Exit Tickets

"A powerful, realistic portrayal of life in the American public education system."—Editor's Pick, Publishers Weekly

"A masterful tapestry of strife and resiliency."—Kirkus Reviews

There's never been a school year like the one at P.S. 961...

It's 2007 in New York City, and the well-meaning Mr. J, a newly arrived teacher still mourning the loss of his sister, latches onto a vulnerable student. Kandra, a bright but troubled girl, pushes boundaries to the limit in pursuit of a brazen intimacy with her teacher, risking far more than failing grades in a school filled with emotionally disturbed teenagers.

Mr. J struggles to help Kandra and his other students amidst an environment where volatility is rampant, but he finds limited support among the colleagues who should be able to help the most. Mr. Cody, the principal, is on the brink of retirement and only intermittently engaged, much to the school's detriment. And Shirley, a dedicated veteran teacher, knows a reckoning looms but can do little to prevent it.

As fierce as it is heartbreaking, Exit Tickets, told from multiple points of view, lays bare the dreams and struggles, sacrifices and heroism of its characters.