Rites of Passage

Sam McKenna has never been able to say no to a dare, and this year she’s about to embark on her most meaningful dare yet. Before her brother’s death, he dared her to enroll in one of the country’s most prestigious military academies, which is accepting female cadets for the first time in history. Sam knows it will be hard, knows she will have to go far in order to prove herself, but she wasn’t prepared for the hatred she faces there. From intense physical training to “accidental” injuries during training exercise, Sam faces more enemies than she knows: enemies that are determined to force her out. But Sam has allies too: the other female recruits, a few of the guys, and even her drill instructor, who she is undeniably attracted to. Can she make it to the end of the year?

Joy Hensley’s debut novel, Rites of Passage, deals with some uncomfortable subject matter. While an extreme example that most girls today will never face, the way Sam deals with bullies is inspirational (and more than a little scary at times), and readers will be rooting for her the whole way. This one will hook you until the very end, and leave you hoping for a sequel.