The Capture by Kathryn Lasky

Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Book 1

In a world where owls are the dominant species, a young barn owl named Soren is snatched from his home and taken to the sinister St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls. There, he discovers a dark conspiracy to brainwash owlets into becoming soldiers for a malevolent regime. With the help of newfound friends, Soren must muster his courage and wits to escape the clutches of the academy and uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of his family, setting him on a perilous journey that will test his bravery and determination.