Publisher's Description:
In her nonfiction books about parenting -- The Empty Nest, My Girl, and All Girls -- Karen Stabiner won acclaim for her insights about living with teenagers. Now, in a heartwarming and hilarious new novel, she writes about the biggest challenge of all: getting a child into the perfect college. With a survivor's wit and a journalist's eye, she tells the story of five Los Angeles high school seniors and their parents as they navigate the obstacle course that is college admissions. Getting In follows these interconnected families -- three at the tony Crestview School, two at its public counterpart, Ocean Heights High -- in their pursuit of a fat envelope from their favorite schools. But the college application process is full of surprises, and each of the families has to scramble as their best-laid plans start to crumble. Ultimately, everyone -- moms, dads, and applicants -- discovers what the admissions process is really about: growing up. Getting In is a necessary distraction for all high-school parents, a hybrid of comic narrative and insider information.
Although my daughter has long since graduated from college, this book brought back vividly her junior and senior years in high school when much of our focus was on where she would be going to school. Whether this experience is before you or in your past, you'll find this book to be an amusingly unsparing look at this American cultural phenomenon and rite of passage in the life of a family. I enjoyed this book for both the memories it brought back and the snarky commentary on the southern California lifestyle. I also found the character of Ted, the head of the college counseling department at the elite private school intriguing. Especially recommended for parents of teens or soon to be teens and anyone who has worked with students to apply to college, grad school or professional schools.
Giveaway Details:
One copy of Getting In by Karen Stabiner has been provided by a publicist for giveaway.
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NOTE: Giveaway reserved for residents within the U.S. and Canada.
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Deadline: midnight, May 23. Winner announced May 24.
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