Prince of Wales Boarding School for boys, was responsible for turning young boys into gentlemen, businessmen, educated men of power and authority.  Men who would participate in world government.

Gabriel, a freshman in high school, had lost his mother in fatal car accident.  Leaving him to grow up with an alcoholic father and a lifetime of beatings and abuse.  A father who considered Gabriel useless, and told him so quite often. Something Gabriel fought hard within himself not to believe.

After a fight brought on by an upper classmen bullying Gabriel on the bus, Gabriel finds himself in the Principal’s office sure to be disciplined.  However, Gabriel holds strong to maintain his strength and moral values.  The principal, seeing an internal strength in Gabriel offers Gabriel a rare opportunity to attend Prince of Wales Boarding school — the school for the elite, the wealthy, the powerful.

From the outside, Prince of Wales promises a chance at a new life.  But once the reception has ended and the parents have cleared the campus we find that Prince of Wales is not what it seems to be.  The Dean empowers the seniors, the Prefects, to self-govern the rest of the student body.   And, they rule the freshmen and underclassmen with threats and abuse.

The Prefects abuse their authority, they disrespect the underclassmen and when someone fails at his duties there is severe punishment enforced.  Punishment that can end in permanent injury or even death.  

The end of this story tugged at my heart.  A lesson was well learned.  Changes were eventually made as the Prefects, well some, began to see the error of their ways. But at what loss?  A great loss. A great loss that brought about great change.

The author of this book is rallying against bullying in school.  He hopes that this book will open discussion within the classroom, students and teachers, parents and children, and among peers.

If you are interested in winning a copy of this book for your own library or for a young adult you know, visit my blog before Midnight, Friday, February 18th, 2011.  You will also find my complete review there.

Click here to participate:  PATCH:  Assumption is a Crime

Other reviews by me:  

The Adventures of Rusty and Ginger Fox (Children’s book)

A Bitch Named Karma (Adult Chick-lit)