The Abstinence Teacher illuminates the powerful emotions that run beneath the placid surface of modern American family life, and explores the complicated spiritual and sexual lives of ordinary people. It is elegantly and simply written, characterized by the distinctive mix of satire and compassion that has become Tom Perrotta's trademark. Stonewood Heights is the perfect place to raise children: it's got good schools, solid values and a healthy real estate market. Parents in the town are involved in their children's ...
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The Abstinence Teacher illuminates the powerful emotions that run beneath the placid surface of modern American family life, and explores the complicated spiritual and sexual lives of ordinary people. It is elegantly and simply written, characterized by the distinctive mix of satire and compassion that has become Tom Perrotta's trademark. Stonewood Heights is the perfect place to raise children: it's got good schools, solid values and a healthy real estate market. Parents in the town are involved in their children's lives, and often in other children's lives, too--coaching sports, driving carpool, focusing on enriching experiences. Ruth Ramsey is the high school human sexuality teacher whose openness is not appreciated by all her students--or their parents. Her daughter's soccer coach is Tim Mason, a former stoner and rocker whose response to hitting rock bottom was to reach out and be saved. Tim's introduction of Christianity on the playing field horrifies Ruth, while his evangelical church sees a useful target in the loose-lipped sex ed teacher. But when these two adversaries in a small-town culture war actually talk to each other, a surprising friendship begins to develop.
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Add this copy of The Abstinence Teacher to cart. $18.99, good condition, Sold by Russell Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Victoria, BC, CANADA, published 2008 by Rh Canadian Publishing.
Add this copy of The Abstinence Teacher to cart. $38.02, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Vintage Canada.
Add this copy of The Abstinence Teacher to cart. $23.00, very good condition, Sold by CMG Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Toronto, ON, CANADA, published 2008 by Vintage Canada.
An easy to read book with very infuriating, frustrating charcters. Although parts of the main characters were certainly likeable their actions were clearly...let's see, how do I say this, stupid! I would love to be more eloquent here but I just can't--does anyone believe in moderation anymore?! As frustrated as I was with the charcters, I found the writing very well done (at least for my straightforward taste). As for the tile, the book is less about the Abstinence teacher and more about the man she seems to battle against. To recommend it , I think you would really have to know your audience.
