's psychological depth is revealed in her struggle to trust, her resistance to conformity, and her eventual willingness to risk heartbreak for connection. Her arc is a testament to the power and pain of authenticity.

Andrew "East" Eastman

East is the son of the board president, granted impunity and special privileges. His charm and intelligence are matched by a deep sense of boredom and alienation. East's relationship with Charley is both genuine and strategic—he is drawn to her independence but also uses her as a shield for his own schemes. His creation of the speakeasy, Priorities, is both an act of rebellion and a search for purpose. East's entanglement with Simone reveals his capacity for manipulation and self-preservation, but also his vulnerability. His development is marked by the tension between entitlement and longing, risk and regret.

Davi Banerjee

Davi wields immense social power, but her confidence masks deep insecurities and grief over Cinnamon's death. Her relationship with Charley is fraught—part mentorship, part rivalry, part genuine friendship. Davi's struggle with an eating disorder and her family's unconventional dynamics add layers to her character, exposing the costs of perfection and performance. Her arc is one of reckoning—with her own limits, her need for control, and the possibility of real vulnerability. Davi's journey is a meditation on the price of influence and the longing for acceptance.

Simone Bergeron

Simone is young, ambitious, and desperate to be liked, but her lack of experience and unresolved trauma make her vulnerable to poor decisions. Her obsession with East and her rivalry with Charley lead her down a path of self-destruction. Simone's past—her disgrace at McGill, her struggles with alcohol—haunt her, and her inability to maintain professional boundaries results in scandal and dismissal. Her psychological complexity lies in her oscillation between victim and perpetrator, her longing for connection, and her self-sabotage. Simone's downfall is both inevitable and deeply human.

Rhode Rivera

Rhode returns to Tiffin hoping to inspire students and find redemption after literary disappointment. His friendship and failed romance with Simone expose his own insecurities and longing for relevance. Rhode's attempts to modernize the curriculum and connect with students are met with mixed success, and his role in the unfolding scandals is both passive and complicit. He serves as a mirror for the school's struggles with tradition, change, and the search for purpose. Rhode's arc is one of quiet resilience and the acceptance of imperfection.

Dub Austin

Dub is defined by his relationship with Cinnamon and his struggle to move on after her death. His friendship with Hakeem and Taylor is tested by jealousy, loyalty, and the pressures of performance. Dub's integrity and vulnerability set him apart, and his journey is one of learning to trust, forgive, and find meaning beyond loss. The secret file left by Cinnamon becomes a symbol of his burden and his hope. Dub's development is a meditation on masculinity, grief, and the search for identity.

Taylor Wilson

Taylor is driven, talented, and torn between her feelings for Dub and Hakeem. Her rivalry with Cinnamon and her own insecurities fuel her actions, leading to heartbreak and self-discovery. Taylor's journey is marked by the tension between desire and duty, performance and authenticity. Her eventual reconciliation with Hakeem and her role in the school's secret society reflect her growth and resilience.

Cordelia Spooner

As head of admissions, Cordelia wields significant influence over the school's composition and culture. Her relationship with Honey is a source of both comfort and conflict, and her own insecurities about status and belonging shape her actions. Cordelia's complicity in the school's image-making and her willingness to bend rules for the "right" students reveal the moral ambiguities at the heart of Tiffin. Her arc is one of self-awareness and the acceptance of imperfection.

Honey Vandermeid

Honey is dedicated to her students' futures but struggles with her own boundaries and desires. Her relationship with Cordelia is tested by secrecy, jealousy, and her own impulsive actions. Honey's inappropriate advance on Simone and her subsequent resignation expose the dangers of blurred lines and unacknowledged needs. Her arc is one of reckoning—with her own limitations, her longing for connection, and the costs of care.

Plot Devices

Dual Narratives and Shifting Perspectives

The novel employs a rotating cast of narrators—students, faculty, and administrators—each offering their own perspective on events. This structure allows for a rich exploration of subjectivity, bias, and the ways in which truth is constructed and contested. The shifting viewpoints create dramatic irony, as readers are privy to secrets and motivations unknown to other characters. The device also mirrors the social dynamics of a boarding school, where alliances and perceptions are constantly in flux.

The Anonymous App (Zip Zap)

The introduction of the Zip Zap app serves as both a plot engine and a metaphor for the dangers of surveillance, rumor, and the erosion of trust. The app's anonymous posts expose secrets, fuel paranoia, and destabilize the community. It functions as a modern-day witch hunt, echoing the themes of The Crucible and forcing characters to confront the consequences of their actions. The eventual unmasking of the app's creators reveals the power and peril of technology in shaping identity and community.

Secret Spaces and Hidden Societies

The discovery and transformation of the bomb shelter into the speakeasy, Priorities, is both a literal and symbolic descent into the school's underbelly. The secret society formed around the speakeasy becomes a crucible for intimacy, risk, and rebellion. The device echoes classic campus novels and serves as a commentary on privilege, exclusion, and the allure of transgression. The tunnels, hidden rooms, and forbidden rituals mirror the characters' own secrets and desires.

Foreshadowing and Recurring Motifs

The novel is rich in foreshadowing—Audre's "Feeling," the recurring references to classic literature, the symbolism of windows, tunnels, and locked doors. The motifs of performance, masks, and transformation are woven throughout, reinforcing the central themes of authenticity, belonging, and the costs of secrecy. The use of rituals—dances, ceremonies, traditions—serves both to unite and to isolate, highlighting the tension between community and individuality.

Scandal and Scapegoating

The exposure of secrets—through Zip Zap, rumor, and confession—drives the plot toward crisis and reckoning. Characters are alternately victims and perpetrators, and the boundaries between justice and vengeance are blurred. The device of scapegoating—blaming outsiders, the vulnerable, or the different—serves as both a critique of institutional power and a meditation on the human need for order and meaning in the face of chaos.

Analysis

Through its ensemble cast and layered narrative, the book interrogates the costs of secrecy, the dangers of surveillance, and the complexities of belonging. The anonymous Zip Zap app is both a plot device and a metaphor for the ways technology amplifies our worst instincts—gossip, envy, and the urge to control. The novel's strength lies in its refusal to offer easy answers: every character is flawed, every relationship is fraught, and every tradition is both a comfort and a constraint. The story is as much about the adults as the students, revealing how the traumas and ambitions of youth echo into adulthood. Ultimately, The Academy is a meditation on the hard part of high school—the people—and the ways in which we are shaped, scarred, and sometimes saved by the communities we inhabit. Its lessons are both timely and timeless: that authenticity is hard-won, that power is always contested, and that the true test of character is not in achievement, but in the willingness to risk connection, forgiveness, and change.

Last updated: September 17, 2025