Madame Eldridge’s Wayward Home For Unruly Boys by Benjamin Ryan

Deep in the heart of Virginia’s dense backwoods, the Wayward Home for Unruly Boys hides more than just troubled youth. Under Madame Eldridge’s watchful eye, three strict rules govern her behavior program: ​ 1. What happens here stays here. 2. You must complete all eight steps—no exceptions allowed. 3. Forget your name; you’ll be known only by your problem. ​ But, there’s one unspoken rule that sends shivers down the boys' spines: never enter the forbidden third-floor bedroom of the boy who vanished, leaving nothing behind but whispers. When Vandalize and Stealer defy this warning, they uncover a treasure trove of bewitched artifacts, each with a strange and powerful ability. Using these relics, the boys tackle Madame Eldridge’s whimsical—and often bizarre—challenges, only to learn magic always demands its price. ​ Amidst the chaos, Fibbsy stumbles upon a peculiar object that sends him hurtling back in time, revealing an unfathomable truth about Madame Eldridge, the eerie town, and the missing boy’s fate. But who will trust the words of a liar? ​ Bound by the house’s darkest mysteries, Fibbsy, Defiance, Slob, and Secret form an unlikely friendship as they race to unveil the shrouded secrets surrounding the Wayward Home. Together, they confront their deepest fears, uncovering that the real magic lies in facing their own personal demons—and each other.

Young Adult • Science Fiction/Time Travel • Diversity Representation/Mental Health • Fantasy/Magical Realism • Diversity Representation/LGBTQ+ • Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense/Supernatural and Paranormal

Content Warning: Slight bullying / Gay character being “outed”.