Advertisement
# A Dangerous Education: Megan Chance and the Shifting Landscape of YA Dystopian Fiction
Author: Dr. Eleanor Vance, Professor of English Literature and Young Adult Fiction at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Vance has published extensively on the themes of power, identity, and social critique in young adult literature, with a particular focus on dystopian and utopian narratives.
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic, a reputable academic publisher known for its high-quality scholarly works in literature, history, and the humanities. Their rigorous peer-review process ensures the reliability and academic rigor of their publications.
Editor: Dr. Katherine Miller, Senior Editor at Bloomsbury Academic, with over 15 years of experience editing scholarly books and articles in the field of literary studies.
Keywords: a dangerous education megan chance, YA dystopian fiction, social commentary, power dynamics, queer representation, feminist themes, literary analysis, Megan Chance novel, current trends in YA literature.
Abstract (Summary)
This critical analysis examines Megan Chance's A Dangerous Education within the context of contemporary young adult (YA) dystopian fiction. We assess its impact on current trends by exploring its unique approach to themes of power, class, magic, and queer representation. The novel’s success stems from its subversion of traditional dystopian tropes, its nuanced character development, and its engagement with relevant social issues. While analyzing its strengths, we also critically examine potential limitations and its overall contribution to the ongoing evolution of the YA genre. This analysis ultimately argues that A Dangerous Education serves as a significant example of how YA dystopian fiction can both reflect and shape contemporary anxieties and aspirations.
1. Introduction: Deconstructing the Dystopian Academy in A Dangerous Education
Megan Chance's A Dangerous Education bursts onto the scene not as a simple rehash of familiar dystopian tropes, but as a complex and nuanced exploration of power, privilege, and the inherent dangers of unchecked ambition. Unlike many YA dystopian novels that focus solely on external oppressive forces, A Dangerous Education delves into the internal dynamics of a prestigious magical academy, revealing a microcosm of societal inequalities. The novel’s immediate success reflects a growing audience appetite for YA fiction that tackles complex social issues with depth and subtlety. The unique setting of a magical academy allows Chance to explore themes of classism, elitism, and the abuse of power within a highly controlled environment, making A Dangerous Education a timely and relevant contribution to the YA genre.
2. Power Dynamics and the Subversion of Traditional Tropes in A Dangerous Education
Traditional YA dystopian narratives often feature a singular, all-powerful antagonist. A Dangerous Education, however, disperses power across various factions and individuals within the academy. The novel's intricate power dynamics are not neatly categorized into good versus evil; instead, Chance presents a more realistic and morally ambiguous portrayal. This complexity is a refreshing departure from the simplistic morality often found in the genre, enriching the narrative and fostering a deeper engagement with the characters' motivations. The blurring of lines between victim and perpetrator compels readers to critically examine the nuances of power and its insidious effects. This nuanced approach resonates with contemporary readers, who are increasingly attuned to the complexities of social and political systems.
3. Queer Representation and the Expanding Landscape of YA Literature
A Dangerous Education deserves praise for its authentic and nuanced portrayal of queer relationships. The novel avoids stereotypical representations and instead depicts characters with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities in a way that feels organic and believable. This commitment to inclusive representation is a crucial aspect of the book's success, as it reflects the increasing demand for YA literature that authentically represents the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ youth. The inclusion of these characters is not merely tokenistic; their relationships and struggles contribute significantly to the overall narrative, enriching the thematic depth of A Dangerous Education. This representation is a significant contributor to the evolving landscape of YA fiction, challenging traditional narratives and promoting a more inclusive and representative literary world.
4. The Significance of Magic as a Metaphor in A Dangerous Education
The presence of magic within A Dangerous Education is not merely a fantastical element; it serves as a potent metaphor for power and privilege. The access to and control of magic mirror the societal inequalities present in the academy. Those with greater magical abilities often wield greater influence and power, reinforcing the existing hierarchical structures. This metaphorical use of magic allows Chance to explore complex themes of social justice and inequality in a compelling and imaginative way. This clever use of metaphor makes A Dangerous Education more than just a fantasy novel; it elevates the story into a powerful social commentary.
5. Feminist Themes and the Female Protagonist in A Dangerous Education
The novel features a strong female protagonist who navigates the patriarchal structures of the academy. While she faces significant challenges, her agency and resilience contribute significantly to the novel’s feminist themes. A Dangerous Education subtly challenges traditional gender roles and expectations, offering a refreshing alternative to the often-passive female characters prevalent in some YA dystopian narratives. This portrayal of a strong and independent female protagonist resonates with contemporary feminist ideals and appeals to a wide range of readers.
6. Critical Analysis of Potential Limitations of A Dangerous Education
Despite its many strengths, A Dangerous Education is not without potential limitations. Some critics may argue that certain plot points feel rushed or underdeveloped. Others might find the ending somewhat ambiguous or unsatisfying. These perceived shortcomings, however, do not detract significantly from the overall impact of the novel. The strength of A Dangerous Education lies in its nuanced exploration of complex themes, its well-developed characters, and its overall contribution to the evolution of the YA genre.
7. Conclusion: A Dangerous Education's Lasting Impact on YA Fiction
Megan Chance’s A Dangerous Education stands as a significant contribution to the ongoing evolution of YA dystopian fiction. Its nuanced exploration of power, privilege, and identity, coupled with its authentic portrayal of queer characters, makes it a relevant and engaging read for contemporary audiences. While it may not be without its minor flaws, the novel’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. Its lasting impact on the YA genre lies in its ability to spark conversations about important social issues, challenge traditional narratives, and inspire future authors to create more inclusive and complex stories. The continued popularity of A Dangerous Education demonstrates the growing demand for YA fiction that tackles complex themes with depth, nuance, and a commitment to authentic representation. Its success reflects a broader shift in the YA landscape, where readers increasingly seek stories that challenge them, reflect their lived experiences, and offer a glimpse into a more just and equitable future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What age range is A Dangerous Education best suited for? The novel is generally considered appropriate for young adults aged 16 and up due to its mature themes and complex plot.
2. What are the main themes explored in A Dangerous Education? The primary themes include power dynamics, classism, magic as a metaphor, queer representation, and feminist ideals.
3. How does A Dangerous Education compare to other YA dystopian novels? It distinguishes itself through its focus on internal power dynamics within a magical academy rather than solely on external oppressive forces.
4. What is the significance of the setting in A Dangerous Education? The setting of a prestigious magical academy allows for a microcosm of societal inequalities to be explored effectively.
5. Is there a sequel to A Dangerous Education? Yes, there is a sequel titled A Deadly Education.
6. What makes the characters in A Dangerous Education compelling? The characters are complex, morally ambiguous, and relatable, defying simple categorization into good or evil.
7. How does A Dangerous Education handle the topic of queer representation? It features authentic and nuanced portrayals of LGBTQ+ characters, avoiding stereotypes and contributing meaningfully to the narrative.
8. What are the critical responses to A Dangerous Education? Critical responses have been largely positive, praising the novel's complex themes, compelling characters, and social commentary.
9. Where can I find A Dangerous Education? The novel is readily available at most bookstores, both online and in physical locations.
Related Articles:
1. "The Power of Magic as a Metaphor in YA Dystopian Fiction": An exploration of how magic is used symbolically in various YA dystopian novels to represent societal issues.
2. "Queer Representation in Contemporary Young Adult Literature": An analysis of the evolution of queer representation in YA novels, focusing on advancements and ongoing challenges.
3. "A Comparative Analysis of Power Dynamics in A Dangerous Education and The Hunger Games": A comparison of how power is portrayed and used in these two popular YA dystopian series.
4. "The Role of the Female Protagonist in Subverting Dystopian Tropes": Examination of how female protagonists in YA dystopian novels challenge and subvert traditional gender roles and power structures.
5. "Classism and Inequality in Megan Chance's A Dangerous Education": A focused examination of the class dynamics and socioeconomic inequalities depicted within the academy setting.
6. "A Critical Review of A Deadly Education: A Sequel to A Dangerous Education": An analysis of the sequel, discussing its connection to the original novel and its own thematic contributions.
7. "Megan Chance's Impact on the Contemporary YA Landscape": An overview of Chance's writing style, thematic focus, and her overall contribution to the young adult literary genre.
8. "The Moral Ambiguity of Characters in A Dangerous Education": A close reading of the characters and their morally complex decisions, exploring the gray areas of the narrative.
9. "The Use of Setting to Enhance Thematic Depth in A Dangerous Education": An analysis of how the setting of the magical academy contributes to the novel’s overall message and impact.
a dangerous education megan chance: Bone River Megan Chance, 2012 Selected by Amazon's editors as a Best Book of the Month in Literature & Fiction, December 2012 In the mid-19th century, Leonie Monroe Russell works alongside her husband, Junius, an oysterman in Shoalwater Bay in the Pacific Northwest. At night she continues her father's lifelong obsession--collecting artifacts and studying the native culture that once thrived in the Washington Territory. On her 37th birthday, Leonie discovers a mummy protruding from the riverbank bordering her property--a mummy that by all evidence shouldn't exist. As Leonie searches for answers to the mummy's origins, she begins to feel a mystical connection to it that defies all logic. Leonie's sense that otherworldly forces are at work only grows when news of the incredible discovery brings Junius's long lost son, Daniel, to her doorstep. Upon his unexpected arrival, a native elder insists that Leonie wear a special shell bracelet for protection. But protection from whom? The mummy? Or perhaps Daniel? Leonie has always been a good daughter and good wife, but for the first time, these roles do not seem to be enough. Finding the mummy has changed everything, and now Leonie must decide if she has the courage to put aside the expectations of others to be the woman she was meant to be. From award-winning author Megan Chance, Bone River is a haunting, lyrical tale of passion and identity. |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Spiritualist Megan Chance, 2008-05-27 Sometimes truth is the greatest illusion of all. On a cold January morning in 1856, Evelyn Atherton’s husband is found murdered after attending an exclusive séance. Having “married up” into New York society, Evie herself is the immediate suspect. Ostracized and vulnerable, she knows that to clear her name she must retrace her husband’s last steps. And so, joining forces with her husband’s best friend–and the only Manhattan lawyer who will accept her case–Evie dives into the mysterious underworld of the occult. Before long, the trail brings them to a charismatic medium, Michel Jourdain. Evie’s instincts tell her the smooth-talking Jourdain is a charlatan–and her only hope for exoneration. But getting close to Jourdain means embracing a seductive and hypnotic world where clues to murder come through the voices of the dead. Caught in a perilous game in which she is equal player and pawn, predator and victim, Evie finds there is no one to trust, perhaps not even herself. As her powerful in-laws build a case against her, and with time running out, Evie must face the real ghosts of her past if she is to have any hope of avoiding the hangman. |
a dangerous education megan chance: The School for Dangerous Girls Eliot Schrefer, 2010-02-01 “This psychological thriller follows a girl with dark secrets to a school with uneasy mysteries of its own . . . Gripping, violent and terrifying.” —Kirkus Reviews A New York Public Library “Best of the Teen Age” Angela’s parents think she’s on the road to ruin because she’s dating a “bad boy.” After her behavior gets too much for them, they ship her off to Hidden Oak. Isolated and isolating, Hidden Oak promises to rehabilitate “dangerous girls.” But as Angela gets drawn in further and further, she discovers that recovery is only on the agenda for the “better” girls. The other girls—designated as “the purple thread” —will instead be manipulated to become more and more dangerous . . . and more and more reliant on Hidden Oak’s care. “Teens might behave dangerously themselves to get their hands on this page-turner with its commentary on education.” —Booklist “The struggle and eventual triumph of the bad girls over the evil teachers makes for an intriguing conflict that many teens will appreciate.” —School Library Journal “Compelling and page-turning . . . For any fan of gothic, dark, gripping action, The School for Dangerous Girls should not be missed.” —TeensReadToo.com |
a dangerous education megan chance: Rectified Pollyanna Porter, 2021-01-05 What price would you pay to do the right thing? Rectified explores themes of sexual abuse, betrayal, and what it means to truly do the right thing, regardless of the consequences. It follows two timelines - past and present - revealing the tragic circumstances that forever change the life of Sara Scott, her family, and the small community of fictional Langdon, Vermont. |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Battle for Room 314 Ed Boland, 2016-02-09 In this insightfully honest and moving memoir about the realities of teaching in an inner-city school, Ed Boland smashes the dangerous myth of the hero-teacher [and] shows us how high the stakes are for our most vulnerable students (Piper Kerman, author of Orange is the New Black). In a fit of idealism, Ed Boland left a twenty-year career as a non-profit executive to teach in a tough New York City public high school. But his hopes quickly collided headlong with the appalling reality of his students' lives and a hobbled education system unable to help them. Freddy runs a drug ring for his incarcerated brother; Nee-cole is homeschooled on the subway by her brilliant homeless mother; Byron's Ivy League dream is dashed because he is undocumented. In the end, Boland isn't hoisted on his students' shoulders and no one passes AP anything. This is no urban fairy tale of at-risk kids saved by a Hollywood hero, but a searing indictment of schools that claim to be progressive but still fail their students. Told with compassion, humor, and a keen eye, Boland's story is sure to ignite debate about the future of American education and attempts to reform it. |
a dangerous education megan chance: A Drop of Ink Megan Chance, 2017 Penniless and disgraced, Adelaide Wentworth is feeling rather desperate. With nothing left to lose, she and her sister, Louisa, flee to Lake Geneva with Adelaide's lover, the infamous poet Julian Estes. There, Louisa hopes to persuade Bayard Sonnier--celebrated writer and her former lover--to advance Julian's career. He is their last hope for salvation. At the Villa Diodati--the place that inspired the writing of Frankenstein sixty years earlier--Louisa plots to rekindle her affair with Bayard, while Adelaide hopes to restore her fading love for Julian by being the muse he needs. But soon, secrets are revealed, passions ignited, and hidden talents discovered. Adelaide begins to imagine a different life. Confused, she turns to Giovanni Calina--Bayard's assistant and a man with his own secrets and deep resentments--and the two form a dangerous alliance. No one leaves unscathed in this richly imagined, emotionally nuanced tale of passion, ambition, inspiration, and redemption. |
a dangerous education megan chance: Prima Donna Megan Chance, 2009 From the author of the hypnotic and alluring (Historical Novels Review) novel The Spiritualist comes another addictively readable historical novel with a twist of dark mystery. |
a dangerous education megan chance: Stories from Suffragette City M. J. Rose, Fiona Davis, 2020-10-27 One City. One Movement. A World of Stories. Stories from Suffragette City is a collection of short stories that all take place on a single day: October 23, 1915. It’s the day when tens of thousands of women marched up Fifth Avenue, demanding the right to vote in New York City. Thirteen of today's bestselling authors have taken this moment as inspiration to raise the voices of history and breathe fresh life into their struggles and triumphs. The characters depicted here, some well-known, others unfamiliar, each inspire and reinvigorate the power of democracy. We follow a young woman who is swept up in the protests when all she expected was to come sell her apples in the city. We see Alva Vanderbilt as her white-gloved sensibility is transformed over the course of the single fateful day. Ida B. Wells battles for racial justice in the women's suffrage movement so that every woman's voice can be heard. Each story stands on its own, but together Stories From Suffragette City becomes a symphony, painting a portrait of a country looking for a fight and ever restless for progress and equality. With an introduction by Kristin Hannah and stories from: Lisa Wingate M.J. Rose Steve Berry Paula McLain Katherine J. Chen Christina Baker Kline Jamie Ford Dolen Perkins-Valdez Megan Chance Alyson Richman Chris Bohjalian and Fiona Davis |
a dangerous education megan chance: A Deadly Education Naomi Novik, 2020-09-29 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of Uprooted and Spinning Silver comes the first book of the Scholomance trilogy, the story of an unwilling dark sorceress who is destined to rewrite the rules of magic. FINALIST FOR THE LODESTAR AWARD • “The dark school of magic I’ve been waiting for.”—Katherine Arden, author of the Winternight Trilogy I decided that Orion Lake needed to die after the second time he saved my life. Everyone loves Orion Lake. Everyone else, that is. Far as I’m concerned, he can keep his flashy combat magic to himself. I’m not joining his pack of adoring fans. I don’t need help surviving the Scholomance, even if they do. Forget the hordes of monsters and cursed artifacts, I’m probably the most dangerous thing in the place. Just give me a chance and I’ll level mountains and kill untold millions, make myself the dark queen of the world. At least, that’s what the world expects. Most of the other students in here would be delighted if Orion killed me like one more evil thing that’s crawled out of the drains. Sometimes I think they want me to turn into the evil witch they assume I am. The school certainly does. But the Scholomance isn’t getting what it wants from me. And neither is Orion Lake. I may not be anyone’s idea of the shining hero, but I’m going to make it out of this place alive, and I’m not going to slaughter thousands to do it, either. Although I’m giving serious consideration to just one. With flawless mastery, Naomi Novik creates a school bursting with magic like you’ve never seen before, and a heroine for the ages—a character so sharply realized and so richly nuanced that she will live on in hearts and minds for generations to come. The magic of the Scholomance trilogy continues in The Last Graduate “The can’t-miss fantasy of fall 2020, a brutal coming-of-power story steeped in the aesthetics of dark academia. . . . A Deadly Education will cement Naomi Novik’s place as one of the greatest and most versatile fantasy writers of our time.”—BookPage (starred review) “A must-read . . . Novik puts a refreshingly dark, adult spin on the magical boarding school. . . . Readers will delight in the push-and-pull of El and Orion’s relationship, the fantastically detailed world, the clever magic system, and the matter-of-fact diversity of the student body.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) |
a dangerous education megan chance: Never Saw Me Coming Vera Kurian, 2021-09-07 Edgar Award Nominee for Best First Novel Named a New York Times Best Thriller of 2021 I devoured this riveting book through a day of travel...My desire to rush to the end clashed with my desire to savor every word. Who would be the last psychopath standing?” — New York Times Book Review Fresh, fast-paced and fiendishly clever! If you love watching true crime and wonder about the psychopaths among us, this is the book for you! — Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author You should never trust a psychopath. But what if you had no choice? It would be easy to underestimate Chloe Sevre… She’s a freshman honor student, a legging-wearing hot girl next door, who also happens to be a psychopath. She spends her time on yogalates, frat parties and plotting to kill Will Bachman, a childhood friend who grievously wronged her. Chloe is one of seven students at her DC-based college who are part of an unusual clinical study of psychopaths—students like herself who lack empathy and can’t comprehend emotions like fear or guilt. The study, led by a renowned psychologist, requires them to wear smart watches that track their moods and movements. When one of the students in the study is found murdered in the psychology building, a dangerous game of cat and mouse begins, and Chloe goes from hunter to prey. As she races to identify the killer and put her own plan for revenge into action, she’ll be forced to decide if she can trust any of her fellow psychopaths—and everybody knows you should never trust a psychopath. |
a dangerous education megan chance: City of Ash Megan Chance, 2011-06-07 When the great Seattle fire of 1889 leaves them with nothing to lose, two very different women discover a mutual passion for revenge. Chicago socialite and art patron Geneva Langley has brought scandal to her family for the last time. Her latest and boldest act of immodesty is too much for her father to bear, and he banishes her to Seattle, along with her scheming, ambitious husband, Nathan. Seattle is a far cry from Chicago—the streets are muddy, the society backward, and Ginny feels stifled and alone. Despite her considerable talent, Beatrice Wilkes is an actress whose dream of being a leading lady is fading rapidly. She can’t believe her luck when a new production gives her a chance at stardom, but Geneva Langley seizes the opportunity for her own and unwittingly crushes Bea’s last dream. The two women engage in a fierce battle for center stage, but the great Seattle fire, which ravages the city, changes their fates and plans. In its aftermath, Ginny and Bea see an opportunity to change their lives: but it would mean banding together to enact a truly wicked plan. Their dark and perilous alliance will set them on the path to either redemption or damnation. |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Perfect Stranger Megan Miranda, 2019-05-28 From the author of the New York Times bestseller All the Missing Girls—the gripping story of a journalist who sets out to find her missing friend, a friend who may never have existed at all. “Think: Luckiest Girl Alive, The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl” (TheSkimm). When Leah Stevens’ career implodes, a chance meeting with her old friend Emmy Grey offers her the perfect opportunity to start over. Emmy, just out of a bad relationship, convinces Leah to come live with her in rural Pennsylvania, where there are teaching positions available and no one knows Leah’s past. Or Emmy’s. When the town sees a spate of vicious crimes and Emmy Grey disappears, Leah begins to realize how very little she knows about her friend and roommate. Unable to find friends, family, a paper trail or a digital footprint, the police question whether Emmy Grey existed at all. And mark Leah as a prime suspect. Fighting the doubts of the police and her own sanity, Leah must uncover the truth about Emmy Grey—and along the way, confront her old demons, find out who she can really trust, and clear her own name. Megan Miranda delivers a deep, dark and twisty novel just as thrilling as her New York Times bestseller All the Missing Girls. |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Last to Vanish Megan Miranda, 2022-07-26 INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “This eerie thriller…can stand next to Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Stephen King’s The Shining.” —Booklist (starred review) New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda returns with a gripping and propulsive thriller that opens with the disappearance of a journalist who is investigating a string of vanishings in the resort town of Cutter’s Pass—will its dark secrets finally be revealed? Ten years ago, Abigail Lovett fell into a job she loves, managing The Passage Inn, a cozy, upscale resort nestled in the North Carolina mountain town of Cutter’s Pass. Cutter’s Pass is best known for its outdoor offerings—rafting and hiking, with access to the Appalachian trail by way of a gorgeous waterfall—and its mysterious history. As the book begins, the string of unsolved disappearances that has haunted the town is once again thrust into the spotlight when journalist Landon West, who was staying at the inn to investigate the story of the vanishing trail, then disappears himself. Abby has sometimes felt like an outsider within the community, but she’s come to view Cutter’s Pass as her home. When Landon’s brother Trey shows up looking for answers, Abby can’t help but feel the town closing ranks. And she’s still on the outside. When she finds incriminating evidence that may bring them closer to the truth, Abby soon discovers how little she knows about her coworkers, neighbors, and even those closest to her. Megan Miranda brings her best writing to The Last to Vanish, a riveting thriller filled with taut suspense and shocking twists that will keep you guessing until the very end. |
a dangerous education megan chance: Beautiful Bad Annie Ward, 2019-03-05 A perfect marriage reveals its dark secrets in this psychological thriller of a devoted wife, her veteran husband, and a shocking murder. Maddie and Ian’s love story began with a chance encounter at a party overseas; he was serving in the British Army and she was a travel writer visiting her best friend, Jo. Now almost two decades later, married with a beautiful son, Charlie, they are living the perfect suburban life in Middle America. But when a camping accident leaves Maddie badly scarred, she begins attending writing therapy, where she gradually reveals her fears about Ian’s PTSD; her concerns for the safety of their young son; and the couple’s tangled and tumultuous past with Jo. From the Balkans to England, Iraq to Manhattan, and finally to an ordinary family home in Kansas, sixteen years of love and fear, adventure and suspicion culminate in The Day of the Killing, when a frantic 911 call summons the police to the scene of a shocking crime. |
a dangerous education megan chance: An Inconvenient Wife Megan Chance, 2009-05-30 An Inconvenient Wife is a rich blend of suspense, social history (America in the 1880s), and passion. Chance delivers a powerfully written page-turner about a woman's struggle to escape the confines of her time, class, and gender. Literary historical fiction is an extremely popular genre, as demonstrated by such bestsellers as Matthew Pearl's AThe Dante Club and Michael Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White. Megan Chance is the author of Susannah Morrow, which captured the extraordinary drama of the Salem witch trials; as well as the historical romance novels A Season in Eden, The Gentleman Caller, The Way Home, and Fall from Grace. |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Family Plot Megan Collins, 2022-03-29 At twenty-six, Dahlia Lighthouse has a lot to learn when it comes to the real world. Raised in a secluded island mansion deep in the woods and kept isolated by her true crime-obsessed parents, she spent the last several years living on her own, but unable to move beyond her past-especially the disappearance of her twin brother Andy when they were sixteen. With her father's death, Dahlia returns to the house she has avoided for years. But the rest of the Lighthouse family arrives for the memorial, a gruesome discovery is made: buried in the reserved plot is another body-Andy's, his skill split open with an ax. Each member of the family handles the revelation in unusual ways. Her brother Charlie pours his energy into creating a family memorial museum, highlighting their research into the lives of famous murder victims; her sister Tate forges ahead with her popular dioramas portraying crime scenes; and their mother affects a cheerfully domestic facade, becoming unrecognizable as the woman who performed murder reenactments for her children. As Dahlia grapples with her own grief and horror, she realizes that her eccentric family, and the mansion itself, may hold the answers to what happened to her twin-- |
a dangerous education megan chance: Inamorata Megan Chance, 2014 American artist Joseph Hannigan and his sister, Sophie, have arrived in nineteenth-century Venice with the goal of finding a wealthy patron to support Joseph's work. When Joseph's talent attracts the attention of Odile Leon, a celebrated muse and courtesan, Sophie must discover Odile's dark secret before Joseph falls under her spell and sacrifices everything for eternal fame. |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Shadow Prince David Anthony Durham, 2021 In this middle grade solarpunk novel set in an alternate Egyptian universe, twelve-year-old Ash must compete and survive to become the shadow--and protector--of the prince. FIVE DEADLY TESTS, ONLY ONE SHADOW PRINCE Growing up in a village in the middle of the desert, Ash thinks his future holds nothing but sand, sun, a few annoying bullies, and lots of boring chores. Boy, is he wrong On the night before his twelfth birthday, Ash learns that he was born on the same day as Prince Khufu, which makes him eligible to compete to be the prince's shadow, a coveted position as the friend and bodyguard of the boy destined to be pharaoh of all of Egypt. At first, Ash can't believe it, but when a floating royal barge takes Ash and his mentor to the bustling, magical, solar-powered capital, things get real. What awaits Ash and the candidates is deadly--five days of dangerous tests filled with demon fighting, monster slaying, and magical spells--each overseen by a different Egyptian god. Ash finds two friends willing to fight by his side--the first friends he's ever made. But there are candidates who will lie, cheat, and even harm others to win. Not all will survive, and only one can become the prince's shadow. To make matters worse, Ash is up against Lord Set, the devious god of chaos, who is secretly working to make the candidates fail. But if they do, the very survival of the kingdom is in peril. Can Ash and his new friends save Egypt? And will any of them survive to become the shadow prince? |
a dangerous education megan chance: Saving Audie Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, 2013-06-18 Follows a survivor of the Michael Vick dog-fighting ring, the black pit bull terrier pup eventually named after World War II hero Audie Murphy, as he get socialized, undergoes surgery, trains in agility, and becomes a coach for other dogs. |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Mall Megan McCafferty, 2020-07-28 New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty returns to her roots with this YA coming of age story set in a New Jersey mall. The year is 1991. Scrunchies, mixtapes and 90210 are, like, totally fresh. Cassie Worthy is psyched to spend the summer after graduation working at the Parkway Center Mall. In six weeks, she and her boyfriend head off to college in NYC to fulfill The Plan: higher education and happily ever after. But you know what they say about the best laid plans... Set entirely in a classic “monument to consumerism,” the novel follows Cassie as she finds friendship, love, and ultimately herself, in the most unexpected of places. Megan McCafferty, beloved New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series, takes readers on an epic trip back in time to The Mall. |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Last Graduate Naomi Novik, 2021-09-28 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The specter of graduation looms large as Naomi Novik’s groundbreaking, New York Times bestselling trilogy continues in the stunning sequel to A Deadly Education. “The climactic graduation-day battle will bring cheers, tears, and gasps as the second of the Scholomance trilogy closes with a breathtaking cliff-hanger.”—Booklist (starred review) HUGO AWARD FINALIST • LOCUS AWARD FINALIST • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Polygon, Thrillist, She Reads In Wisdom, Shelter. That’s the official motto of the Scholomance. I suppose you could even argue that it’s true—only the wisdom is hard to come by, so the shelter’s rather scant. Our beloved school does its best to devour all its students—but now that I’ve reached my senior year and have actually won myself a handful of allies, it’s suddenly developed a very particular craving for me. And even if I somehow make it through the endless waves of maleficaria that it keeps throwing at me in between grueling homework assignments, I haven’t any idea how my allies and I are going to make it through the graduation hall alive. Unless, of course, I finally accept my foretold destiny of dark sorcery and destruction. That would certainly let me sail straight out of here. The course of wisdom, surely. But I’m not giving in—not to the mals, not to fate, and especially not to the Scholomance. I’m going to get myself and my friends out of this hideous place for good—even if it’s the last thing I do. With keen insight and mordant humor, Novik reminds us that sometimes it is not enough to rewrite the rules—sometimes, you need to toss out the entire rulebook. The magic of the Scholomance trilogy continues in The Golden Enclaves |
a dangerous education megan chance: You Will Know Me Megan Abbott, 2016-07-26 A shocking and perfect bestseller about family and ambition from the award-winning author of Dare Me and The Turnout (New York Times Book Review). How far will you go to achieve a dream? That's the question a celebrated coach poses to Katie and Eric Knox after he sees their daughter Devon, a gymnastics prodigy and Olympic hopeful, compete. For the Knoxes there are no limits -- until a violent death rocks their close-knit gymnastics community and everything they have worked so hard for is suddenly at risk. As rumors swirl among the other parents, Katie tries frantically to hold her family together while also finding herself irresistibly drawn to the crime itself. What she uncovers -- about her daughter's fears, her own marriage, and herself -- forces Katie to consider whether there's any price she isn't willing to pay to achieve Devon's dream. From a writer with exceptional gifts for making nerves jangle and skin crawl (Janet Maslin), You Will Know Me is a breathless rollercoaster of a novel about the desperate limits of parental sacrifice, furtive desire, and the staggering force of ambition. |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Education Trap Cristina Viviana Groeger, 2021-03-09 Why—contrary to much expert and popular opinion—more education may not be the answer to skyrocketing inequality. For generations, Americans have looked to education as the solution to economic disadvantage. Yet, although more people are earning degrees, the gap between rich and poor is widening. Cristina Groeger delves into the history of this seeming contradiction, explaining how education came to be seen as a panacea even as it paved the way for deepening inequality. The Education Trap returns to the first decades of the twentieth century, when Americans were grappling with the unprecedented inequities of the Gilded Age. Groeger’s test case is the city of Boston, which spent heavily on public schools. She examines how workplaces came to depend on an army of white-collar staff, largely women and second-generation immigrants, trained in secondary schools. But Groeger finds that the shift to more educated labor had negative consequences—both intended and unintended—for many workers. Employers supported training in schools in order to undermine the influence of craft unions, and so shift workplace power toward management. And advanced educational credentials became a means of controlling access to high-paying professional and business jobs, concentrating power and wealth. Formal education thus became a central force in maintaining inequality. The idea that more education should be the primary means of reducing inequality may be appealing to politicians and voters, but Groeger warns that it may be a dangerous policy trap. If we want a more equitable society, we should not just prescribe more time in the classroom, but fight for justice in the workplace. |
a dangerous education megan chance: Sin Eater Megan Campisi, 2020-04-07 “For fans of The Handmaid’s Tale...a debut novel with a dark setting and an unforgettable heroine...is a riveting depiction of hard-won female empowerment” (The Washington Post). The Sin Eater walks among us, unseen, unheard Sins of our flesh become sins of Hers Following Her to the grave, unseen, unheard The Sin Eater Walks Among Us. For the crime of stealing bread, fourteen-year-old May receives a life sentence: she must become a Sin Eater—a shunned woman, brutally marked, whose fate is to hear the final confessions of the dying, eat ritual foods symbolizing their sins as a funeral rite, and thereby shoulder their transgressions to grant their souls access to heaven. Orphaned and friendless, apprenticed to an older Sin Eater who cannot speak to her, May must make her way in a dangerous and cruel world she barely understands. When a deer heart appears on the coffin of a royal governess who did not confess to the dreadful sin it represents, the older Sin Eater refuses to eat it. She is taken to prison, tortured, and killed. To avenge her death, May must find out who placed the deer heart on the coffin and why. “Very much reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale…it transcends its historical roots to give us a modern heroine” (Kirkus Reviews). “A novel as strange as it is captivating” (BuzzFeed), The Sin Eater “is a treat for fans of feminist speculative fiction” (Publishers Weekly) and “exactly what historical fiction lovers have unknowingly craved” (New York Journal of Books). |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Winter Sister Megan Collins, 2019-10-08 A “haunting debut: suspenseful, atmospheric, and completely riveting” (Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls) about a young woman who returns home to care for her ailing mother and begins to dig deeper into her sister’s unsolved murder. Sixteen years ago, Sylvie’s sister, Persephone, never came home. Out late with the boyfriend she was forbidden to see, Persephone was missing for three days before her body was found—and years later, her murder is still unsolved. In the present day, Sylvie returns home to care for her estranged mother, Annie, as she undergoes treatment for cancer. Prone to unexplained “Dark Days” even before Persephone’s death, Annie’s once-close bond with Sylvie dissolved in the weeks after their loss, making for an uncomfortable reunion all these years later. Adding to the discomfort, Persephone’s former boyfriend is now a nurse at the cancer center where Annie is being treated. Sylvie has always believed Ben was responsible for the murder—but she carries her own guilt about that night, guilt that traps her in the past while the world goes on around her. As she navigates the complicated relationship with her mother, Sylvie begins to uncover the secrets that fill their house—and what really happened the night Persephone died. The Winter Sister is a “bewitching” (Kirkus Reviews) portrayal of the complex bond between sisters, between mothers and daughters alike, and “will captivate you from suspenseful start to surprising finish” (Kathleen Barber, author of Are You Sleeping). |
a dangerous education megan chance: Rewind Catherine Ryan Howard, 2019-09-03 PLAY Andrew, the manager of Shanamore Cottages, watches his only guest via a hidden camera in her room. One night the unthinkable happens: a shadowy figure emerges on-screen, kills her, and destroys the camera. But who is the murderer? How did they know about the camera? And how will Andrew live with himself? PAUSE Natalie wishes she’d stayed at home as soon as she arrives in the wintry isolation of Shanamore. There’s something creepy about the manager. She wants to leave, but she can’t—not until she’s found what she’s looking for ... REWIND Psycho meets Fatal Attraction in this explosive story about a murder caught on camera. You’ve already missed the start. To get the full picture you must rewind the tape and play it through to the end, no matter how shocking ... |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Girl from Widow Hills Megan Miranda, 2020-06-23 From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last House Guest—a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick—comes a “hauntingly atmospheric and gorgeously written page-turner” (Kimberly McCreight, New York Times bestselling author of A Good Marriage) about a young woman plagued by night terrors after a childhood trauma who wakes one evening to find a corpse at her feet. Everyone knows the story of “the girl from Widow Hills.” Arden Maynor was just a child when she was swept away while sleepwalking during a terrifying rainstorm and went missing for days. Strangers and friends, neighbors and rescue workers, set up search parties and help vigils, praying for her safe return. Against all odds, she was found, alive, clinging to a storm drain. The girl from Widow Hills was a living miracle. Arden’s mother wrote a book. Fame followed. Fans and fan letters, creeps, and stalkers. And every year, the anniversary. It all became too much. As soon as she was old enough, Arden changed her name and disappeared from the public eye. Now a young woman living hundreds of miles away, Arden goes by Olivia. She’s managed to stay off the radar for the last few years. But with the twentieth anniversary of her rescue approaching, the media will inevitably renew its interest in Arden. Where is she now? Soon Olivia feels like she’s being watched and begins sleepwalking again, like she did long ago, even waking up outside her home. Until late one night, she jolts awake in her yard. At her feet is the corpse of a man she knows—from her previous life, as Arden Maynor. The girl from Widow Hills is once again at the center of this story in this “compulsive page-turner” (Booklist). |
a dangerous education megan chance: The King of Attolia Megan Whalen Turner, 2006-01-24 By scheming and theft, the Thief of Eddis has become King of Attolia. Eugenides wanted the queen, not the crown, but he finds himself trapped in a web of his own making. Attolia's barons seethe with resentment, the Mede emperor is returning to the attack, and the king is surrounded by the subtle and dangerous intrigue of the Attolian court. When a naive young guard expresses his contempt for the king in no uncertain terms, he is dragged by Eugenides into the center of the political maelstrom. Like the king, he cannot escape the difficulties he makes for himself. Poor Costis knows he is the victim of the king's caprice, but he discovers a reluctant sympathy for Eugenides as he watches the newly crowned king struggle against his fate. Fans of the Newbery Honor Book The Thief and The Queen of Attolia will recognize Megan Whalen Turner's signature plot twists and turns in the third exquisitely crafted tale about Eugenides. |
a dangerous education megan chance: Black Widow Chris Brookmyre, 2016-01-28 'A celtic Gone Girl... guaranteed to keep you guessing' --- IAN RANKIN *****WINNER Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year***** *****WINNER Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize for Crime Novel of the Year***** Did she do it? Did he deserve it? Diana Jager is clever, strong and successful, a skilled surgeon and fierce campaigner via her blog about sexism. Yet it takes only hours for her life to crumble when her personal details are released on the internet as revenge for her writing. Then she meets Peter. He's kind, generous, and knows nothing about her past: the second chance she's been waiting for. Within six months, they are married. Within six more, Peter is dead in a road accident, a nightmare end to their fairytale romance. But Peter's sister Lucy doesn't believe in fairytales, and tasks maverick reporter Jack Parlabane with discovering the dark truth behind the woman the media is calling Black Widow... 'Black Widow is a stand-out thriller' Renee Knight, author of Disclaimer |
a dangerous education megan chance: Stars, Hide Your Fire Kel McDonald, 2021-10-05 Andrea and Darra live in a dead-end Massachusetts town, making their way through high school with hopeful (but slim) dreams of escape. Everything's going according to plan until a chance encounter with an otherworldly spirit named Carmen changes everything! Carmen promises Andrea eternal life, but a mysterious young boy named Liam shows up claiming he had also made a deal with Carmen, and it didn't go well . . . 100 years ago. Liam must convince his new friends of Carmen's evil nature before Andrea is tricked into a supernatural bargain that will upend her new life before it even starts. |
a dangerous education megan chance: Stay Awake Megan Goldin, 2022-08-09 A murder she doesn’t remember committing. A killer she doesn’t remember meeting. Megan Goldin’s Stay Awake is an electrifying novel that proves memory can be deadly. Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea where she is or how she got there. When she’s dropped off at the door of her brownstone, a stranger answers—a stranger who claims to live in her apartment. She reaches for her phone to call for help, only to discover it’s missing. In its place is a bloodstained knife. Her hands are covered in scribbled messages, like graffiti on her skin: STAY AWAKE. Two years ago, Liv was thriving as a successful writer for a trendy magazine. Now, she’s lost and disoriented in a New York City that looks nothing like what she remembers. Catching a glimpse of the local news, she’s horrified to see reports of a crime scene where the victim’s blood has been used to scrawl a message across a window, similar to the message that’s inked on her hands. What did she do last night? And why does she remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn’t remember committing. But there’s someone who does know exactly what she did, and they’ll do anything to make her forget—permanently. A complex thriller that unfolds at a breakneck speed, Stay Awake will keep you up all night. |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Visitant Megan Chance, 2015 A crumbling palazzo in nineteenth-century Venice holds a buried secret. After she nearly ruins her family with a terrible misstep, Elena Spira is sent to Venice to escape disgrace and to atone by caring for the ailing Samuel Farber. But the crumbling and decaying Ca' Basilio palazzo, where Samuel is ensconced, holds tragic secrets, and little does Elena know how profoundly they will impact her. Soon she begins to sense that she is being watched by something. And when Samuel begins to have hallucinations that make him violent and unpredictable, she can't deny she's in mortal danger. Then impoverished nobleman Nero Basilio, Samuel's closest friend and the owner of the palazzo, arrives. Elena finds herself entangled with both men in a world where the past seeps into the present and nothing is as it seems. As Elena struggles to discover the haunting truth before it destroys her, a dark force seems to hold Samuel and the Basilio in thrall--is it madness, or something more sinister? |
a dangerous education megan chance: A Candle in the Dark Megan Chance, 1993 Ana, nicknamed The Duchess for her regal beauty and frosty demeanor, has just committed a crime--a deadly one--and is in need of a desperate escape from New York. She offers Dr. Cain D'Alessandro a healthy bankroll to pose as her husband in order to avoid suspicion, not realizing that passion will erupt. |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Nesting C.J. Cooke, 2020-10-15 A perfect atmospheric thriller for this Halloween . . . |
a dangerous education megan chance: Glamorous Notions Megan Chance, 2025-01-07 A costume designer's past casts a long shadow over her well-constructed lies in this intriguing story about stolen identities, friendship, and betrayal from the author of A Splendid Ruin and A Dangerous Education. Hollywood, 1955. As head costume designer for Lux Pictures, Lena Taylor hears startling confessions from the biggest movie stars. She knows how to keep their secrets--after all, none of their scandals can match her own. Lena was once Elsie Gruner, the daughter of an Ohio dressmaker. Her gift for fashion design helped her win a coveted spot at an art academy in Rome. While in Italy, she became enthralled by the charismatic Julia, who drew her into a shadowy world of jazz clubs, code words, and mysterious deliveries. When one of Julia's intrigues ended in murder, Elsie found herself in the middle of a bewildering sinister international plot. So she ran. After fleeing to LA, Elsie became Lena--but she's never stopped looking over her shoulder. Now, as her engagement to a screenwriter throws her into the spotlight, she's terrified her façade won't hold up. Will she figure out the truth about her past before everything falls apart? |
a dangerous education megan chance: Resources in Education , 1998 |
a dangerous education megan chance: The Portrait Megan Chance, 2011-01-22 Historical Romance: the reigning master of the New York art wold, Jonas Whitaker was brilliant and compelling. When Imogene Carter pushed her way into his life, he discounted her on sight. But Imogene came to learn from a master, and learn she would--until she saw the terrible price he paid for his talent. And realized it was impossible to catch a shooting star without being burned. |
a dangerous education megan chance: Schools of Magic Megan H. Suttie, 2023-02-15 What happens when the classroom and the fantastic meet? When lessons cover spells and potions alongside science and language arts? Through fantastic school stories--fiction involving the intersection of fantasy and school--the cycle of lessons, homework, exams, and graduation becomes new again, inviting us to consider what schools are teaching, who can be a student, and how knowledge is developed. Introducing a new framework for analyzing texts in the fantastic school story subgenre, this book examines texts including the Harry Potter series, Lev Grossman's Magicians trilogy, Terry Pratchett's Discworld, and Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicle, along with works by Jane Yolen, Nnedi Okorafor, and Tracy Deonn. This holistic framework combines the methods of fantasy literature scholarship, the focus of school story analyses, and an awareness of hidden lessons taught alongside official subjects, allowing for nuanced examinations of topics such as standardized testing, apprenticeships, and access to education. |
a dangerous education megan chance: Every Man in This Village is a Liar Megan K. Stack, 2010-06-15 A shattering account of war and disillusionment from a young woman reporter on the front lines of the war on terror. A few weeks after the planes crashed into the World Trade Center, journalist Megan K. Stack was thrust into Afghanistan and Pakistan, dodging gunmen, prodding warlords for information, and witnessing the changes sweeping the Muslim world. Every Man in This Village Is a Liar is her riveting story of what she saw in the combat zones and beyond. She relates her initial wild excitement and slow disillusionment as the cost of violence outweighs the promise of democracy; she records the raw pain of suicide bombings in Israel and Iraq; and, one by one, she marks the deaths and disappearances of those she interviews. |
a dangerous education megan chance: Doing Diversity Differently in a Culturally Complex World Megan Watkins, Greg Noble, 2021-10-07 Doing Diversity Differently in a Culturally Complex World explores the challenges facing multicultural education in the 21st century. It argues that the ideas fashioned in 1970s 'multiculturalism' are no longer adequate for the culturally complex world in which we now live. Much multicultural education celebrates superficial forms of difference and avoids difficult questions around culture in an age of transnational flows and hybrid identities. Megan Watkins and Greg Noble explore the understandings of multiculturalism that exist amongst teachers, parents and students. They demonstrate that ideas around culture and identity don't match the complexities of the social contexts of schooling in migrant-based nations such as Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada and New Zealand. Doing Diversity Differently in a Culturally Complex World draws on comprehensive research undertaken in Australian schools. It examines how a diverse range of schools address the challenges that 'superdiversity' poses, considering how the strengths and limitations of each school's approach reflect wider logics of traditional multiculturalism. In contrast, the authors argue for a transformative multiculturalism involving a critically reflexive approach to understanding the processes, relations and identities of the contemporary world. With a Foreword by Fazal Rivzi, Emeritus Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA and Professor of Global Studies in Education, University of Melbourne, Australia. |
DANGEROUS Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of DANGEROUS is involving possible injury, pain, harm, or loss : characterized by danger. How to use …
DANGEROUS | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
DANGEROUS definition: 1. A dangerous person, animal, thing, or activity could harm you: 2. A dangerous person, animal…. …
DANGEROUS Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words - Merriam-W…
Some common synonyms of dangerous are hazardous, perilous, precarious, and risky. While all these words mean "bringing or …
Dangerous (2021) - IMDb
Dangerous: Directed by David Hackl. With Scott Eastwood, Kevin Durand, Famke Janssen, Tyrese Gibson. A reformed …
Dangerous (2021 film) - Wikipedia
Dylan Forrester, a psychopath and former assassin, is suppressing his instincts and taking mood stabiliser medication Lithium …
DANGEROUS Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of DANGEROUS is involving possible injury, pain, harm, or loss : characterized by danger. How to use dangerous in a sentence. Synonym …
DANGEROUS | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
DANGEROUS definition: 1. A dangerous person, animal, thing, or activity could harm you: 2. A dangerous person, animal…. Learn more.
DANGEROUS Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words - Merr…
Some common synonyms of dangerous are hazardous, perilous, precarious, and risky. While all these words mean "bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury," …
Dangerous (2021) - IMDb
Dangerous: Directed by David Hackl. With Scott Eastwood, Kevin Durand, Famke Janssen, Tyrese Gibson. A reformed sociopath journeys to a remote island to investigate …
Dangerous (2021 film) - Wikipedia
Dylan Forrester, a psychopath and former assassin, is suppressing his instincts and taking mood stabiliser medication Lithium which is incorrectly described on the bottle …