Dreaming of Amelia

Dreaming of Amelia follows the story of two mysterious transfer students at Sydney's prestigious Ashbury High School. The narrative unfolds through HSC exam essays written by their classmates as part of a Gothic fiction assignment. The book centers on Amelia and Riley, a couple since age fourteen who arrive from the less privileged Brookfield High. Their presence creates intrigue among their new classmates, who attempt to understand these enigmatic newcomers while confronting their own challenges during their final year of school. Written in an epistolary format, the novel combines exam essays, blog posts, and other documents to construct its narrative. Ghost stories and unexplained events at the school become intertwined with the present-day experiences of the students. The novel explores themes of social class, identity, and the ways people construct narratives about others to make sense of their world. Through its Gothic elements and multiple perspectives, it examines how truth can be both revealed and obscured by the stories we tell.

Readers describe this as a complex, layered ghost story told through exam answers, blog posts, and letters. Many praise the unique format and gradual reveal of information, with one reviewer noting "it feels like putting together a puzzle piece by piece." Readers liked: - The distinctive narrative voices of each character - The blend of humor with serious themes - The Australian private school setting - The slow-building mystery elements Common criticisms: - Length (some found it too long at 496 pages) - Initial confusion about the multiple writing styles - Pacing in the middle section - Difficulty keeping track of characters Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (50+ ratings) Several reviewers mentioned needing to read the previous books in the series first to fully understand the characters and relationships, though others successfully read it as a standalone.

Looking for Alaska by John Green A story told through multiple perspectives at a boarding school where mysterious new student Alaska Young changes the dynamics of campus life and leads others to uncover truths about themselves through her enigmatic presence.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart The tale unfolds through fragmented memories on a private island where family secrets and unexplained events merge with questions of truth and identity.

Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl A narrative structured as a literature course syllabus follows a student at an elite school investigating the death of a charismatic teacher through academic references and multiple documentary sources.

The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman The Gothic atmosphere of a prestigious girls' school harbors secrets from the past that surface through discovered journals and academic assignments.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart Chronicles a female student's infiltration of an exclusive prep school society through documents, letters, and surveillance reports that challenge institutional power structures.

🎓 Dreaming of Amelia is the fourth book in Moriarty's Ashbury/Brookfield series, though it can be read as a standalone novel. 📝 The book was published as The Ghosts of Ashbury High in North America, reflecting the gothic and supernatural elements of the story. 🇦🇺 Jaclyn Moriarty comes from a family of accomplished writers - her sisters Liane and Nicola are also successful Australian authors. 📚 The novel's innovative format includes not just exam essays, but also blog posts, meeting minutes, and letters, creating a modern take on the classic epistolary style. 🏫 The setting draws inspiration from real Sydney private schools, where Moriarty herself worked as an entertainment lawyer before becoming a full-time writer.