Description

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Hogwarts meets The Bourne Identity in this action-packed thriller about teenage spies—for fans of Marie Lu's Legends series and James Dashner's Maze Runner trilogy

Sixteen-year-old Nadia Riley is delighted to earn a spot at an elite, government-funded boarding school. Nothing sounds better than leaving behind her fraught relationship with her ex-boyfriend and moving to faraway Arizona to attend Desert Mountain Academy. 

But when she arrives, Nadia finds out she has more than classwork to catch up on. Desert Mountain Academy is a covert CIA program, which recruits and trains high-achieving students for Black-Ops work. While struggling to keep up with her new classes, Nadia must also gain the trust of her teammates, and survive a rigorous exercise and combat training course. Thrilled at the opportunity, Nadia isn't expecting to fall in love—or to end up in real, deadly danger.

When news leaks that there is a double agent on campus, suddenly everyone is a suspect—including Nadia. To clear her name, she must use her newfound skills to uncover the traitor—before he can eliminate her as a threat.

Told from alternating points of view, including that of the anonymous double agent, Desert Dark is perfect for young adult readers who love action, adventure, and intrigue.

About the Author

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Sonja Stone collected intelligence on psychology and creative writing from Washington College, trained at Le Cordon Bleu for a cover job as a head pastry chef and completed a solo course at the same survival school where Tom Hanks prepared for Cast Away. Desert Dark is her first novel. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her family.

Praise For…

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"A mix of all-too-real war games, teenage love conundrums, and a tenacious heroine makes this an engaging first outing."—Publishers Weekly
 
"A teen enters a world of espionage and intrigue. . . . With secrets around every corner and an exciting premise, this thriller will keep readers guessing right to the very last page."—Kirkus Reviews
 
"Readers who enjoyed Marie Lu's Legend series or James Dashner's Maze Runner trilogy will appreciate this fast-paced action novel."—Booklist
 
Named to the Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master List
A Southwest Best Book of the Year
A Bank Street College Best Children's Book