Au Pair Report

by Kelly Hand

As a work-from-home counselor for Everywhere Au Pair, Liza Hart is a hand-holder and problem-solver for au pairs from around the world and their Washington, DC host families—struggling to do her job while meeting the needs of her toddler daughter and her mentally ill mother. In the sweltering summer of 2010, one host mother’s presidential aspirations bring chaos into Liza’s life. Carolyn Quiver, a California Senator who dreams of winning the Republican nomination for president in 2012, has au pair problems—and her problems become Liza’s problems. As Quiver embarks upon a pre-campaign “exploratory stage,” the senator and her husband find their au pair problems getting in the way of their ambitions. It takes a series of crises with devastating consequences for both Liza and the Quivers, but Liza finds a way to liberate herself and to highlight the issue of child care to the Democrats laying the groundwork for the 2012 election.

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 2012

Reviews

[David Abramson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelly Hand's Au Pair Report is a finely crafted novel about a mother balancing a job in the field of childcare management set in Washington DC in the age of power couples. Its main character, Liza, struggles to balance the demands of raising a toddler and managing a mentally ill mother (who often acts like a child) with her job counseling au pairs and host families. I am struck by the skill with which Hand's writing shifts between the present and past without losing momentum in the narrative's development. Both humorous and humanizing, Au Pair Report is not light-weight chick lit. Rather, Hand ponders the biological and environmental causes of Liza's mother's mental illness, including inadequate societal responses to it, and its potential to resurface in her or her daughter. Hand thoughtfully treats the culture of mental illness as a metaphor for the uncertainties, doubts, and feelings of guilt that afflict modern work-family life without making any reductionist claims about a sick society. She accomplishes this by taking the reader on a very accessible journey of both profound self-questioning and hope-inspiring social criticism. Au Pair Report transcends being a story about mundane neuroses by touching on religion, politics, and, of course child-rearing. I would venture to say Au Pair Report presents us with a model for literary social critique in contemporary turn-of-the-21st-century American fiction.

[Deborah Brasket · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel lifts the curtain on the world of au pair childcare, while showing what it means to be a young, conscientious and angst-ridden mother in a fast-paced, career-oriented society.

How do you juggle working from home and caring for a strong-willed toddler at the same time? How do you sort through conflicting theories about raising healthy children when you worry your child may have inherited your mother's bi-polar tendencies? How do you support and nurture the young au pairs under your care who are so far from home, so needy, and who come to the United States with so many different temperaments and agendas? How do you help a mother struggling with suicidal tendencies, when you've barely had time to work through your own conflicting emotions toward her and the traumas she caused growing up?

While Liza's strong liberal opinions may be discomforting for some conservative readers, they seem wholly in character for someone living and working in Washington DC, where partisan politics is so strong and personal.

This novel is both humorous and heart-breaking at times, and beautifully written with strong, finely drawn characters. Its fast-paced (and sometimes meandering) plot both entertains and enlightens.

One of the things I liked most is how it throws a bright light on the lack of adequate childcare options for middle class families. It makes you realize how important quality childcare is to our society, yet how little comprehensive attention this issue is getting from our legislators or the media.

I highly recommend this intelligent, funny, and thought provoking e-book.

[Jack Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Au Pair Report is a fast-paced and exciting read that offers a glimpse into the heroic and mundane aspects of living and working in Washington, DC. But it is also a snap-shot of this moment in time and Hand's characters, who have timeless narratives, are all creatures of their early 21st century urban progressive moment. You can almost taste the kale. This book is of particular interest for readers with a family history of mental illness. Like many of us, the heroine has access to her mother's mental health history and is constantly taking quick self surveys to check for tell-tale signs of oncoming mental illness. This self-awareness is what illuminates the main character and makes her observations of herself and her peers so humorous and spot-on. The Au Pair Report also shines some light on the au pair industry and its parallels to traditional power structures in Washington, DC. Its a good beach read but there's a lot of heft between the plot lines.

I am anxious to read more from Kelly Hand.

[Linda Kovic-Skow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an absorbing story about an obscure subject namely, au pairs in the United States. The main character, Liza, has the challenging job of placing and assisting these women in and around Washington D.C. She's also trying to raise a precocious toddler. Politics, motherhood and everyday life are explored in an easy to read style. I think this book would be especially appealing to anyone considering a job as a nanny or au pair.

[Kayla Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recieved this book from Goodreads for a giveaway for a Honest review. First i would like to say that this is my own personal opinion.I do not wish to give anyone a negative view of this book.I hate to give anyone harsh critcism but i am being honest. To me this book was like peeling an onion.I was hopeful that through all efforts to continue to read would payoff. Sadly i was ready to get over with this book.The book has a good concept about the fast pace of business and goverment along with mother's trying to juggle work along with childcare. I really respect the extend point of view of the main character. I really feel like this book was dragged out way more than needed which made it rather boring to me.I do love the happy ending.I was relieved to see that Carolyn got what she deserved. I think this book is just not per se my cup of tea. I still am thankful to have been the opportunity to read it.

[RACHEL · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Au Pair Report” gives readers a look into this variety of exchange program. Also, with placement in the DC area we see inside the household of one high powered senator. The different cultures of the au pairs along with varied US households make for fascinating interactions. Kelly Hand has given readers a study of how we live our lives and the choices families give us.

My copy came through Goodreads First Reads.