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5 Minutes for Books — Dangerous Admissions

October 8, 2007 by Jennifer Donovan

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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This is the first of two reviews and giveaways in 5 Minutes for Books. Scroll down or click here for the second one.

I love novels with a strong sense of place. Dangerous Admissions has one. Set in Manhattan, I could see the side streets and apartment buildings and coffee shops and bars that the characters frequent. Set in an exclusive private prep school, I could easily imagine the teenagers who probably look more sloppy than sophisticated, and the old dark campus buildings. The characters resonate: a teen boy with not much on his mind other than his secret crush; a headmaster who is beloved by some and hated by others (who just happens to turn up dead); a single mom, displaced from her job, looking for another while she plays amateur detective while she works her part-time job on campus; a recent grad who is struggling to make it on the outside; and a rich, eccentric, brusque yet caring old woman.

How does author Jane O’Connor paint this landscape so well? She’s been there.

“My sons each spent 13 years at a very high-powered place, and so twice my husband and I suffered through the process of applying,” O’Connor explains. “Of course, it was our kids, not us, who were actually applying, but the angst involved as parents often made it feel as if we were the ones waiting for the proverbial fat envelopes. One day, an idea for ada.jpg mystery just popped into my head. The story would revolve around nasty doings at a New York private school where the seniors are all vying for slots at the same ivy-covered places.”

High-powered private schools provide a setting full of excesses and as exotic to most readers as the tribal customs of the Maori. “I think it’s beyond awful how competitive the process of getting into college has become,” explains O’Connor. “Kids don’t get to enjoy being dumb teenagers, and high school is ruined for them because by eighth grade they are already obsessing and have their eye on the ivy-covered prize.”

Dangerous Admissions is Jane O’Connor’s first novel for adults, after writing the successful Fancy Nancy books for children. O’Connor has switched her focus without a hitch. The privileged prep school high school students are characterized so well that this book would resonate with young adult readers as well (in the modern, very explicit genre that Young Adult often is today). This book does contain mature themes and language.

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5 Minutes for Books — Queen of the Castle
Let Your Little Princess Follow Her Dreams

About Jennifer Donovan

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

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63 Comments

  1. Myrna says

    October 20, 2007 at 10:31 am

    Am I too late?

    Reply
  2. dawn F says

    October 14, 2007 at 10:04 pm

    I want it.

    Reply
  3. Heather C says

    October 14, 2007 at 7:03 pm

    Always looking to read the newest thing. Thanks.

    Reply
  4. kathy pease says

    October 14, 2007 at 11:05 am

    have a great day 🙂

    Reply
  5. REBECCA says

    October 14, 2007 at 7:45 am

    LOVE TO READ-THIS SOUNDS GOOD

    Reply
  6. Jean F says

    October 14, 2007 at 3:19 am

    This book looks quite interesting, thank you for having this contest!

    Reply
  7. Nina Cunningham says

    October 13, 2007 at 10:15 pm

    I’d love to win this…thanks!

    Reply
  8. Briggie says

    October 13, 2007 at 8:00 pm

    i love a book that transports you, please count me in.

    Reply
  9. philip halter says

    October 13, 2007 at 6:01 pm

    great site

    Reply
  10. Caryn says

    October 13, 2007 at 12:52 am

    Count me in please

    Reply
  11. Linda SS says

    October 12, 2007 at 8:24 am

    I LOVE this author! My granddaughter and I check out Fancy Nancy from the library practically every time we go…it’s our favorite. I’d love to read an adult book by Jane O’Connor

    Reply
  12. Donna says

    October 12, 2007 at 7:29 am

    I’d love a new book!

    Reply
  13. Sherry Wells says

    October 12, 2007 at 3:39 am

    I love mystery novels and these days its hard to find one without a lot of bad language. Coming from a children’s author sounds very interesting. I’d love to be one of the winners. Please count me in.
    Thanks,
    Sher 🙂

    Reply
  14. Pamela White says

    October 12, 2007 at 12:25 am

    I love reading new books pick me

    Reply
  15. Nicole Price says

    October 11, 2007 at 10:29 am

    Please count me in 🙂

    Reply
  16. Kathy Conley says

    October 10, 2007 at 2:39 pm

    I want to win!

    Reply
  17. Lisa W says

    October 10, 2007 at 10:25 am

    I love books! Please enter me!

    Reply
  18. ktjrdn says

    October 10, 2007 at 10:24 am

    I’d love to see what the buzz is about. This book has been well-publicized on the internet lately.

    Reply
  19. Christy H. says

    October 10, 2007 at 9:12 am

    Please enter me in this contest. Thanks

    Reply
  20. Valerie Mitchell says

    October 9, 2007 at 10:00 pm

    looks great!

    Reply
  21. peppylady says

    October 9, 2007 at 9:08 pm

    Reading the first two line sure got my interest please put my name in the hat

    Reply
  22. Lisa O says

    October 9, 2007 at 6:22 pm

    Always looking for a good read.

    Thanks,
    Lisa

    Reply
  23. Vickie says

    October 9, 2007 at 2:25 pm

    Please count me in. I’m always looking for a good read.

    Reply
  24. Melanie says

    October 9, 2007 at 12:43 pm

    Sounds good to me.

    Reply
  25. Alexia says

    October 9, 2007 at 11:36 am

    This sounds like an interesting read.

    Reply
  26. Rachel Bolin says

    October 9, 2007 at 11:02 am

    I absolutely love to curl up with a good book!

    Reply
  27. Kari says

    October 9, 2007 at 9:22 am

    YEAH! I love books!! 🙂

    Reply
  28. Sarah at In the Trenches of Mommyhood says

    October 9, 2007 at 9:17 am

    Sounds like a good book–count me in!

    Reply
  29. Jennie says

    October 9, 2007 at 1:20 am

    Sounds like an interesting read!

    Reply
  30. Cecilia says

    October 9, 2007 at 12:05 am

    Me too… me too… 🙂

    Reply
  31. AshleyR says

    October 8, 2007 at 11:18 pm

    Count me in!!

    Reply
  32. Drama Mama says

    October 8, 2007 at 9:17 pm

    Love it! Enter me Please!

    Reply
  33. Karen (Mommy of Three) says

    October 8, 2007 at 8:30 pm

    Count me in:)

    Reply
  34. Brandi says

    October 8, 2007 at 8:28 pm

    oooh, I love to read and really love to win things! ha ha!

    Brandi

    Reply
  35. Richelle F says

    October 8, 2007 at 8:12 pm

    Sounds like a great book!

    Reply
  36. Jen says

    October 8, 2007 at 7:23 pm

    Count me in.

    Reply
  37. Julie Sivley says

    October 8, 2007 at 7:02 pm

    Loving taking the time to read lately… this would be great! Thanks for counting me in!

    Reply
  38. Cynthia says

    October 8, 2007 at 5:58 pm

    ohhhh, I’m intrigued!

    Reply
  39. tammy b says

    October 8, 2007 at 3:33 pm

    i’m interested 😉

    Reply
  40. Amy R. says

    October 8, 2007 at 2:13 pm

    Looks interesting!

    Reply
  41. Holly says

    October 8, 2007 at 2:12 pm

    that sounds good! Thanks!

    Reply
  42. Brooke says

    October 8, 2007 at 1:54 pm

    If I don’t win it (and I really hope I do!), I’m taking it out from the library.

    Reply
  43. Dawn says

    October 8, 2007 at 1:52 pm

    This sounds like a good book.

    Reply
  44. Ashley says

    October 8, 2007 at 12:26 pm

    enter me please!

    Reply
  45. Wendy says

    October 8, 2007 at 12:24 pm

    sounds like a great book:)

    Reply
  46. Deb - Mom of 3 Girls says

    October 8, 2007 at 12:06 pm

    Oh this sounds good – count me in! 🙂

    Reply
  47. Le Anne says

    October 8, 2007 at 11:37 am

    Count me in. I love great books to get lost in.
    Le Anne
    [email protected]

    Reply
  48. Erin Read says

    October 8, 2007 at 11:36 am

    Looks like it is a great read. Please count me in.

    Reply
  49. Michele says

    October 8, 2007 at 10:40 am

    Please sign me up.

    Reply
  50. Liz says

    October 8, 2007 at 9:32 am

    Looks like a fun read and maybe I’d learn something as well…

    Reply
  51. Penny G says

    October 8, 2007 at 9:08 am

    Sounds like a fun book to read!

    Reply
  52. Sarah says

    October 8, 2007 at 9:02 am

    Books!…I love to read!!

    Reply
  53. Heather says

    October 8, 2007 at 8:57 am

    I always love checking out new books!

    Reply
  54. Jess says

    October 8, 2007 at 8:54 am

    I love to read, I have not read this Author yet, but I would love too!

    Reply
  55. Mama Zen says

    October 8, 2007 at 8:30 am

    This sounds marvelous!

    Reply
  56. Amanda says

    October 8, 2007 at 8:14 am

    Great contest! Count me in!

    Reply
  57. homemom3 says

    October 8, 2007 at 7:48 am

    Sounds like a great book. Would love to read it, count me in.

    Reply
  58. Melissa Markham says

    October 8, 2007 at 6:21 am

    Please enter me in the contest. Sounds like a great book!

    Reply
  59. Michelle says

    October 8, 2007 at 5:26 am

    Please sign me up to be entered.

    Reply
  60. Amanda says

    October 8, 2007 at 2:04 am

    I blogged about this giveaway on my blog

    HERE

    Reply
  61. TheAngelForever says

    October 8, 2007 at 1:59 am

    Looks like a great book. Thanks for the contest!

    Reply
  62. Laura says

    October 8, 2007 at 12:44 am

    Count me in!

    I blogged the giveaway too in my Monday Edition of Contests Galore

    http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2007/10/monday-edition-contests-galore.html

    Reply

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