Review #67: The School of Possibilities by Seita Parkkola

Title: The School of Possibilities

Author: Seita Parkkola

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Genre: Young Adult

Format: Review Copy from Publisher

ISBN: 978-1-4022-1835-4

Price/Pages: $12.99/app.368

Release Date: June 2010

My Review and Description:

This was a strange little novel.

Though geared towards a middle school age reader, I plant it in a older young adult category myself. It was a fierce little story with edgy characters.

Storm Steele is a pretty normal 12 year old. He is fearless and loves to skateboard.

His parents, however, think he is trouble and needs some guidance.

He is sent to The School of Possibilities, with the ever so kind help of his new step mother.

They tell him this is your last chance. Shape up or Ship out.

Well, not many choices for a kid but he plans on not letting it all get to him.

The school is not exactly what you would call normal. His classmates follow him and seem, well...strange. The headmaster is none too pleasant. And he just doesn't seem to be able to control himself. He is becoming more obedient as if the school itself was controlling him.

Unfortunately I was unable to finish this one. I got almost half way. I didn't dislike it. It just didn't hold my interest. Perhaps it was because, in my head, I was transitioning to wanting to read more literary fiction and I was scheduled to review this one prior to BEA.

It was definitely unique and I do give the writer credit for developing this creative story. Troubled boy, creepy school, dysfunctional family, mean teachers.

Pretty relatable I think.

I think it would be good for an older boy to read, perhaps one that is interested in

more of a fantasy genre.

Author Profile:

Seita Parkkola lives in Turku, Finland. She is a writer, teacher, and mother of two. She teaches graphic arts, photography and writing and she has also worked as a reporter and photographer.

Rating: No rating given.

This has only been the second time I have been unable to finish a book that I was scheduled to review. I don't feel I can adequately rate books I don't finish. With my desire to remain honest, I still will continue to post reviews and express my opinion however. I believe that readers make their own decisions and if the story line of this book sounds appealing, check it out. The author is talented with her writing style. It just did not grab me in the way that I thought it would.

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child