The Gifted School
'Snapping with tension' Shari Lapena
-
-
4.5 • 2 Ratings
-
-
- £2.99
-
- £2.99
Publisher Description
Ambitious parents, wilful kids, and the pursuit of prestige... A gripping page-turner, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies.
'More than a touch of Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies' OBSERVER
How far would you go to protect your child's future?
In the peaceful, privileged community of Crystal, Colorado, a group of close friends are raising their families in harmony.
Until one day, news begins to spread that a 'gifted school' will be opening its doors in their town. There are only a few places, and the competition will be ferocious.
As parents and children begin to compete, cracks start to show in their picturesque community as long-buried secrets threaten to detonate under the pressure...
Praise for The Gifted School:
'Snapping with tension'
SHARI LAPENA
'Wise and addictive'
NEW YORK TIMES
'Timely and relevant'
OPRAHMAG
'On the pulse of modern times'
MAGIC BOOK CLUB
'Relevant and relatable'
i PAPER
'Exposes how easily a mix of good intentions, self-delusions, and minor sins can escalate'
THE NEW YORKER
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this sharply entertaining novel from Holsinger (The Invention of Fire), Crystal, Colo., is an affluent community where a new gifted magnet school for grades six through 12 will soon open. With limited spaces available, the competition among parents to get their offspring into the school, called the "Stuyvesant of the Rockies," turns ruthless. Dr. Rose Holland, a pediatric neurologist, uses her position to gather inside information that could be vital for her daughter, Emma Q's, admission. Queen bee Samantha Zeller and her moneyman husband, Kevin, are not above lying about the IQ test results of their daughter, Emma Z. Divorced Azra and Beck are forced to deal with the emotional fallout when the admission process causes friction between their twin sons. And single mother Lauren's daughter, Tessa, recently out of rehab, keeps a video blog that sees through all the adult pretensions around her. As the application process spools out, it pits parent against parent, student against student, and spouse against spouse until relationships are frayed to the breaking point and betrayals build to a shattering climax during an open house at the new school. This depiction of the depths to which some parents will stoop to win social advantage for their offspring makes for a smart, piercing novel, and timely given recent headlines.
