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Exit Tickets: A Novel
“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.
“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.
Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2025
About the author
Kenneth Chanko
2 books18 followersKenneth Chanko's debut novel, "Exit Tickets," eleven years in the works, was inspired by his ten years of teaching in Manhattan and South Bronx public schools. A former entertainment journalist, whose byline has appeared in The New York Times, New York magazine and Entertainment Weekly, Chanko switched careers in his mid-40s to become a New York City public school teacher.
"Exit Tickets" has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as "a powerful, realistic portrayal of life in the American public education system," with the novel being awarded PW's "Editor's Pick" in its December 1st, 2025, issue. And Kirkus Reviews, in its Nov 15 issue, praised it as "a masterful tapestry of strife and resiliency."
Chanko is currently working on a sequel to "Exit Tickets." For more information, visit: www.kennethchanko.com
"Exit Tickets" has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as "a powerful, realistic portrayal of life in the American public education system," with the novel being awarded PW's "Editor's Pick" in its December 1st, 2025, issue. And Kirkus Reviews, in its Nov 15 issue, praised it as "a masterful tapestry of strife and resiliency."
Chanko is currently working on a sequel to "Exit Tickets." For more information, visit: www.kennethchanko.com
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