Inner Conflicts Analysis: The Instructive Purposes of 'Con Academy' Kaitlyn Fluharty 10th Grade

Con Academy, written by Joe Schreiber, is not a typical high school-romance book, but rather a book that based off the idea that cheating throughout life could potentially lead to a positive outcome. With the genre being mystery and thriller, the audience is led into a world full of lies and con artists through the point of view of the main character’s. Will Humbert, known as Will Shae to his classmates, hacks into the school system of the elite Connaughton Academy, forges his transcripts, and creates an elaborate backstory that grants him a heavy scholarship. Expecting to breeze through high school without a hitch, his facade start to unfold when he meets Andrea Dufresne, another con artist in a similar situation. Both fearful of their own demise, a bet is placed; whoever can convince the mark, Brandt Rush, to give them fifty thousand dollars is permitted to stay enrolled at the school and the loser must leave. Skillfully crafted and highly entertaining, Con Academy explores the inner conflicts that arise from deception, and the struggles one faces when spinning such extravagant lies.

Although rated as a young adult novel, Con Academy has the capability to connect to a more mature audience. There are many parallels about the...