Chosen Girl: Elderly, neglected, lonely woman looking out the window at kids waiting for the bus in the cold. Little girl from a religious sect that has moved into town is without warm clothes. This makes her think of her own son, now a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, and his upbringing. Son missed visiting at Christmas, but promised to come in April. She has decorated the house for Christmas in April, but--selfish prig that he is--he insists it was a vague sort of statement and not a promise at all. Broken heart. She finds herself at a meeting of the cult/sect and feels, for the first time in a long time, a sense of belonging.
Traditional tale, well-written, characters are believable. Just plain good.
Test Taker: Boy who takes SAT's for others for money. Alienated, naturally. Sees the underside of the successful of the world. Parties, discovers he is taking a test for a kid who dissed him. Flunks it on purpose. What I really liked about this was that Perrotta didn't pretend that the "flunking" would have any long term impact. Kid would have another shot at the SATs. Just a wrench in the works, and our "hero" is glad to have thrown it. Into every life . . .
Two solid stories.
Traditional tale, well-written, characters are believable. Just plain good.
Test Taker: Boy who takes SAT's for others for money. Alienated, naturally. Sees the underside of the successful of the world. Parties, discovers he is taking a test for a kid who dissed him. Flunks it on purpose. What I really liked about this was that Perrotta didn't pretend that the "flunking" would have any long term impact. Kid would have another shot at the SATs. Just a wrench in the works, and our "hero" is glad to have thrown it. Into every life . . .
Two solid stories.
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