""Menaced," muttered Orvil Onimous. "That's what we are, my dears, menaced." He was speaking to three cats that paced about him, magnificent creatures with fire-bright coats, from the deep copper of the cat that leaped ahead, to the flame orange and starry yellow of the two that ran on either side of him."
hi guys I think writing directed to eight year olds is impressive
That's true, but the reason I thought it was for Young Adults was because it's pretty dark.
From manipulating children/adults to several deaths throughout the series to the complete and utter shadiness of the school it's pretty damn dark.
That IS dark for a children's book.