THE TOURNAMENT

Gardner-Bahnsen School for Girls “prides itself on being different”—and that goes for both the students they admit and what they’re taught.

Unlike other elite boarding schools, Gardner’s curriculum incorporates survival skills such as archery, hunting, and butchering game. These lessons culminate in the annual Tierney Cup tournament, in which seven seniors compete for the coveted trophy through a series of wilderness tests. Wren “Max” Maxwell, a Black scholarship student with a troubled family background, dreams of winning the cup and proving herself in her new social circle. The competition is complicated by the presence of Nora McQueen, Max’s former best friend, a biracial (Black and white) girl whose confession of romantic feelings fractured their bond. Also competing is Theodora “Teddy” Swanson, a newly arrived Black girl with a checkered past. Tensions rise when Teddy begins dating Nora, intentionally provoking Max. As the contest unfolds, a hurtful secret comes to light with dangerous consequences. The story is told from the three girls’ revolving points of view. Teddy reveals that she feels a “black hole” within her that’s only satisfied by feeding off the chaos she creates; despite this explanation, her obsession with Max seems forced. The narrative invites readers to question the unhealthy dynamics among the girls at the school, who frequently belittle one another. The buildup to the denouement is long, but readers will be treated to a shocking ending. There’s racial diversity in the supporting cast.

A slow buildup pays off with an explosive ending.