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Publisher:
Warner Books |
Release
Date: September 2004 |
ISBN:
0446533033 |
Awards:
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Format
Reviewed: Hardcover |
Buy
it at Amazon |
Read
an Excerpt |
Genre:
Adult Contemporary |
Reviewed:
2004 |
Reviewer:
Jeanette Clinkunbroomer |
Reviewer
Notes: Some language |
Copyright
MyShelf.com |
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Admissions
By Nancy Lieberman
Nancy Lieberman
knows New York City and is not above poking a little fun at one
of its upper class’s more grueling past-times: getting their
children into the best available private school. Helen and Michael
Drager’s daughter, Zoe, has been attending the exclusive “The
School” since kindergarten, but now, at the start of eighth
grade, it’s time to begin the bloodsport of finding a suitable
high school for next year.
Pamela
Rothschild, head of The School, should be using her influence to
place graduating students somewhere within the pantheon of private
high schools. These include institutions like The Quasi Country
Day School, The Very Brainy Girls’ School, The Safety School,
and so on. Each offers a solid education, but they are located in
surroundings ranging from the commune-like, cigarette-smoke-filled
atmosphere of The Progressive School to the snobby, blonde-and-blue-eyed
conformity of The Fancy Girls’ School. And Ms. Rothschild,
whose British background just might be bit checkered, proves too
enthralled by the power she wields.
The author skillfully
weaves several subplots into the story. Michael Drager, a TV producer,
becomes enmired in developing a cooking show to flatter the pretensions
of one Julia-Child-wannabe admissisions officer, while Helen Drager
feels the security of her own world threatened when Zoe announces
she’s considering a public school.
Liberman’s
characters are well-drawn, and some are barbed portrayals of people
with too much money and very little class. The politics and behind-the-scenes
maneuvering is on a par with crazed stage mothers or coach-dads,
willing to promote their own ambitions at the expense of their children.
Equally funny and sad, Admissions is a bit slow-moving,
but absorbing and well worth the time.
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