Another Review: Mockingbird
This week’s Story Spotlight is To Sing Like a Mockingbird by Jan Notzon. This book was kindly provided by the folks at Breakeven Books. Thank you!
About the Story:
Justin Kopekne’s faith in the power of education is in danger of being obliterated by experience. Until it closed due to the brutal murder of the one student who had depth and possibly genius, he was a teacher at a school/reformatory in Texas.
He takes refuge with his brother and sister-in-law, the latter considering him a potent threat to the peace of their household as it rests on a mutual pretense of cynicism.
In flashbacks, we are introduced to Justin’s estranged wife, Kathryn, his blindly idealistic principal and two bosom companions from childhood now on opposite sides of the illegal drug trade. The two come together when one accepts the “donation” from the cartel capo to save his reelection campaign.
Justin’s student prodigy, Míriam, is assaulted when she violates the student-assassins rule against class participation. Justin manages to get both perpetrators arrested, and the battle between Justin and his principal explodes.
With pressure from the drug cartel, the two thugs are reinstated, and Míriam learns that they have Justin in their sights. When Justin refuses to believe her warnings, she calls on her experience with men to try to seduce him.
Justin rejects her advances and her only resort is to sacrifice herself by insulting the two heavies, resulting in her murder.
Justin witnesses the brutal deed and will testify, prompting the cartel to plan his assassination.
His drug capo friend and the sheriff come together to try to save him.
Will they be successful?
About the Story:
Justin Kopekne’s faith in the power of education is in danger of being obliterated by experience. Until it closed due to the brutal murder of the one student who had depth and possibly genius, he was a teacher at a school/reformatory in Texas.
He takes refuge with his brother and sister-in-law, the latter considering him a potent threat to the peace of their household as it rests on a mutual pretense of cynicism.
In flashbacks, we are introduced to Justin’s estranged wife, Kathryn, his blindly idealistic principal and two bosom companions from childhood now on opposite sides of the illegal drug trade. The two come together when one accepts the “donation” from the cartel capo to save his reelection campaign.
Justin’s student prodigy, Míriam, is assaulted when she violates the student-assassins rule against class participation. Justin manages to get both perpetrators arrested, and the battle between Justin and his principal explodes.
With pressure from the drug cartel, the two thugs are reinstated, and Míriam learns that they have Justin in their sights. When Justin refuses to believe her warnings, she calls on her experience with men to try to seduce him.
Justin rejects her advances and her only resort is to sacrifice herself by insulting the two heavies, resulting in her murder.
Justin witnesses the brutal deed and will testify, prompting the cartel to plan his assassination.
His drug capo friend and the sheriff come together to try to save him.
Will they be successful?
No comments have been added yet.
