Academy X

The merciless way Trees skewers the private school set in the first few chapters are reason enough to read the novel, but I also found myself drawn in by his hapless romantic blunders (full disclosure: not a particularly smooth operator myself). The book isn't just funny--it has a lot of heart and a pretty compelling plot. The story revolves around an english teacher's possible promotion, his pursuit of the leggy librarian, and his difficulties with his students, particularly one girl trying to get into princeton. It's been a while since I applied to college, and if it's really like how Trees says it is in the book, God help students today.

This was the funniest book I have read in a long time! It blows away similar books, such as The Devil Wears Prada. Anyone who ever went to private high school will love it--in fact, anyone who went to high school will love it.

I highly recommend this book---it was a great way to start off my summer reading. Funny, witty, and very entertaining. You'll love it, trust me.

Bravo to Andrew Trees! He's blown the lid off the goings-on in the private school sector. Interestingly enough, a lot of what he recounts in this "roman a clef" will pique the interest of those who teach in some of the more affluent suburban public schools, too, where "affluenza" is epidemic: Micro-managing parents, grade-grubbing students, school administrators who enable and placate ad nauseam...Academy X has it all and for those who've taught in this type environment, this book tells all. Andrew Trees calls it as he sees it and his witty style provides for a rollicking good read! It's a must-read and teachers everywhere should put this on their summer beach-reading list!

This book was brilliant. Having gone to an Ivy high school, this book hits very close to home for me. Trees brought both humor and undeniable truths into his work, and in the process revealed the disgraces that happen at these schools. Bravo for him for speaking out.