"While writing a classic school story, Nazemian does a superb job of giving his chief characters individual, idiosyncratic identities while also bringing the writing workshop to life…. [a] wellcrafted, memorable story whose sympathetic characters will resonate with readers. Professor Douglas would surely give it an A." — ALA Booklist (starred review)
“Inspired by Nazemian’s own boarding school experiences, this gripping story reads like an insider’s exposé into abusive school cultures and trauma. Haunting truths and compelling storytelling make for an unforgettable, important read.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“Nazemian’s novel is an uplifting and positive coming-of-age exploration of friendship, love, and creativity and how these things can help individuals heal and set themselves free to formulate their own legacies.” — Horn Book Magazine
“A compelling narrative that examines the realities of hidden abuse and the power of storytelling and unexpected friendship.… Will leave readers thinking about the naivete that comes with privilege and the value of listening to others.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Nazemian’s sharp social commentary makes this a riveting portrait of prep school life.” — Publishers Weekly
“As the members of the Circle bond, becoming like family, they share their own secrets and discover much larger and more harmful ones having to do with student well-being that Chandler has kept for years…. [The Chandler Legacies ’ does] vital work in discussing issues of sexual assault, hazing, and rampant homophobia.” — Kirkus Reviews
"Abdi Nazemian is a true artist, writing about beauty, hope, courage, and the most vulnerable parts of being human. But what I love most about Abdi's work is that he is telling stories that feel desperately needed. An auto-buy author for me.” — Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & the Six
"Equal parts courageous and contemplative, The Chandler Legacies is that rare novel that is more than the sum of its parts: a story of righting wrongs, of finding who we are meant to be, of learning to forgive. At its core, it reminds us that true friendship can illuminate the darkest corners of our lives. This story will haunt me in the best way." — Adib Khorram, Award-winning author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay
" A sharp, insightful examination of the power of language to shine a light on our darkest corners. The Chandler Legacies should be required reading." — Leah Johnson, author of You Should See Me In a Crown
"The Chandler Legacies is a heartfelt meditation on the abusive structures that need us to be both oppressed and oppressors, and the found families that help us break ourselves free.” — Laura Ruby, Printz Medal-winning author of Bone Gap
"Nazemian writes from the fascinating perspective of being both insider and outsider to elite boarding school culture, and the novel pops with startling, painful details of hazing rituals and abuses of power. His world is inclusive but also brutal, celebratory and still interrogatory. Readers will want to debate this one long into the night." — E. Lockhart, New York Times bestselling author of We Were Liars
"Equal parts courageous and contemplative, The Chandler Legacies is that rare novel that is more than the sum of its parts: a story of righting wrongs, of finding who we are meant to be, of learning to forgive. At its core, it reminds us that true friendship can illuminate the darkest corners of our lives. This story will haunt me in the best way."
A compelling narrative that examines the realities of hidden abuse and the power of storytelling and unexpected friendship.… Will leave readers thinking about the naivete that comes with privilege and the value of listening to others.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"While writing a classic school story, Nazemian does a superb job of giving his chief characters individual, idiosyncratic identities while also bringing the writing workshop to life…. [a] wellcrafted, memorable story whose sympathetic characters will resonate with readers. Professor Douglas would surely give it an A."
ALA Booklist (starred review)
Nazemian’s novel is an uplifting and positive coming-of-age exploration of friendship, love, and creativity and how these things can help individuals heal and set themselves free to formulate their own legacies.
" A sharp, insightful examination of the power of language to shine a light on our darkest corners. The Chandler Legacies should be required reading."
"The Chandler Legacies is a heartfelt meditation on the abusive structures that need us to be both oppressed and oppressors, and the found families that help us break ourselves free.
"Abdi Nazemian is a true artist, writing about beauty, hope, courage, and the most vulnerable parts of being human. But what I love most about Abdi's work is that he is telling stories that feel desperately needed. An auto-buy author for me.”
"Nazemian writes from the fascinating perspective of being both insider and outsider to elite boarding school culture, and the novel pops with startling, painful details of hazing rituals and abuses of power. His world is inclusive but also brutal, celebratory and still interrogatory. Readers will want to debate this one long into the night."
★ 02/01/2022
Gr 9 Up— Nazemian's latest skillfully unpacks the skeletons in a fictional New England boarding school's closet. Alternating perspectives with each chapter, the majority third-person narration gives insight into the interconnected experiences of five members of an exclusive campus writing group, the Circle. Former roommates Beth and Sarah are forced to confront their unresolved conflict from the previous year. New student Ramin becomes a target of the prefects in his dorm—prefects who are supposed to be popular, attractive Freddy's friends. Then there's Spence, the star actress slowly starting to see her mentor's true face. Together, the quintet makes their school's motto their mission: veritas vos liberabit ("the truth will set you free"). The more they learn about the truth, however, the more they want to set things right for everyone. At what cost? Inspired by Nazemian's own boarding school experiences, this gripping story reads like an insider's exposé into abusive school cultures and trauma. Centering the victims' point of view, Nazemian tackles tough topics like hazing and sexual assault, and justly delivers consequences to abusers. The diverse cast of central characters includes multiple queer characters and a range of other identities including white, Indian American, Latino, and Iranian. Pop culture references scattered throughout the story expertly evoke the late-1990s setting. An epilogue gives necessary closure and a glimpse into characters' futures. VERDICT Haunting truths and compelling storytelling make for an unforgettable, important read. For all teen collections.—Alec Chunn
Narrator Vikas Adam does a solid job of switching among genders, ages, and accents in this story. In doing so, he captures a pivotal year for five very different students at an elite boarding school. “Townie” Beth’s anxiety makes life difficult. Amanda wants to be known for more than her looks and family money. Bullies in Ramin’s dorm remind him of escaping persecution in Iran. Sarah’s ready to focus on herself after too long taking care of others. Athlete Freddy wants to create a new path for himself. A writing workshop brings the teens together, creating a support group as each works through challenges. Adam’s female voices sometimes sound comical, but it’s a small distraction. Author Abdi Nazemian narrates a powerful note about personal experiences that inspired the story. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Narrator Vikas Adam does a solid job of switching among genders, ages, and accents in this story. In doing so, he captures a pivotal year for five very different students at an elite boarding school. “Townie” Beth’s anxiety makes life difficult. Amanda wants to be known for more than her looks and family money. Bullies in Ramin’s dorm remind him of escaping persecution in Iran. Sarah’s ready to focus on herself after too long taking care of others. Athlete Freddy wants to create a new path for himself. A writing workshop brings the teens together, creating a support group as each works through challenges. Adam’s female voices sometimes sound comical, but it’s a small distraction. Author Abdi Nazemian narrates a powerful note about personal experiences that inspired the story. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
2021-12-15
Among the greatest honors is selection into the Circle, a cloistered creative writing workshop run by the mysterious professor Douglas. Students from all walks of life are hungry for a spot. Those chosen in the fall of 1999 couldn’t be more varied: biracial Spence, a White and Indian American queen bee struggling with impossibly high standards; Cuban and Brazilian American Freddy, thoughtful and longing to be more than a jock; Ramin, a sensitive gay Iranian immigrant; Brunson, a White closeted lesbian and overachiever; and Beth, a White girl who is an outcast both for her anxiety and townie status. As the members of the Circle bond, becoming like family, they share their own secrets and discover much larger and more harmful ones having to do with student well-being that Chandler has kept for years. While doing vital work in discussing issues of sexual assault, hazing, and rampant homophobia, the story struggles in other ways. Characters often feel interchangeable due to the third-person–present point of view that renders them more a collection of explained thoughts and traits than organic people (the novel is bookended by a first-person prologue and epilogue set in 2008). Characters’ backgrounds are in some cases touched upon too briefly, but the sweet friendships and romances formed by the group are touching.
Exposes important issues with straightforward clarity. (content warning, resources) (Fiction. 13-18)
