Homeschooling families come under the microscope in Greenberg's (
Speed-Walk and Other Stories) debut adult novel. David is the self-appointed king of the homeschooling world, leading his three young daughters through a fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants learning experience. Meanwhile, he's cruising the community message boards to offer up advice to those interested in leaving the organized educational system. Reaching out to him is desperate Beth, mother of a daughter with major allergy issues and wife of wedding photographer Keith, who has recently left her. Beth attends a discount dinner for homeschooled families and becomes acquainted with another clan new to the "homer" world, Patterson and Winter, parents to twin boys. When Winter and Beth team up to teach their children, Winter seems to take the natural lead while Beth flounders her way into a questionable relationship with Patterson. Each family struggles with issues and hides dirty little secrets as they cross each other's paths on a regular basis.
VERDICT This wry look at homeschooling will likely entertain those unfamiliar with that environment. Readers who are in the know may be irritated by the author's stereotypical take on this educational system as a hippieish "total free-form idea" without structure or rules. But they will enjoy Greenberg's characters' humorous quirks. A good choice for Tom Perrotta fans. [See "Editors' Spring Picks," LJ 2/15/14.—Ed.]
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