Tradition

Tradition follows two students at Fullbrook Academy, an elite boarding school steeped in long-standing customs and rituals. James Baxter arrives as a scholarship student and hockey player, while Jules Devereux is a strong-willed senior trying to find her place at the institution. The story takes place over a pivotal school year as both protagonists navigate the social hierarchies, unwritten rules, and darker aspects of Fullbrook's culture. Through alternating perspectives, their experiences reveal the complex dynamics between privilege, gender, and power within the school's walls. Beneath its prestigious facade, Fullbrook harbors traditions that protect some students while leaving others vulnerable. The narrative examines how silence and complicity allow harmful patterns to persist across generations at institutions built on legacy and reputation. The novel tackles themes of consent, accountability, and the courage required to challenge entrenched systems, while raising questions about which traditions deserve to be preserved and which must be dismantled for change to occur.

Readers emphasize the book's importance in addressing sexual assault, privilege, and toxic masculinity in private schools. Many note its relevance for high school students and its effectiveness at showing multiple perspectives. Readers appreciated: - The dual male/female narrative voices - Clear portrayal of how institutions protect abusers - Male characters confronting harmful traditions - Discussion questions that prompt conversations Common criticisms: - Some characters feel underdeveloped - Plot points seen as predictable - Writing style described as heavy-handed - Several readers found the pacing slow in the middle Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (80+ ratings) "This book made me angry in all the right ways" - Goodreads reviewer "Important message but needed more character depth" - Amazon reviewer "Should be required reading in high schools" - School Library Journal reader review Multiple readers noted the book pairs well with discussion groups and classroom settings.

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🏫 Brendan Kiely co-wrote "All American Boys" with Jason Reynolds, which won the Walter Dean Myers Award and the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award for its powerful exploration of racial profiling and police brutality. 🎯 "Tradition" was partly inspired by Kiely's own experiences attending an elite boarding school, though he emphasizes that the story itself is fictional. 📚 The book addresses the critical topic of rape culture in private schools, coinciding with the rise of the #MeToo movement and increased public discourse about sexual assault on campuses. 🏆 The novel earned a spot on the Chicago Public Library's "Best Teen Fiction of 2018" list and was named a Spring 2018 Indies Introduce Selection. 🗣️ Kiely frequently speaks at schools and conferences about toxic masculinity, consent, and the importance of male allyship in fighting gender-based violence.