A Ward of the State

She was raised to think for herself. Now she’s being told who to become.

Allison Maxwell has spent the last two years in Hamburg with her father, growing up in a world that values intellect and independence. But when rising global tensions force her to return to Manhattan, she finds a version of home she barely recognizes.

At Vanguard Preparatory Academy, a school reserved for the children of the powerful elite, boys are trained to lead while girls are taught to submit. Lessons blur the line between education and indoctrination, wrapped in patriotism, tradition, and prayer.

As Allison resists the rules shaping her future, she bonds with Michelle, a sharp-witted student who sees through Vanguard’s polished façade. Together, they begin questioning not just the school, but the world that created it.

Then family secrets bring the truth much closer to home. The system isn’t broken. It’s working exactly as designed.

A Ward of the State asks what happens when controlling the next generation becomes the key to controlling the future.

Download the free sample or press play to listen to the sample, narrated by Tara Kulkarni.