She came home expecting safety. What she found was surveillance.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 a spike in global tensions forces her to return to Manhattan, she finds herself trapped in a version of home that no longer makes sense.At Vanguard Preparatory Academy, a school reserved for the children of the powerful elite, boys are trained to lead while girls are molded to submit. She is confused by lessons that feel like systemic indoctrination and disturbed by the trap masked by patriotism and prayer.As Allison resists the rules shaping her future, she bonds with Michelle, a sharp-witted student who sees through Vanguard's polished facade. Together, they begin to question not just the school but the world that built it. And when family secrets come to light, Allison is forced to confront a chilling reality: the system is not broken. It is working exactly as designed.Set in 2042, A Ward of the State is a gripping story of resistance, inheritance, and the quiet revolution of a girl who dares to choose her own path.