The Buddy System

by Michael Middlechurch

Cedric Jefferson, Allie Denard and Taylor Worthington didn’t know what to expect when they arrived in Washington. As pages working on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, they hoped to rub elbows with famous and powerful people, and be a part of a world other teenagers back home could only dream about. For a while, they wouldn’t be disappointed. Yet, a hidden world also awaited them that their young minds could not have envisioned – a vicious world of lawlessness and corruption they never expected to find on the Hill. Before any of them realized it, they would find themselves swallowed up in a universe from which they would be lucky to escape with their lives.

364 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2013

About the author

Novelist Michael Middlechurch began writing after a long career in government and politics. He has served as a staffer in Washington, D.C., both on Capitol Hill and in the Pentagon. In addition to his time in political circles, Middlechurch spent several years as a teacher and administrator in private boarding schools. He currently lives in Richmond, Virginia.

Reviews

[Jennifer Ochoa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from Goodreads giveaways.

Rating: Really 3.5 stars. I found the setting and general themes pretty interesting, knowing nothing about the page program in D.C. Some of the characters were pretty amusing caricatures of those who work in politics and the writing was pretty solid. My only big complaint is that the plot seemed to meander a lot in the first 3/4 of the novel (while I started to wonder where the book was going, it still was entertaining) and then suddenly hit the climax way too late so that it felt rushed and too quickly wrapped-up at the end. I think the climax even would have been better earlier so that the effects of the event could have been explored more. There were a couple things that didn't feel realistic enough, such as Allie's response to an assault and some of Cedric's and Allie's dialogue, but for the most part the characters felt believable otherwise.

[Clare Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really, really great first novel by an up and coming author. The Buddy System is very interesting story that is quite unique. I have never read a book like this before, and I finished it in a very short amount of time. I couldn't put it down! The book explores the inner-workings of DC in a way I haven't previously seen before. It is a must-read if you have any interest in how the American political system works. It shows the fickle nature of DC without ever getting boring.

I like to keep all my reviews well-rounded, so if I had to pick one downside about this book I would say that it is a bit wordy, but it doesn't take long to get used to that -- so don't let that scare you off! Also note that although this book centers around teens, this isn't a young adult novel. So don't expect any sparkling vampires :)

[Julienne Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't finished a book, cover to cover, in a single day in a very very long time. Middlechurch's brilliant story- full of today's favorites: scandal, secrets, and the like- leaves the reader itching to know what is fact and what is fiction. But fact or fiction, The Buddy System lingers in the back of your mind for quite sometime. I cannot wait to see what comes next!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Buddy System is a fun read. Michael Middlechurch has produced an original story with sympathetic characters, some outrageous situations, a few real surprises all using an intelligent and engaging writing style. Definitely worth a read.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. it was well written. the story drew me in and I stayed up late reading. I just hope it was more fiction then fact. the ending was disappointing.

[Hayley Shaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. This was about Pages up on the Hill who ran errands for Congressmen and the trouble they could get into on the side. it was also a book about corruption in Washington.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Let's hope that it really is a work if fiction.