When Aly first asked me to do a back to school post I thought I would share some clever stories from my own days as a yellow-bus-riding, backpack-toting slave to education. You know, an “Adventures of a Teenage Teen Librarian” sort of thing. Problem is, I don’t actually have any great stories to file under Miss Tammy: The High School Years.
Some might attribute my less than exciting high school career to my own nerd-like tendencies, but of course they’re wrong. It certainly wasn’t my fault that my days were filled with an endless stream of tedious lectures and inane homework assignments. No, the problem was that I went to the wrong school. I mean, who could have a rollicking adventure in a public school of all places? I should have gone to one of those bastions of learning where even the most unassuming bookworm would find herself battling evil while falling in the love with the most beautiful, brave, and sarcastic boy God ever saw fit to create.
But which one? After all, there are tons of them scattered across the YA landscape. I’ve thought about it long and hard, and after much deliberation, I’ve narrowed it down to my top ten choices (listed by alphabetical order, because that’s how I roll):
Culver Creek Preparatory
Looking for Alaska - John Green
Boarding schools just sound so cool with everyone living on campus and pulling major pranks. Plus, this one is filled with some pretty outstanding characters. Guaranteed to never be a dull moment.
Gallagher Academy
Gallagher Girls series - Ally Carter
Spy school! Sure, it has the misfortune of being an all-girl school, but still - A school that trains you to be a spy! Awesome, right?
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
Magic wands. Moving staircases. Ghosts. Quidditch. House elves. Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Snape. Obviously, this is the best school ever.
House of Night
House of Night series - P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast
House of Night students get to sleep all day and develop really cool powers. Of course, they have that whole chance of dying because their body can’t accept the change or getting killed by agents of their super-crazy High Priestess. Remember to weigh your options before sending in that application.
The Institute
Mortal Instruments series - Cassandra Clare
Technically, it’s not really a school, but young Shadowhunters train there, so I’m counting it. Maybe we could talk Magnus into teaching a class on the history of fashion.
The Princess Academy
Princess Academy - Shannon Hale
No matter what we might say or the image we project, every girl wants to be a princess.
Spence Academy
Gemma Doyle Trilogy - Libba Bray
Wearing corsets and dealing with Victorian society doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun, but it might just be worth it for a chance at an epic Gothic adventure. Just remind me to stay away from the trees, okay?
St. Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters
X-Men comics - Marvel
Teachers who can control the weather and classmates who can walk through walls? Sign me up! Surely my ability to remember every lyric to every song I’ve ever heard is considered a mutant ability.
Sunnydale High School
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Joss Whedon
A high school built on a Hellmouth offers up daily chances at adventure. Plus, the library is where all the cool kids hang out.
Texas Prairie University
Morganville Vampire series - Rachel Caine
So maybe the other students can be a bit of a pain, and the whole town run by vampires thing can be a bit problematic, but I’d gladly deal with those minor flaws for a chance to run into Shane or Michael.
How about you? What’s your ideal school? Help me add to the list by leaving them in the comments below!
