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Card School
A boarding school is not always the first choice for parents or children but Michael Dawson did not have the luxury of choice. At ten years of age he had to deal with the loss of both parents who had been abroad on a church mission. He never had the chance to say goodbye only see you later. He believed when they went, they would return, but they didn't. Not only having to contend with the biggest loss known to a child he was thrust into the full time guardianship of his uncaring Auntie who he had been staying with but only until his parents came back. Now they were not coming back his future had to be decided.
Saint Sebastian's Academy for Young Men is a boarding school on the North Yorkshire moors which prides itself on the creation of the next generation of gentlemen who will make names for themselves in the world outside. Michael finds himself at ten years old standing in the doorway of the building he didn't even recognise as a school. With Auntie gone without even a goodbye he tries hard to accept his fate but with great hardship and after sleepless nights and bed wetted sheets he knows he has to pull himself together. He forms a close friendship with a fellow pupil and becomes an enemy of another. After a crunching tackle on the rugby field, a game he has no idea how to play he believes his parents have come to take him home. His heart breaks for a second time when reality hits home that it had all been a dream. Michael senses that the school hides a dark secret, one which reveals itself to him in part, yet punishes him for being inquisitive.
Aware that he can only trust himself, he sets out to unravel the answers and find questions to fit. He has no intention of getting too close but ends up being in the direct firing line.
When all hope is lost, the person he expects least of all to be there comes to the rescue, but is it all too little too late?.
Saint Sebastian's Academy for Young Men is a boarding school on the North Yorkshire moors which prides itself on the creation of the next generation of gentlemen who will make names for themselves in the world outside. Michael finds himself at ten years old standing in the doorway of the building he didn't even recognise as a school. With Auntie gone without even a goodbye he tries hard to accept his fate but with great hardship and after sleepless nights and bed wetted sheets he knows he has to pull himself together. He forms a close friendship with a fellow pupil and becomes an enemy of another. After a crunching tackle on the rugby field, a game he has no idea how to play he believes his parents have come to take him home. His heart breaks for a second time when reality hits home that it had all been a dream. Michael senses that the school hides a dark secret, one which reveals itself to him in part, yet punishes him for being inquisitive.
Aware that he can only trust himself, he sets out to unravel the answers and find questions to fit. He has no intention of getting too close but ends up being in the direct firing line.
When all hope is lost, the person he expects least of all to be there comes to the rescue, but is it all too little too late?.
170 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2014
About the author
Andrew Milner
5 books14 followersI published my first book, A FAR REACHING DREAM in 2013 and the sequel, THE HIDDEN PATH HOME a year later.
CARD SCHOOL was published on 25/10/14 and my fourth book NOTE TO SELF was published March 2018.
BETWEEN THE TWO was published in November 2021.
I am currently working on more books, including a crime series.
I combine my writing with working full time.
I live in East Yorkshire with my wife and enjoy walking, writing, football and golf.
Huddersfield Town is also a passion of mine !
CARD SCHOOL was published on 25/10/14 and my fourth book NOTE TO SELF was published March 2018.
BETWEEN THE TWO was published in November 2021.
I am currently working on more books, including a crime series.
I combine my writing with working full time.
I live in East Yorkshire with my wife and enjoy walking, writing, football and golf.
Huddersfield Town is also a passion of mine !
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 21, 2015
Card School is about Michael Dawson, a young man who has been sent off to a boarding school in the North Yorkshire moors with no idea where he is going or what the future will hold for him. Michael must learn the rules of the strict boarding school, try to fit in and overcome his grief over his home life, all at the age of ten. When Michael is starting to believe he has things sussed, strange things start happening at the school and he is left wondering what secrets the school holds.
I really enjoyed reading this book and as it is less than two-hundred pages, I sped through it and was left reeling from the events that unfolded before me. My first impression of this book was that it read more like non-fiction at first, mainly due to the descriptions. The descriptions were in an explanatory way rather than a story-telling way and whilst they created great imagery, this felt a little jarring at first. As the book progressed, either this writing style changed or I became used to it as I was so gripped by the book that I just didn’t notice it after the first few chapters. The imagery created by the writing in this book was excellent and I could really imagine myself walking the school grounds alongside Michael – an element of this book that was maintained from start to finish.
Personally, I find myself connected to characters when the story is written from first-person, but even though this book wasn’t; I felt a deep connection with Michael and felt a great sense of empathy as we learned about his life and his emotions. Michael as a character was particularly loveable and although a little naive – as to be expected from a ten-year-old - he showed a certain amount of character growth throughout the book as he became aware of the ways of the boarding school. Michael’s friend Rose-Green was equally as lovable and I admired the way their friendship shone clearly through the writing.
Coming from a private boarding school in the West Yorkshire moors myself, I feel as though Milner had done his research and described boarding school life perfectly. Although I was a day student, I had plenty of friends around me who were boarders and witnessed the routines for myself on several occasions, and I feel that Milner did an excellent job at portraying this aspect of school life in a realistic way. Whilst this book was set long before I was at school, there were still similarities that I noticed, as well as obvious differences such as the value of money and the language the characters used to speak to one another.
This book had me gripped from the start and I experienced a range of emotions whilst reading. At times, I felt incredibly sad for what the main character had to deal with and at other times, I felt terrified for what was happening and simultaneously creeped out and confused by other parts. I do feel as though the ending was a little bit rushed but it tidied some loose ends up and I was fairly content upon finishing this book. I would definitely recommend reading this book, whatever your tastes are, this one is a gripping story that will have you turning page after page.
I really enjoyed reading this book and as it is less than two-hundred pages, I sped through it and was left reeling from the events that unfolded before me. My first impression of this book was that it read more like non-fiction at first, mainly due to the descriptions. The descriptions were in an explanatory way rather than a story-telling way and whilst they created great imagery, this felt a little jarring at first. As the book progressed, either this writing style changed or I became used to it as I was so gripped by the book that I just didn’t notice it after the first few chapters. The imagery created by the writing in this book was excellent and I could really imagine myself walking the school grounds alongside Michael – an element of this book that was maintained from start to finish.
Personally, I find myself connected to characters when the story is written from first-person, but even though this book wasn’t; I felt a deep connection with Michael and felt a great sense of empathy as we learned about his life and his emotions. Michael as a character was particularly loveable and although a little naive – as to be expected from a ten-year-old - he showed a certain amount of character growth throughout the book as he became aware of the ways of the boarding school. Michael’s friend Rose-Green was equally as lovable and I admired the way their friendship shone clearly through the writing.
Coming from a private boarding school in the West Yorkshire moors myself, I feel as though Milner had done his research and described boarding school life perfectly. Although I was a day student, I had plenty of friends around me who were boarders and witnessed the routines for myself on several occasions, and I feel that Milner did an excellent job at portraying this aspect of school life in a realistic way. Whilst this book was set long before I was at school, there were still similarities that I noticed, as well as obvious differences such as the value of money and the language the characters used to speak to one another.
This book had me gripped from the start and I experienced a range of emotions whilst reading. At times, I felt incredibly sad for what the main character had to deal with and at other times, I felt terrified for what was happening and simultaneously creeped out and confused by other parts. I do feel as though the ending was a little bit rushed but it tidied some loose ends up and I was fairly content upon finishing this book. I would definitely recommend reading this book, whatever your tastes are, this one is a gripping story that will have you turning page after page.
January 21, 2015
Ever read Tom Brown School days, if you have then you will love this story. An excellent novel full of emotion, leading the main character through his escapades and adventures which will take him to his ultimate destiny.
Based around a boarding school the author has shown he has done his research into what it is like to be a boarder and the tradition of the school. Every boarding school has secrets which are held by staff, past pupils and most importantly by the head.
When his parents are killed and not wanted by his aunt, Michael Dawson is sent to Saint Sebastians Academy. As Michael finds his place in the school, learning the rules and traditions it leads him to the local woods where the first of the strange experiences and sights appear to him. The traits and characteristics which are ascribed to Michael are first class and make for a very emotive story.
This book had me hooked from the first page, the excellent description of school boarding life and the very strong emotions of a ten year old boy abandoned and alone in the world. The way that his strength, dreams and hope give him the desire to fulfill his destiny along with a twist thrown in keeps the reader enrapt.
Based around a boarding school the author has shown he has done his research into what it is like to be a boarder and the tradition of the school. Every boarding school has secrets which are held by staff, past pupils and most importantly by the head.
When his parents are killed and not wanted by his aunt, Michael Dawson is sent to Saint Sebastians Academy. As Michael finds his place in the school, learning the rules and traditions it leads him to the local woods where the first of the strange experiences and sights appear to him. The traits and characteristics which are ascribed to Michael are first class and make for a very emotive story.
This book had me hooked from the first page, the excellent description of school boarding life and the very strong emotions of a ten year old boy abandoned and alone in the world. The way that his strength, dreams and hope give him the desire to fulfill his destiny along with a twist thrown in keeps the reader enrapt.
April 8, 2015
Andrew Milner created a marvelous work or art in the book Card School. When reading this book, it is like you are watching the story unfold live on television. He is able to describe each scene of the book so well that you can not help but to see it.
In the book, Michael loses his parents, and his aunt decides to send him to boarding school. While there, everything starts out like it would for anyone starting a new school. Michael had his good days and his bad days. However, this story takes a turn for the weird. Bodies would appear, and then they would disappear. I will not go any further into details, because it would be a spoiler alert. I will just say that if you have not read this book yet, you should. I loved it, and you will too.
May 14, 2015
Michael Dawson loses both parents at the age of 10 years old and left with an aunt who really doesn't want him and without his knowledge is dumped in a boarding school away from everyone he knows.life is changed and he needs to get on with the new regime. Michael sees things that really seem real like he enters the past which entices him but also punishes him what is it trying to tell him.micheal struggles at times with what is real will he ever find the truth out what has happened in the past. The story jumps sbout a bit and misses a lot of years out to suddenly end up in the present I slightly got lost and the ending was ok .
December 3, 2014
This book is about an eleven year old boy, Michael Dawson, whose parents die, leaving him in the guardianship of his uncaring aunt. It seems the first thing she does is ship him off to boarding school, and that is when his life gets more challenging in many ways, while adapting to the school itself, and also as he experiences the strange events that take place around him.
A fairly quick read for people who like mysterious, ghostly books. I would say it would suit anyone from about 14 to adults.
A fairly quick read for people who like mysterious, ghostly books. I would say it would suit anyone from about 14 to adults.
March 9, 2017
Good story, characters were great and the setting was wonderful. I felt it was let down by the ending which seemed fudged to me and didn't really explain everything.
November 8, 2015
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. It is about a young boy Michael who tragically looses his parents and try's to come to terms with the fact he will never see his parents again except for in his dreams. He is made to live with his one remaining relative his cold hearted aunt who without warning sends him off to boarding school where he forms a close relationship with fellow pupil Rose-Green. Michael struggles with his loneliness and feels jealousy towards the other boys spending their summers and christmas's with loved ones. The school hides a dark secret and Michael is drawn in to a dangerous journey of discovery to unearth the hidden ghosts of Saint Sebastian's.
I thought this book was well written and look forward to reading more by this author.
I thought this book was well written and look forward to reading more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews