The Gifted School

The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger

They've been friends since their children
splashed in the pool together, learning to swim.

Four women who formed an immediate bond
as young mothers, drinking coffee from mugs
with inspirational words of ever-lasting
affection, meeting for early morning jogs
under the invigoratingly, blue skies of
Crystal, Colorado, sharing the same hard-working
housekeeper, and keeping each other abreast
of all the juicy gossip about the fabulously
rich and beautiful in a town where envy and
jealousies abound.

But when an exclusive, magnet school is set
to open in this suburb overlooking the mountains,
small cracks in a rock-solid friendship begin
to appear. Adults scheme to deliver their child's
perfect portfolio, and anxious kids feel the pressure
of stressful testing, as they claw over one another
to claim a spot on the coveted roster of students.

Everyone is keeping secrets, some small,
some monumental. Eventually, they find themselves
powerless to hide stunning, salacious deceptions,
deep-rooted resentments, and regrettable errors
in judgement.

This book takes an introspective look at how far some
parents will go to ensure their children are part of the
elite in the hallowed halls of higher learning, even if
it means losing their own dignity.

If you enjoyed Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies,
then put this one on your list. An outrageously,
entertaining read, dealing with a relevant topic,
that will undoubtedly prompt spirited discussions
at your next book club about social status, race,
and entitlement.