When Lena Hackett transfers to Littlewood Charter School, a routine history assignment puts her in conflict with a teacher who blocks her presentation and a principal who backs the decision. The dispute widens as Lena learns that other students have faced similar treatment for speaking up. With help from those students and a former student who left the school under pressure, Lena creates Littlewood for Change, a student-led effort to collect accounts of harassment, grading practices, and discipline. As the project moves from quiet conversations to public visibility, school officials attempt to shut it down, and tensions inside the building intensify. Good Kids, Bad Choices by Shanti Hershenson is a story of how one denied assignment becomes the impetus for power, and whose voices are permitted to be heard inside a school.

Good Kids, Bad Choices by Shanti Hershenson is the type of book that strikes a chord with young and older readers alike. It is lengthy, but it is so much more serious and realistic than I expected, and it positions children as leaders, because they are the ones we hope will march us into a better future. Lena comes across as brave but also reckless, which makes her believable, especially when she keeps pushing as things fall apart. The bathroom quotes idea was risky, and the silence during the assembly was one of the hardest parts to read because it showed how scared everyone was. The group breaking apart near the end also felt honest, since not everyone, particularly kids, can handle public pressure the same way. The language and writing are on point, and this is a story worth the time commitment.

Good Kids, Bad Choices by Shanti Hershenson is a contemporary novel that centers on student voices, institutional power, and the uneasy space where adolescence meets authority. The story follows several young characters whose lives intersect as they confront policies, personalities, and systems that shape their daily experiences. Hershenson structures the novel through alternating perspectives, allowing readers to move among students at different stages of awareness and response. This approach clarifies how similar environments can produce vastly different outcomes. Characters are repeatedly placed in situations with consequences, regardless of the path chosen, and the story shows how pressure, fear, loyalty, and hope influence those choices. Adults appear as authority figures whose actions shape the environment, but the focus remains firmly on the students and their evolving sense of agency.

Shanti Hershenson has penned an engaging, in-depth look at real-life teen issues from a teen's perspective. She writes directly and contemporarily, favoring clear, emotionally grounded language over ornamentation. Dialogue drives much of the momentum, capturing the rhythms of teenage speech while advancing character relationships and conflict. The pacing is steady, balancing personal introspection with group dynamics and collective action. Good Kids, Bad Choices speaks to readers interested in stories about youth, education, and social awareness. It captures the intensity of the formative years and how institutions can amplify or suppress emerging voices. Hershenson’s novel offers a thoughtful portrayal of young people learning to speak, listen, and act within systems much larger than themselves, making it a timely contribution to contemporary young adult fiction.

Good Kids, Bad Choices by Shanti Hershenson follows events when Lena Hackett’s parents move to Southern California and enroll her in a popular and prestigious school. Natalie is your average everyday American teenager, and misses her old friends and neighborhood, but is determined to fit in and thrive. However, Littlewood Charter School, despite its fine reputation, is not what it seems on the outside. The majority of the staff are homophobic, misogynistic, and racist, breeding a culture not conducive to learning or life. The principal appears kind and caring, but behind closed doors, she is quite the opposite. When Lena’s project on great women in World War II is dismissed as irrelevant, she is appalled. With the help of an understanding member of staff, the advice from a former pupil who was previously expelled, and a willing group of new friends, she starts a campaign to effect changes in the school’s ethics. But how can a few young teenagers take on the established groups of powerful adults who can make or break their future?

I strongly advise every parent to read Good Kids, Bad Choices by Shanti Hershenson. It took me back to my teen years and reminded me of how I viewed the world. Friends are of paramount importance, approbation from parents is vital, and the frustrations of Gen Z abound. This is a spellbinding book. The seamless wording, the descriptions, and the pace together make for a stunning read. I was blown away by the raw emotions of the characters that took me into their lives and battles. The scenarios are clever, the use of modern communication, and the successes and failures take the reader on a roller coaster ride. A satisfying and thought-provoking book on so many levels. I can only give it the highest praise. If the majority of Gen Z is committed to the values in this book, it would give society hope for the future.

Good Kids, Bad Choices by Shanti Hershenson is a captivating story that follows the students of Littlewood Charter School. Lena Hackett, a new student, believes she will make new friends and memories and have a fresh start. However, she soon discovers the school’s bullies, and that some teachers are not just strict—they are openly homophobic, bigoted, and racist. Despite the undeniable toxicity, the head of the school, Ms. Johnson, concentrates more on protecting the school’s good image by silencing victims and gaslighting them into thinking they are the ones in the wrong. Lena feels suffocated by the school's atmosphere, but she finds friends who share her concerns and wish for change. They start taking steps to make reforms, but are faced with opposition from Ms. Johnson, who paints the group as rebellious kids to their parents and the community. Lena finds Natalia Malone, a student who was expelled from Littlewood for speaking out against the school's hostile system. She becomes the missing piece in their fight, and together they stand up against the injustice in the school.

Good Kids, Bad Choices raises awareness about protecting the rights of students; it also makes readers walk in the characters’ shoes. Shanti Hershenson tells the story from both Lena's and Natalia’s points of view, showing their similar experiences and their shared doubts. Readers will also enjoy getting to know the other characters, especially their friends. This story will take you on an emotional ride. You will cheer for these students as they push for change, and you will get angry at every unfair twist thrown their way. Ms. Johnson feels like someone you might actually meet. She hides behind a fake smile, always playing a part for everyone else. The way she manipulates people and bends every situation her way is almost impressive, even if it is unsettling. The book offers those in a similar situation advice on how to ensure their voices are heard. It also encourages parents to listen to their children better and pay attention to their problems. This is a powerful look at youth activism and what happens when schools fail the people they’re supposed to protect. It shows just how much guts it takes to stand up and how complicated that fight can get. This is a great read.