Abstinence Teacher (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780312363543)

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.

Perrotta is that rare combination: a satirist with heart....Those who haven't curled up on the couch with this writer's books are missing a very great pleasure.--Seattle Times

Tom Perrotta is a truth-telling, unshowy chronicler of modern-day America.--The New York Times Book Review (in a front-page review)

Author: Tom Perrotta
ISBN-10: 0312363540
ISBN-13: 9780312363543
Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
Language: English
Published: 09/02/2008
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.40w x 1.10d

Review Citation(s):
New York Times Book Review 09/28/2008 pg. 32