BBNYA 2024 Finalist Tour: Madame Eldridge's Wayward Home for Unruly Boys by Benjamin Ryan

Promotional banner for the BBNYA 2024 Finalist Blog Tour, featuring Madame Eldridge's Wayward Home for Unruly Boys by Benjamin Ryan. The image has a purple background with gold sparkles, and the book cover is centered. Text reads

BBNYA is a yearly competition in which book bloggers worldwide read and score books written by indie authors. The competition ends with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA website https://www.bbnya.com/ or peek at Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Quick Summary:

In this spellbinding YA mystery-fantasy, a group of troubled teens-stripped of their names and thrust into a world of strict rules and magical relics-must uncover the truth behind a boy's disappearance. Madame Eldridge's Wayward Home for Unruly Boys blends dark secrets, magical realism, and time travel into a coming-of-age story full of eerie charm. A BBNYA 2024 finalist, this indie novel is perfect for fans of found family, twisted rules, and YA books with a spooky twist.

Themes Explored in This Book:
- Found family
- Time travel
- Magical realism
- Identity & transformation
- Coming-of-age
- Dark secrets & forbidden places

Promotional graphic for Madame Eldridge's Wayward Home for Unruly Boys by Benjamin Ryan. The image features the book cover centered between a quote that reads,

Book Details

BBNYA 2024 Finalist Tour: Madame Eldridge's Wayward Home for Unruly Boys by Benjamin RyanMadame Eldridge's Wayward Home for Unruly Boys
By Benjamin Ryan
Published by Independent on August 1, 2023
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 368

Deep in the heart of Virginia's dense backwoods, the Wayward Home for Unruly Boys hides more than just troubled youth. Under Madame Eldridge's watchful eye, three strict rules govern their behavior program:

1. What happens here stays here.

2. You must complete all eight steps-no exceptions allowed.

3. Forget your name; you'll be known only by your problem.

But, there's one unspoken rule that sends shivers down the boys' spines: never enter the forbidden third-floor bedroom of the boy who vanished, leaving nothing behind but whispers.

When Vandalize and Stealer defy this warning, they uncover a treasure trove of bewitched artifacts, each with a strange and powerful ability. Using these relics, the boys tackle Madame Eldridge's whimsical-and often bizarre-challenges, only to learn magic always demands its price.

Amidst the chaos, Fibbsy stumbles upon a peculiar object that sends him hurtling back in time, revealing an unfathomable truth about Madame Eldridge, the eerie town, and the missing boy's fate. But who will trust the words of a liar?

Bound by the house's darkest mysteries, Fibbsy, Defiance, Slob, and Secret form an unlikely friendship as they race to unveil the shrouded secrets surrounding the Wayward Home. Together, they confront their deepest fears, uncovering that the real magic lies in facing their own personal demons-and each other.

Source: BBNYA

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This is a great read for fans of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children or The Mysterious Benedict Society. I'd recommend it as a fall or rainy-day read-especially for readers who enjoy eerie, magical mysteries with heart.

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Where to Buy

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Kindle - Paperback.

Please let me know if the above Amazon button does not route you to your country's Amazon page for the Kindle or Paperback edition. I will gladly send you a link. Every click and/or purchase helps to support my blogging efforts.

Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.

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I love to read books through my Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription. 

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About Benjamin Ryan

Author Benjamin Ryan profile picture, flannel shirt, backwards, black baseball cap, with a riverwalk background

Once upon a time, there was a military brat named Benjamin Ryan, who traveled the world and embraced every unique experience he encountered. Being the new kid in town wasn’t always easy, and as he struggled with weight issues, he also had to deal with the hardships of teasing, male friendship, and acceptance. But, he was determined to find his place in the world and used his love for writing to create adventures that would transport him to a different world, where he could see things from a new perspective.

Through his writing, Benjamin Ryan discovered his authentic self and found a way to inspire others. Armed with degrees in Art History, Education and World Religions, he became a New York City public Special Ed teacher, where he uses whimsy, creativity, and acceptance to inspire the youth of tomorrow.

And thus, Benjamin Ryan was born—an author that embraces the power of storytelling to inspire and create change. With a deep understanding of the struggles that come with being different, Benjamin Ryan creates content that speaks to the heart and soul of their audience.

He is active on twitter in the writing community (@BRClothwrites), hosting writing prompts, engaging with life’s unique perspectives, and inspiring others to create their truths.

Did you know Benjamin Ryan is also a special ed teacher in NYC? That insight into helping kids find their voice is clearly evident in his writing. It adds a special depth to the story's themes of identity and transformation.

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📌Pin This Magical Read!

Pinterest graphic for Madame Eldridge's Wayward Home for Unruly Boys by Benjamin Ryan, 5th Place Finalist in BBNYA 2024. The image features the eerie green-toned book cover with a haunted house framed in gold, a purple finalist badge, and a quote:

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Final Thoughts

Whether you're drawn to eerie mysteries, magical misfits, or stories that explore identity and belonging, Madame Eldridge's Wayward Home for Unruly Boys offers a spellbinding journey you won't soon forget. As a standout indie title and proud finalist in BBNYA 2024, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. Be sure to check out the other finalists, follow the tour, and let me know in the comments-would you survive Madame Eldridge's eight steps?

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BBNYA 2024 Finalists Tour (So Far…)

Check back soon for more winners!

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Posted 07/13/2025 by Gina in BBNYA, Blog Tour Reviews & Spotlights, Books, Young Adult / 0 Comments

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