Mom of the Year

by Denise Pischinger

An over-the-top fun yet poignant story about mother-daughter relationships and the world of school volunteerism. You'll laugh, cry and phone a friend about Mom of the Year--the debut title from the new genre of fiction, Script Lit, featuring eBook novellas adapted from Hollywood's best unproduced screenplays. Janie Parker rules the school at Parkside Elementary, though she’s not even a student. She’s a volunteer room mother, tirelessly pouring her blood, sweat and tears into every perfect detail of every party and project for her daughter’s class. And she does it all for…GASP…the glory. Her over-the-top antics alienate her daughter, Kelsey, who is nothing like her mother. So when Janie’s husband, Greg, announces the family must relocate to Houston in the middle of the school year, Kelsey sees the opportunity to start over. Janie, however, sees the end of her legacy as the most fabulous, glorified volunteer in the history of public schools. As if that isn't horrifying enough, the family’s move to Houston forces Janie to live in the same town as her own mother, Helen, whom she despises. When they arrive at Kelsey’s new school, Bear Branch Elementary, Janie discovers some silver lining – their new school district annually crowns a “Mom of the Year.” Janie soon meets her match in Lanette Middleton, the class room mother and reigning Mom of the Year. Lanette makes it clear there is no room for Janie at Bear Branch. After one too many insults, Janie fights back...and the competition is ON!

Genres: Fiction, Humor

136 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2013

Reviews

[FMABookReviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really hate to give this 3 stars because the writing was great, and the idea was good too. But the book dragged for me. It seems the author could have cut out a couple of scenes because they became redundant and I got the point the author was trying to make early on. There was no need continuing with the story without a major shake-up.

This was a story common to all of us. We all know the main character or we are her. Whether it be the sports dad who lives through his child and pushes him to succeed, or in this case, the mom who overcompensates for what she felt she lacked in her childhood by volunteering to the extreme.

I am a professed "volunteer addict" I can't say no. So, on many levels, I could relate with this mom. I laughed with her and cried for her child.

For the most part, we all want to do what's best for our children. Unfortunately, as is the story in this book, we sometimes to loose sight of what's important. Or should I say, WHO'S important.

"This award is for the kids."

This is labeled as a new genre, "Scrip Lit": n. The new genre of fiction featuring eBook novellas adapted from Hollywood's best unproduced screenplays. It is an interesting concept. This did read as a movie. I could certainly visualize this being on the big screen. As I researched this, I found one other such book. I would not rule out reading this genre in the future.

***I was given a copy by NetGalley and SL eBooks for an honest review***

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, fun, easy read! I laughed, got teary, and enjoyed every minute. :)

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and clever told story. Don't want to turn into that mom!!!!

[Carissa Peck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reading statistics about how few people read books after after high school, and I thought to myself. Gosh! I mean even when I am reading absolute nonsense I READ!

My students and I talked about it and they wanted to know what the last book I read was, I had to admit it was this one, "It was one of those books where with the first 5 pages you know EXACTLY what will happen."

Super predictable, Decently written, and overall just plain fun. This is a guilty pleasure book I think many people will enjoy devouring.

[Sandy Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Script Lit

This script lit was cute. It was annoying at times, which made it more realistic. It made me think of the Texas Cheerleader murder, but without the murder. Some parents do get so caught up in being "the best" that they forget they are doing it for the kids, not themselves.

The ending was absolutely perfect!

[Debra Barstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book, fast easy read.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review

Mom of the Year by Denise Pischinger is a short, fun read under a new genre called Script Lit. I was honestly curious as to what this type of genre entails, and once I read why the genre was created, I could see how this novella could have been a movie. It read like a movie the entire way through, but I don’t believe it would have done well as one. I think this story works better in its written format, and I enjoyed reading this novella a lot.


Mom of the Year follows Janie Parker, Class Mom Extraordinaire, and her family. Her husband Greg, a chef at a local, failing Dallas restaurant, is given reigns to the better off Houston branch. He uproots his family, and now Janie is forced from #1 Class Mom to the bottom of the barrel at her daughter’s new school district. Her daughter, Kelsey, couldn’t be any happier for this change.

The Top Mom at Bear Branch Elementary School is also the HISD Mom of the Year, Lanette Middleton. Janie sees Mom of the Year as a type of recognition she must have.

Janie strives for that title throughout the novella, normally at the expense of her family, and almost ruins her marriage, but she feels like it’s the only way for her to succeed.

On Janie’s journey to win Mom of the Year, she is given a class mother to help her with all of her events, and boy is Sherrie NOT what Janie needs, if she hopes to win. Sherrie Pixler is nothing like Janie. Janie’s well groomed and ambitious, Sherrie’s wild and easygoing. She does the class mom thing for her kid, whereas Janie really does it for herself.


There are several interesting subplots in Mom of the Year, including Janie’s dysfunctional relationship with her own mother. As the reader, I get why Janie is the way she is, because of her mom, but I still think that at 35, she should have made amends with her mommy issues.


I disliked Janie 90% of the time in this novella. To me, she’s not a likable character until the end of the book. I didn’t feel sorry for her, only for her family, and even though I really didn’t like Lanette, I didn’t want Janie to win either. They turned something that is supposed to be fun for the classroom into a competition that should have embarrassed the school district, if the principal or anyone in charge had checked up on these overly ambitious mothers.


But, just like in any good movie, there’s a phenomenal ending to this feel good story.

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are times when your parent just doesn't realize how their behaviour in public or in general can impact your life, as a child or even as an adult.Especially when your mother comes out with quips like ‘That thing looked like an anteater’ when talking about the crown jewels of some poor unsuspecting male. Then again that probably is the kind of thing my mother would say.’Sigh’

I feel for Janie, who has become the over-compensating mother, because her own was never present during her school years. The type that feels they have to attend every performance, every parent’s evening, be head of the PTA and be a shadow to their child during their time at school.
In this case Janie is so worried about being the most awesome parent that she forgets to be a mother to her child. She ends up doing the same thing to her child, as her own mother once did and has no idea she is doing it.
The story is fresh, comes with a lot of difficult home truths and filled with characters I am sure we can all identify with. It is food for thought wrapped in the guise of a quick fun read.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first things I downloaded onto my Kindle - mainly because it was free on promotion. It's a dramedy written for women of a certain age who have lived through the tortures of being a soccer mom, but I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed it, even being none of those things. Now, would I ever read it a second time? Probably not. But if you have nothing better to read, or if you just have a few hours for a light, breezy read, this will do.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice little read about mom's who get caught up in "helping" their children and their teachers. Kelsey's mom, Janie, is so involved in being room mom that she overlooks Kelsey herself. When they move to a new home she has some major competition from Preston's mom Lynette. The children are the ones who have to straighten out their moms. Not a long story but packed with laughs and feel good characters.

[Meredith Spidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun! The setting was just too relatable, and it was a delight to see the worst of what "being an involved mom" can spiral into. I eagerly snuck in a few pages in the pick-up line or after kids were in bed, and found myself delighting in all the perfect chaos Mom of the Year had to offer. Would love to read more by this author!

[Heatherly Hardin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious! This delightful story sheds light on the very real and current problem of over-involved moms who focus more on outdoing each other than enjoying their children. Full of outrageous and silly adventures, Pischinger offers insight that benefits us all.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this book, I thought I was going to have to go through the book and smack someone in the head. I loved the way the story turned, though, and by the end, I wanted to be friends with the "Mom of the Year."

[Lapisch26 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book!Can't believe my mom wrote it!Love the first chapter!

[Debbie Hendrix · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know moms like Janie and Lanette!!! Fun and fast read. We all want to be the best mom.

[Heather Loomis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and believable! Entertaining read.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book! Once I read the first chapter I was in love! It was a great book to read and I would love to read this book to my kids when they are older.