Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The Racketeer






I read this novel in two days! There is just something about the clean writing of John Grisham that appeals to me.
Malcolm Bannister is serving a ten-year prison sentence for money laundering, a crime he is innocent of. While there he makes friends with an inmate who reveals to him that he plans on killing a Supreme Court judge.
When the murder takes place, Malcolm uses the info as a get-out-of-jail card. But that's just the beginning. The rest of the book is a non-stop escape! I loved it!


Friday, October 5, 2012

Accelerated




Wow! This was an eye-opener. As a teacher I was concerned about the high incidence of ADD and ADHD and the medications given to kids to control it.

This novel looks at that issue in NYC's best private school. Sean Benning's son is a third grade student at Bentley, a prestigious school. When the school psychologist suggests that his son, Toby might have ADD, Sean doesn't believe it. But, after a visit to an independent psychologist, he reluctantly agrees to the use of a Ritalin-like drug to help Toby keep up with his classmates.

But there are side effects and, after Toby has a reaction, Sean is determined to find out why the school was so intent on pushing these drugs.

I honestly couldn't put this book down. It's well written and kept me turning the pages.