The summer is winding down (thank goodness), and it’s that time where parents and kids alike are ready to head back to school. Like many of you, I grew up reading boarding school books, and would wistfully imagine returning to ivy-laden dorms tucked under stone walkways, where teachers wore robes instead of cardigans and we ate in great halls instead of cafeteria.

Since most of us will probably never attend a boarding school (until college that is), I offer instead some fantastic teen and middle grade books to help scratch that ivy-itch.