Image Source: Goodreads
RUSA SRC – Region #3 Midwest – Kansas
3.75/5 I came across Laurie Gelman’s Class Mom on the Book Girls’ Guide. (Check them out by clicking here, Gnomies!) When I read their blurb on this book set mostly in Overland Park, Kansas, a burb on the Kansas side of Kansas City, as opposed to the Missouri side, I knew I wanted to read the book. Let’s just say cities lying in more than one state fascinate me. I also read in the blurb that this book made for an enjoyable read and happened to be written by new to me author Laurie Gelman, wife of television producer Michael Gelman.
Click here to learn about the Regional U.S.A. (RUSA) Tour Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC).
“Jen Dixon is not your typical Kansas City kindergarten class mom–or mom in general. Jen already has two college-age daughters by two different (probably) musicians, and it’s her second time around the class mom block with five-year-old Max–this time with a husband and father by her side. Though her best friend and PTA President sees her as the-wisest-candidate for the job (or oldest), not all of the other parents agree… From recording parents’ response times to her emails about helping in the classroom, to requesting contributions of-special-brownies for curriculum night, not all of Jen’s methods win approval from the other moms. Throw in an old flame from Jen’s past, a hyper-sensitive -allergy mom,-a surprisingly sexy kindergarten teacher, and an impossible-to-please Real Housewife-wannabe, causing problems at every turn, and the job really becomes much more than she signed up for.”
Class Mom made for a quick read. Narrator Jen Dixon made herself known to the reader with relative ease. Some of her adventures… and misadventures reminded me of anecdotes my mom shared with me about serving as who we knew as “room mothers” and on the Parent Teacher Organization (not association) board. I also liked when Jen spoke of “KCK” and what living in Kansas might be like for one person. I docked Class Mom 1.25 stars for a personal pet peeve of books written in the present tense instead of my prefered past tense as well as the somewhat rough start with the email/epistolary fiction. Still, I must place other books in the Class Mom Series on my To Be Read (TBR) Shelf.
For more information on why there is a Kansas City, Kansas and a Kansas City, Missouri, click here.
Quotes come from book flaps/cover and are featured on color blocks.
Starry Night Elf 