** this giveaway is closed **
When I first read the synopsis for this book, I thought it might read more like a YA novel, but it had a certain quirkiness that intriqued me, so I asked to be part of the tour, and I am very happy I did !
Synopsis: Jamie is a twelve-year-old who has been labeled highly gifted. Good news, right? Except with it comes a cross-county car trip…with his ultra-obsessed dad…his annoying little sister…and a wacky educational consultant his dad has hired. Jamie could suggest better ways to spend his summer, and to live his life, if only someone would listen.As they set out on the trip to San Francisco, where Jamie will attend a summer program for gifted youth. His dad, Doug, can’t hear above the loud voices demanding nothing but the best for his son. Doug will do anything to give Jamie the leg up he needs to compete in a vicious world and get into an Ivy League school, Doug’s enthusiasm and hyperkinetic desire to enrich Jamie at every turn leads to hilarious complications and enlightening predicaments along the way.
About the Author: Michael Reilly is a writer and entrepreneur. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. His first published novel, Fresh Heir, was released in May 2011. He is also founder and chief executive officer of FitDivs Inc, a company that promotes and rewards healthy living. Michael resides with his wife and four children in Charlottesville, VA.
When I first read the synopsis for this book, I thought it might read more like a YA novel, but it had a certain quirkiness that intriqued me, so I asked to be part of the tour, and I am very happy I did !
Synopsis: Jamie is a twelve-year-old who has been labeled highly gifted. Good news, right? Except with it comes a cross-county car trip…with his ultra-obsessed dad…his annoying little sister…and a wacky educational consultant his dad has hired. Jamie could suggest better ways to spend his summer, and to live his life, if only someone would listen.As they set out on the trip to San Francisco, where Jamie will attend a summer program for gifted youth. His dad, Doug, can’t hear above the loud voices demanding nothing but the best for his son. Doug will do anything to give Jamie the leg up he needs to compete in a vicious world and get into an Ivy League school, Doug’s enthusiasm and hyperkinetic desire to enrich Jamie at every turn leads to hilarious complications and enlightening predicaments along the way.
About the Author: Michael Reilly is a writer and entrepreneur. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. His first published novel, Fresh Heir, was released in May 2011. He is also founder and chief executive officer of FitDivs Inc, a company that promotes and rewards healthy living. Michael resides with his wife and four children in Charlottesville, VA.
You can visit his website at www.freshheirnovel.com.
Review: If you like your books with a side of quirkiness, then this is a great book for you! You will read this book with a smile on your face, or laughing, most of they way through!
The book goes back and forth with narration by Jamie and Doug, and it was interesting to see how they played off each other and how depended they were upon keeping an 'even keel' in their relationship. Reilly does an excellent job in giving us a satirical look at how today's parents can be so utterly consumed by the pressure to give their children the best opportunities for success, that they frequently lead to kids and parents buckling from the stress and missing out on inter-connectivity with one another.
Reilly's example of a hockey parent going to such extremes that he is kicked out of a tournament final game and his child who now detests the game itself, will ring true to many readers, who will know people who fit the example exactly. When did we stop letting kids ENJOY the game, and make it all about winning, the author asks in subtle ways. Jamie himself yearns to be a normal kid just going on vacation and not making everything a quiz. When Jamie connects with his grandfather, you truly see and hear a child's voice screaming for a simpler way of life.
The author also does a great job in showing how 'generational anger' can funnel down into parents and influencing how they handle problems in their own relationships and how it in turn funnels down to their kids, especially during and after a divorce. Some readers may find the ending a bit 'too pat', but I think it fit perfectly with the book (and no I'm not going to tell whay happend and spoil the ending!). The book ends up being a cautionary tale in more ways than can be counted, and I highly recommend it to all parents, as a warning and reminder of what is truly important to our kids!
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Disclosure: I received this book, from the publisher, C Grant and Company, free of charge, for blog review purposes. I received no other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post.Nor was I told what to say about the book!
Pump Up Your Book! http://www.pumpupyourbook.com
Review: If you like your books with a side of quirkiness, then this is a great book for you! You will read this book with a smile on your face, or laughing, most of they way through!
The book goes back and forth with narration by Jamie and Doug, and it was interesting to see how they played off each other and how depended they were upon keeping an 'even keel' in their relationship. Reilly does an excellent job in giving us a satirical look at how today's parents can be so utterly consumed by the pressure to give their children the best opportunities for success, that they frequently lead to kids and parents buckling from the stress and missing out on inter-connectivity with one another.
Reilly's example of a hockey parent going to such extremes that he is kicked out of a tournament final game and his child who now detests the game itself, will ring true to many readers, who will know people who fit the example exactly. When did we stop letting kids ENJOY the game, and make it all about winning, the author asks in subtle ways. Jamie himself yearns to be a normal kid just going on vacation and not making everything a quiz. When Jamie connects with his grandfather, you truly see and hear a child's voice screaming for a simpler way of life.
The author also does a great job in showing how 'generational anger' can funnel down into parents and influencing how they handle problems in their own relationships and how it in turn funnels down to their kids, especially during and after a divorce. Some readers may find the ending a bit 'too pat', but I think it fit perfectly with the book (and no I'm not going to tell whay happend and spoil the ending!). The book ends up being a cautionary tale in more ways than can be counted, and I highly recommend it to all parents, as a warning and reminder of what is truly important to our kids!
**
**
Disclosure: I received this book, from the publisher, C Grant and Company, free of charge, for blog review purposes. I received no other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post.Nor was I told what to say about the book!
Pump Up Your Book! http://www.pumpupyourbook.com
Frugal hints...shop with a list and use coupons but only buy what you will use.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
use coupons and check out the stores weekly fliers. also try the generic brands lots of them are just as good as name brands
ReplyDeleteamhengst at verizon dot net
Instead of buying scrapbooking supplies, my wife & dauhgter collect and use things that have been recycled - like, magazine pics, tags, birthday wrap for backgrounds, old cards, pictures off of pkgs., anything really. coreybrennan26@hotmail.com
ReplyDeletePrice match at Walmart.
ReplyDeleteI have been able to follow on my values for many years. Buy what is necessary only. Items that are discounted at the end of each season are always great deals. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteFrugal hint(s): When there are great Sunday coupon inserts (like today October 2) I buy multiple copies. Check for the best prices on Sunday papers as well. One small local Sunday paper costs 50 cents, but doesn't have as many inserts. There are 2 larger city papers that had all 6 coupon inserts today. One costs $1.25 and the other costs $1.50 per newspaper. I bought multiple copies of the paper that costs $1.25. Also check for sales around the time the coupon comes out. For example, Pert Shampoo is on sale for $1.99 this week at Walgreens and there was a $1.00 off coupon in the newspapers today. Paying 99 cents a 13.5 ounce bottle for Pert Shampoo is a great deal, I think! I pass on my unused coupons to a friend and she shares her extras with me. I offer diaper and wipe coupons to friends who have new babies or grandbabies!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Always stock up on your favorite products when they are on sale.
ReplyDeleteI'll be honest, I'm not frugal at all. I'm horrible with money and that's why I never have any. If there is a good sale on something though, I'll buy a few.
ReplyDeletequixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com