Overview

""A powerful, realistic portrayal of life in the American public education system."" -Editor's Pick, Publishers Weekly ""A masterful tapestry of strife and resiliency."" -Kirkus Reviews There's never been a school year like the one at P.S. 961... It's 2007 in New York City, and the well-meaning Mr. J, a newly arrived teacher still mourning the loss of his sister, latches onto a vulnerable student. Kandra, a bright but troubled girl, pushes boundaries to the limit in pursuit of a brazen intimacy with her teacher, risking far more than failing grades in a school filled with emotionally disturbed teenagers. Mr. J struggles to help Kandra and his other students amidst an environment where volatility is rampant, but he finds limited support among the colleagues who should be able to help the most. Mr. Cody, the principal, is on the brink of retirement and only intermittently engaged, much to the school's detriment. And Shirley, a dedicated veteran teacher, knows a reckoning looms but can do little to prevent it. As fierce as it is heartbreaking, Exit Tickets, told from multiple points of view, lays bare the dreams and struggles, sacrifices and heroism of its characters.

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Reviews

""Chanko juggles the presentation of all these characters and their issues with immense skill. These elements-as well as plenty of melodrama-all coalesce brilliantly and immerse readers in a world where education takes a back seat to interpersonal upheavals. The author combines realistic dialogue, complex contemporary social issues, and characters to root for in this narrative. The result is a masterful tapestry of strife and resiliency."" -Kirkus Reviews ""A powerful, realistic portrayal of life in the American public education system."" -Editor's Pick, Publishers Weekly

Author Information

Kenneth Chanko taught for ten years in Manhattan and South Bronx public schools. Exit Tickets is his debut novel. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Entertainment Weekly. Chanko, who also ran after-school chess clubs, remains in touch with several of his former South Bronx students. He is currently working on a sequel to Exit Tickets.

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