10 books exploring hidden agendas within schools
Schools aren’t just places of learning—they’re battlegrounds for secrets, power plays, and whispered conspiracies. These ten gripping books unravel the dark undercurrents swirling beneath innocent hallways and student desks. From clandestine societies to sinister experiments, every chapter reveals how education can mask hidden motives and tangled schemes. If you crave stories where friendships are tested by secrets, and the truth hides behind perfectly polished smiles, these tales will pull you into a thrilling maze of deception, loyalty, and unexpected alliances. Ready to uncover what’s really going on behind those school walls? Let’s dive in.
1. “One of Us Is Lying” by Karen M. McManus
A simple detention turns deadly, exposing twisted secrets and sinister plans lurking beneath high school’s surface.
2. “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt
An elite college hides a web of obsession and betrayal, where dark agendas fester behind academic prestige.
3. “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart
A privileged boarding school conceals fractures and deceit, with hidden motives unraveling through one summer’s mystery.
4. “Gallant” by V.E. Schwab
An ancient boarding school hides eerie secrets, with agendas that blur the line between life and death.
5. “Legendborn” by Tracy Deonn
Magic and legacy collide in a secret society within a university, where hidden agendas threaten both power and lives.
6. “The Novice” by Taran Matharu
A military academy masks its harsh tests and political intrigue behind lessons of magic and survival.
7. “A Deadly Education” by Naomi Novik
In a school where failure means death, hidden motives shape every spell, alliance, and deadly secret.
8. “The Institute” by Stephen King
Children with extraordinary gifts find themselves trapped in a sinister institution with dark, hidden purposes.
9. “Truly Devious” by Maureen Johnson
An elite academy’s cold case pulls students into a web of secrets and shadowy intentions.
10. “The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks” by E. Lockhart
A sharp-witted girl infiltrates a secret society, uncovering the gender politics and hidden games at play.
These stories reveal that schools often teach more than academics—they’re training grounds for secrets, manipulation, and power struggles. Step inside if you dare.
