The Test

by John Lansing

The Test is a coming of age tale, set on Long Island in 1963 that deals with race, violence, social politics, and young love.

29 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2014

About the author

John Lansing is the author of six thrillers featuring Jack Bertolino—The Devil’s Necktie, Blond Cargo, Dead Is Dead, The Fourth Gunman, 25 To Life, and Mia, the prequel—as well as the true-crime non-fiction book Good Cop Bad Money, written with former NYPD Inspector Glen Morisano. Embedded is John’s first thriller in the Dakota Judd series. He’s been a writer and supervising producer on network television, and the co-executive producer of the ABC series Scoundrels, and co-wrote two MOWs for CBS.
The Devil’s Necktie is in development at Andria Litto’s Amuse Entertainment, with Barbara DeFina attached as a producer.

A native of Long Island, John now resides in Los Angeles. Find out more at www.johnlansing.com

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Test by author John Lansing is a wonderful coming-of-age short story that transports the reader back to 1963 in Baldwin, Long Island, where they follow fourteen year old Jack Morgan as he falls for Vida, a pretty African American girl whose family has just moved into town, and their relationship stirs up racial tension among the community ... just as the country is on the cusp of a tumultuous period of time that will ultimately bring social and political changes.

Written in the first person narrative, Jack Morgan is now an adult who travels back to his hometown of Baldwin, Long Island, to settle his parents' estate and finalize the sale of their house. As Jack sits in the driveway of his childhood home, he is usually not one to dwell on his past, but he can't help but take a stroll down memory lane to a November night in 1963 when he attends a weekend dance and asks Vida, a pretty African-Amercian girl who he has an innocent crush on to dance, setting off a controversy over young love against current societal beliefs, racial prejudice and tensions.

The Test is a poignant tale that easily draws the reader into Jack and Vida's story. Author John Lansing weaves a true-to-life short story that is written in a richly descriptive style that transports the reader back to a time period where the country was on the cusp of a change in the social, racial, and political climate. The author realistically captured the essence of that tumultuous period in time, and interwove it with a touching teenage love story that will have the reader experiencing the gamut of emotions. I found myself so captivated with the brief glimpse into Jack and Vida's story, that when I got to the very surprising conclusion, it left me wanting more!

The Test is a beautifully written coming-of-age short story that is full of emotion and drama, it will take the reader for a stroll down memory lane, stir the soul, and leave a lasting impression.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Providence Book Promotions.

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[Linda Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant coming-of-age tale about a teenaged boy growing up in Long Island who is confronted with the ugly truth about race prejudice. Written in a style that brings the area, the era and its people to life. A must-read for fans of Lansing's work and a strongly suggested read for those yet to familiarize themselves with this talented author.

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Morgan returns, for what he knows will be the last time, to Baldwin, Long Island in order to settle his parents’ affairs. He felt indifferent about the sale of his boyhood home until he found himself parked outside. Looking at the house unleashed the floodgates of memories and emotions, taking him back to 1963 when he was a boy of fourteen in a completely different social and racial climate.

Jack and his two best friends, Gene and Greg, are sprucing up and getting little buzzed on beer before heading to the dance hall. The evocative atmosphere is captured perfectly and is so relatable. Having the pre dance drinks for dutch courage, only in our case it was cider – yuck! Even after all this time I still can’t so much as think of drinking the stuff. The groups of boys and girls separated by the width of the room, the music and the coloured lights. After a couple of false starts Jack gets to dance with the girl of his dreams. Only it’s anything but straightforward.

A touching teenage love, described with feeling and emotion, which could never be realised without probable tragic consequences. But, above all else, this is a poignant and disturbing reminder of the social conflict of the time. Racial prejudice was prevalent in most communities and was a major factor for a large number of people. When the first black family arrives in Baldwin the event is viewed with mounting dismay and anxiety by the towns’ residents. As Jack finds out to his cost.

For all this is short there’s a lot of story going on. The writing is distinct and expressive and has a truly authentic feel. Real people, real situations. And the ending! I hurt for Jack. He has never found lasting happiness, the fact he has three ex-wives is indicative, and it would be so sad if the reason was an unrequited first love, especially given the circumstances. A very emotive story told exceptionally well and that leaves a lasting impression.

[Gina Hott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hott Review:
John sent me this book to ask if I thought if would work for a tour at Partners in Crime. It’s not something I’d normally read but since I like him I decided to try it out.
What I liked: It was tremendously interesting to me to “see” how different but how alike things were in the 1960s as opposed to when I was fourteen and now. I felt like I was fully anticipating the dance and it’s wonder and horrors as it was depicted.
What I didn’t like: Honestly, the only thing I didn’t like was the foul language. It doesn’t permeate the book but it’s there.

More…
Author: John Lansing
Source: John Lansing
Grade: B+
Ages: 16+
Steam: None, but the language is colorful.
Setting: 1963 Long Island, NY

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully crafted story that brought me to tears.

[Vani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man returns to his hometown in Long Island to hand over the keys to his parents' place to its new owners. The story then flashes back to November 1963, when he was 14.

[Gordon Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS NOTHING LESS THAN A POLISHED GEM!

The Test is unique coming of age love story, seemingly ripped from today’s headlines, but it takes place over fifty years ago. Lansing deftly transports us back to a time when life was still black and white, with not many shades of grey.

Given the prevailing attitudes you’d think we were in the deep South, but we’re in recently integrated 1963 Long Island, where salt and pepper relationships are still scowled upon, by those on both sides of the racial divide.

The Test is the story of Jack Morgan, a white teenager who is magnetically attracted to Vida, a black girl, wiser than her years and well aware of the gulf which separates them.

Severe consequences ensue as they dare to step across the line and into each other’s arms. Lansing grabs you by the heart and twists your guts as he takes you on their star crossed journey. Will they make it? Or will the cultural norms of the day lead to a tragic ending?

I couldn’t help reading The Test without the irony of today’s news playing out in my mind, once again sadly reenforcing the notion that the more things change the more they stay the same.

“The Test” is a great read which goes by way too fast, and left me wanting more. Fortunately, John Lansing is a prolific author, with two best selling novels under his belt, so I know there’s certainly more to come.

[Diane Coto · Rating 5 out of 5]

In some respects, The Test was a nostalgic walk down memory lane. “… in the early 60’s we had garbage men and not sanitation workers. Some of the upper-middle-class kids had maids, not housekeepers. Janitors were janitors and not maintenance men.” But this was not a good time for all. In the present time, Jack Morgan needs to sell his parents’ home. He remembers back to when he was fourteen in 1963. Blacks were free, of course, in 1963, but they were still not treated equally. The Baldwin, NY community was a bit upset about the black family that moved in, but Jack was intrigued about their daughter, Vida. He thought she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. At the school dance, he asked her to dance with him; the band was playing a slow version of Telstar by the Venturas. They began seeing each other, but both Jack and Vida were rebuffed by their friends and parents who told them they needed to stop.

For being such a short book (29 pp) the character development and background was wonderfully done. However, it did end rather abruptly leaving the reader wishing for more. Overall, it is a very enjoyable historical fiction and traumatic love story with racial prejudice forcing them to grow up and face harsh realities. Rating 4.5 out of 5.

[Bob Marinaccio · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Test is a beautiful short story by John Lansing that took me back in time to my high school years – over-flowing with teen testosterone, reeking of Old Spice, and thinking I had the world by the balls. Lansing draws a very realistic picture of the period but tells it from the present.

Young Jack falls head over heels for a beautiful young black girl who had just moved into the neighborhood – the first black family in this Italian and Irish Long Island suburb. To quote my Yiddish grandma, “Oy.” This is the early 60s, and the suburbs were not quite ready for “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” These two kids are in for a whole lot of rejection and hurt. Parents, friends, and neighbors all had raised eyebrows and ultimatums.

How the story unfolds and resolves itself is the beauty of the piece. Lansing is a master of pithy dialogue and the ending will put a smile on your face. The Test is a great short story.