Carpe Diem, Illinois

Leo Townsend #1

by Kristin A. Oakley

For decades, the small town of Carpe Diem, Illinois has quietly unschooled its children, eschewing tests and classrooms for real-life experiences. Now, long-smoldering political feuds and deep personal secrets threaten to explode. When her mother is hospitalized in Carpe Diem after an auto accident, teenager Tali Shaw, the daughter of a powerful state senator, finds herself at the heart of a vicious conspiracy to bring Carpe Diem down. Can prize-winning Chicago Examiner reporter Leo Townsend overcome his own demons and expose those behind the scheme before it's too late? And when the truth is finally revealed, can Carpe Diem ever be the same? Carpe Diem, Illinois is the winner of the 2014 Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year Award for non-traditionally published fiction.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary

285 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2014

About the author

Years ago, Kristin A. Oakley wrote “The Bomb,” a flash fiction piece about a character named Paul. At the time, she was also working on the third book in the award-winning Leo Townsend series, but Paul couldn’t be ignored, so Leo had to wait. That 900-word story turned into The Devil Particle Series.

Kristin’s young adult dystopian series, The Devil Particle, is a Kirkus Review Recommended Read and has received 5-star reviews from both Readers’ Favorite and Reader Views. The second book in the series, The Vessel, has also received a 5-star review from Readers’ Favorite. The Runner, book three in the series, will be released in 2024.

In addition to creating Paul and Leo’s stories, Kristin reviews books and writes about being a novelist in her bi-monthly newsletter, available at kristinoakley.net. She lives in the Milwaukee area and likes to hang out in coffee shops, writing characters into impossible situations.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s been forever and a day since I’ve completed a one star book for obvious reasons. There’s simply not enough time on this planet for me to forge through a 300 page cement mixer. By virtue of completion, Kristin Oakley did her job. She captivated my attention long enough to convince me to see it through. Honestly, this book tires me out, and if you want a review free of assessor’s bias, then move on, because this simply won’t meet your needs. The premise of the book centers around a small fictitious town in Northern Illinois, founded on the principle that children learn best by immersing themselves in the process of whatever it is they want to learn. You want to learn how to cook? Start experimenting with recipes. Don’t read silly safety manuals or listen to lectures from experts. You want to learn about Shakespeare? Don’t bother reading the boring 16th C. English playwright and discussing the language. Produce and star in your own production of a Shakespearean tragedy. Enter Leo Townsend, a reporter down to his last chance with a major Chicago newspaper. Down and out, his editor sends him to Carpe Diem to cover the town and its philosophy of “unschooling.” Being a reporter, he is skeptical at worst and inquisitive at best about this eccentric town but finds out that it intrigues him beyond his expectations. A novel wouldn’t be a novel without some drama mind you, so politics of course enter the picture. The town is the center of a few antagonist’s agenda to abolish homeschooling for personal reasons mostly as the story unfolds, but it seems a stretch to martyr the whole town of roughly 3000 because of the political aspirations of a couple of seemingly powerful state politicians. By the book’s own admission, the town only grew to that population over the course of 30 years or so, so it’s not like the “unschooling” movement was a burgeoning firestorm of educational reform. In any case, the author, a WI resident took unabashed liberties to trash public education, particularly Illinois public education, in this novel in order to promote “unschooling” which she openly admits to having had success in effectively using with her two daughters in the after notes of the novel. Fine. I have no innate problems with homeschooling or “unschooling” for that matter. What I do have issues with are wholesale mischaracterizations of any type of education being good or bad. Clearly, this author had either a problem with public education or Illinois public education. Or both. Sample A: (on reading) “It probably wouldn’t be unusual elsewhere if schools simply fostered the love of reading like we did...schools look at reading as a task children have to learn at a certain age...they break the written word into what they consider digestible parts and then force-feed the kids those parts before they’re allowed to put them together. By the time the kids figure it out, reading is a boring chore.” This is ridiculous. The assumption that every school approaches reading in the same manner is mendacious. Public schools have book talks, book fairs, author visits, technology designed reading strategies that I’ve seen my own children use and are thoroughly engaging and more. Sample B: “Pursuing our passions, unschooling, is ultimately, what we all would like to do. But because of schooling, we assume we don’t have the luxury. Public institutions can’t or won’t allow children to unschool because of their...constraining rules and pointless regulations. The years of forced study have taught us that learning is unpleasant and only happens in the classroom. Once we escape from this system, via graduation, job responsibilities and family supersede the pursuit of passions.” The pursuit of passions is up to the learner and their family, not constrained by the public school in the least. I too live in an intentional community, and the list of things the children of the community, who attend public school, have been able to do or assist with, is numerous: construct a tree house, plan and design meals, design boats for a rain gutter regatta, plant and cultivate gardens, learn new instruments, fire a kiln and create pottery, build working models out of wood, assist in glassblowing techniques, create a mural out of glass, design and host a talent show, raise domesticated animals such as chickens, practice techniques in such things as archery, cultivating and studying types of trees, etc. The options are not limited because one goes to public school. True, public school is not for everyone. But the accommodations that public school makes to open its doors for all types of learners, and still bear the brunt of unfounded criticism under the umbrella of “one is bad, all are bad” is an obtuse and narrow-minded vision to begin a novel with no matter what your experience. The scene at the end, where the town was trying to celebrate its Fall Festival, and protestors identified as members of the Illinois Teacher’s Union started a riot was a rotten cherry on the top of this 💩 sundae. Oakley had the gall to describe a scenario where teachers were actually physical and verbal aggressors in a peaceful town parade completely out of context of anything that had happened previously in the book. In a profession dominated almost entirely by women (roughly 76%), and the likeliest scenario of protest for teachers being their own contracts, this was a direct shot at Illinois Public Schools and their Union. Just despicable. Again, the only reason for the two stars was because I finished it and she got me to do that. I changed my mind. I reread this and I am going back to one star.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decently well written political drama with a particular interest in issues with the education system.

[Sheila Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homeschooling, or, as it's called in Oakley's novel, CARPE DIEM, ILLINOIS, unschooling, is the central issue that consumes the characters and drives the plot of this entertaining story.

Beginning with a suspicious traffic "accident," the story unfolds quickly, and soon readers are immersed in the unusual life of those who live in the small, Illinois town of Carpe Diem where there are no schools at all. The author, through her characters' dialog, makes it quite clear that "unschooling" is not the normal type of homeschooling. Children in Carpe Diem are free to grow and learn from the world around them, in a natural manner similar to the way toddlers learn to toddle and to talk.

The book's central character, Leo Townsend,is a reporter from Chicago who is assigned to write a story about this strange town. He soon finds himself in the middle of a mess of politics and criminal activities that threaten to drag him down even further than he's already sunk when the novel begins.

Much of the plot's forward momentum is carried in the dialog, lending a screenplay feel to the story. This is a four-star read for teenagers and adults who are curious about alternative education, small towns, and Illinois politics. The author shows potential, and it'll be interesting to see what she chooses for her reporter character's next assignment.

[Caryl Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a longtime fan of John Dewey and the progressive education movement as well as the revival of progressive educational experiments in the 60s and early to mid-70s. I visited an American Summerhill on an island outside Minneapolis, subscribed to periodicals like This Magazine Is About Schools, read Holt and Freire, and, with my partner, tried to start an experimental college. We wanted to create the Aldo Leopoldo School of Environmental Policy Studies in our big barn! .
I didn't know much about home schooling then but I was all for small group education. I hadn't ever heard of unschooling then but am downright ecstatic to know about it. It is brilliantly explored and explained in Carpe Diem Illinois. I am grateful to this book for bringing back to the realm of at least modest public discourse the idea of exploration as the purpose of education .. Of life, really. The story is fine, the characters worth knowing, the writing competent and sometimes wonderful. Thank you,

Kristin Oakley.

[Chris Norbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unschooling is a new concept for me so I was fascinated by the topic. I felt Ms. Oakley presented the pros and cons of unschooling in a balanced, non-preachy manner, which to me is tough to do as an author. I thought her teen characters were believable and unique, although the unschooled kids seemed almost too good to be true. Surely there must be a few unschooled kids who abuse the system and waste their unsupervised time with video games, hanging out, or "getting into trouble."

Leo Townsend has potential as a main character, but I thought he was sketched rather than fully drawn. I never quite got a feel for where he's coming from, how serious his drinking and agoraphobia problems are, etc. I expect he'll be fleshed out in future books.

A very good debut novel. Congratulations, Ms. Oakley.

[Laura Hassebrock · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book about homeschooling (or unschooling, as it's referred to in this book), it was surprisingly very intriguing. Leo Townsend, a journalist practically on the brink of being fired, is sent to investigate a town called Carpe Diem, where there are no physical schools and the community subscribes to unschooling. Meanwhile, a bill in the senate is being introduced that would end homeschooling of any form. The shady politics in this book are thrilling, and I found myself unable to put this one down much. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

[Aydin Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roaming through a used bookstore, Carpe Diem, Illinois caught my eye (mainly cause of the weird title). Upon reading the short blurb, my interest grew. A novel about political corruption in Illinois and also unschooling is an eclectic mix to say the least. And then I read the bio: Kristin Oakley has unschooled both of her own children and founded two homeschooling groups, so I knew I was in for a treat with this book no matter what. And there is a lot that happens in this book. The main details are that Carpe Diem is a 3000 person town where everyone unschools their kids, and a journalist named Leo Townsend from Chicago is sent by the federal government (indirectly) to report on them.

Some interesting / entertaining things that happened in the book:
- Leo considers taking the blue line instead of walking four blocks for some reason - why is this even in the book
- Also since he’s from Chicago, he loves deep dish pizza and brings it up multiple times
- A 16 year old girl from out of town shows up and unironically is surprised that you can learn from things besides tests and homework
- For some reason this girl has both a phone, and an iPod which she exclusively uses to listen to early 2000s music
- The main character who is not a mechanic notices that a motorbike has been tampered with while the apparently licensed 15 year old mechanic did not
- An insane theory presented by one of the unschooled children that if schools did not exist there would be no bullies
- The line “This diner puts most four star Chicago restaurants to shame” - four stars is not the highest rating why would you say this
- “You’ll need to learn history, geometry, chemistry” - “All three of those can be covered simply by studying one subject like auto mechanics”
- The book is honestly a little too anti public education / teachers unions
- The main villain organizes a mob of unionized teachers to take over the town during its big festival and the unschooled children stop it by locking arms and singing America (My country ’Tis of Thee)

Do I agree with this books arguments in support of unschooling? No
Do I think unschooling could work outside of this one town where every child is unschooled no child is lazy, and there is somehow a perfect mentor for all of the children’s interests? Also no
Did I have a great time reading the book? Yes!

For all of the books faults (I haven’t really talked about the ridiculous plot), I was thoroughly entertained throughout and looking up a lot of stuff about homeschooling, like how they get into colleges at all (they can just make up transcripts?). Carpe Diem, Illinois was a great way to spend a few hours laughing along/at a book and not one I would recommend to everyone, but if you like these kinds of reading experiences you’ll probably love it.

[Linda Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when one begins to believe that investigative journalism has been relegated to history in favor of likes and tweets, along comes a novel so realistic it encourages the reader to once again have hope. Such is Kristin Oakley’s Carpe Diem Illinois. This novel is riveting in its plot, characters and small town setting. Leo Townsend is a flawed human being for sure, but little by little those life circumstances that have made him this way come to life. And as they do, you begin to see the strength, determination and integrity of this man. I knew nothing of unschooling when I opened this book, and by the time I reached the last page, I wish I had been given the opportunity to learn in an unschool environment. What a refreshing thought ��� let kids learn what they want to learn and in a manner that is best suited to them, rather than being force-fed facts and figures that will become irrelevant as soon as they are regurgitated for a test or two. I am eager to see what Oakley comes up with next for Leo. She writing is flawless and while the subject is pretty heavy, her debut novel is very easy to read.

[Larry F. Sommers · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the process of investigating a small town built around home schooling, dashing-but-troubled reporter Leo Townsend finds himself also investigating a suspicious auto crash. The lives and fortunes of the town’s residents—particularly its young, “unschooled” citizens—hang in the balance. There are lots of thrills and twists, and along the way we learn about the philosophy known as “unschooling,” a form of education in which “the children determine what they need to learn, when they will learn it, and how they go about it.”
The book is well-written and moves at a brisk pace. The reader winds up cheering not only for Leo Townsend but also for various teen and adult denizens of Carpe Diem. If you like to examine important social and educational issues in context of suspense and high drama, you’ll enjoy Carpe Diem, Illinois.

[Brent Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously, the author of this story supports unschooling, but the story doesn't suffer many of the problems that you see with stories written simply to make a statement. First, the statement story, you might call it the main plot, it's not the only storytaking place. It doesn't occur in a vacuum. There are interpersonal relationships to think about. This flesh is out the characters and makes them three-dimensional.


We don't just learn about the perfect innocent sweet unschoolers and their innocent well-behaved children being beaten up by the big government bully, that's only one part of this story. There's also a murder, and apparently another murder, a lady with a vendetta, and yes, government corruption. Some of the characters did seem a little bit too dimensional, but they didn't take over the story and ruin it for me. This story captured and kept my attention.

[Phyllis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book clearly supports unschooling as the best education for American children. As a public elementary school teacher, I would have to disagree with the author. I think that the things that the children in the book are allowed to pursue are important as a supplement to a structured school setting. In my opinion, not all children or their parents could handle the freedom of being unschooled.
The mystery/crime/extramarital affairs/sociopolitical/journalism part of the book was ok--a little confusing and longwinded at times.

[Violeta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aside from being an interesting mystery, this book also opened my eyes to homeschooling and no-schooling. I didn't know much about either of those subjects, but now from reading this book I feel I know more and have seen a different perspective. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series, and getting to know the flawed but lovable Leo Townsend better.

[Mary Beth Bretzlauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a great read! This book has everything a reader wants - a flawed protagonist with a tenuous hold on his job, a small town that doesn't quite ring true, and political intrigue. It also educates the reader on aspects of life most of us aren't familiar. I'm looking forward to book two, "God on Mayhem Street".

[Valerie Biel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristin A. Oakley pens an incredibly interesting suspense novel that has you guessing who is behind all the shenanigans shaking up the unsuspecting town of Carpe Diem, Illinois. The characters are well-developed with layers that she expertly peels back as the story unfolds.

[Charlene Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excepetional story and book! The writing, the pacing, the characters...joy! I couldn't put this book down. The audio version is fantastic by Robert Doyle. Great character voices, so varied. And he carried them flawlessly over to the 2nd book.

[Jen Holman-Dodds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read about unschooling in fiction, but where the book dispels the myth that unschoolers don’t learn how to read until they are teenagers, it might start a new myth that unschoolers don’t believe in copy editing.

[Kgparkhurst Parkhurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly good but dragged on.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! Kristin Oakley created such a great story filed with suspense and mystery, it was addicting and I got through it really quickly because I couldn't put it down.

The entire concept of the story surrounds Carpe Diem, a town whose children are "unschooled". Now I've heard of homeschooling, but before this book I'd never heard of the term unschooling. I totally learned something new reading this book, and I loved it! The plot was fast paced and interesting, the characters were amazing and very detailed, and the whole explanation of unschooling throughout the book really sold me on the concept and I'd love to read up more on it. There were some great twists and turns throughout that I didn't see coming, and a few I did. It kept me on my toes and in some parts made me anxious to see what would happen on the next page. It was just an all around great read.

I loved the characters in this book. I think my favorite character was Quinn. She was quirky, and interesting, and I loved the relationship she built with Tali and Leo. Leo was a great character. He's a journalist after a story, but he realizes that he loves the town and people of Carpe Diem and will do whatever it takes to help them out. Tali was great too. All around there were just some amazing main and secondary characters in this story, and that is one of the biggest things I look at in books, my connection to the characters, and this book definitely delivered!

Check out this book, I highly recommend it!

I received a copy of this book from the author.

[Valeria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through the goodreads giveaway in exchange for a review.

Kristin A. Oakley’s new novel Carpe Diem, Illinois (The Leo Townsend Series, #1) starts off slow and steady building up to an explosive ending. The main character, Leo Townsend is a Chicago Examiner investigative journalist who is down on his luck and thrown a dog-bone assignment on unschooling homeschool education by his newspaper editor. Leo’s about to face a shit storm of a conspiracy featuring children, murder, dirty politicians, and teachers in Carpe Diem – a quaint little town with quirky down home folks and great food. Who would of thought there would be such a mystery about homeschooling? I sure didn’t – but I would have to say - I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to the next book in the series. This book was a pleasure to read and you'll want to put it on your summer list of books to read at the beach.

[Teddi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
Very good character portrayal and the plot moves along nicely. It doesnt have a lot of extraneous explanations and information which I appreciate.
I was able to tell who the bad characters were from early on - it was just a matter of seeing how they did what they did.
The only downside was the light gray print which I found strained my eyes and would have preferred it to be darker. Since the copyright page listed it as a limited first edition, maybe it could be made darker in future editions.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kristin brings to the table her credentials as a homeschooling parent of two daughters, a talented story teller and an attorney to weave a twisting turning tale of good versus evil.
Greedy Illinois politicians bar no holds, including murder, to achieve their corrupt goals. Standing in their way is Leo Townsend, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, who's errant ways have earned him probation from the Chicago newspaper employing him.
Kristin's characters leap off he pages at you. Her deft use of body language, facial expression and physical appearance create living beings.

[Alison Large · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads giveaway Winner - thank you!

The story was engaging and moved along at a decent pace. I found the idea of unschooling interesting and was definitely on the side of the townspeople of Carpe Diem. The characters were lightly drawn and more depth would have helped me to engage with the main protagonists as well as their story.

[Jennifer Nowicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book because I was interested in reading stories or a story about homeschooling and what it might look like in different families.

The book was not at all what I expected. But I enjoyed the read and gladly finished it. I cared about the characters I needed to know what happened at the end.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book that I won through Giveaways! Even though it is a work of fiction, I learned a lot about homeschooling and unschooling. The characters are well-rounded and the stories flows well. I look forward to Leo's next adventure,

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this for very personal reasons: when I was homeschooling my children, I subscribed to John Holt's periodical, Growing Without Schooling, and also bought and read all the back issues, so finding a mystery set in an intentional community of unschoolers was an amazing find for me.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast read. Predictable story but a good book with a lot of background on unschooling.

[Mary Lamphere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding debut novel!