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The Nine
Hannah Webber fears she will never be a mother, but her prayers are finally answered when she gives birth to a son. In an era of high-stakes parenting, nurturing Sam’s intellect becomes Hannah’s life purpose. She invests body and soul into his development, much to the detriment of her marriage. She convinces herself, however, that Sam’s acceptance at age fourteen to the most prestigious of New England boarding schools overseen by an illustrious headmaster, justifies her choices.
When he arrives at Dunning, Sam is glad to be out from under his mother’s close watch. And he enjoys his newfound freedom―until, late one night, he stumbles upon evidence of sexual misconduct at the school and is unable to shake the discovery.
Both a coming-of-age novel and a portrait of an evolving mother-son relationship, The Nine is the story of a young man who chooses to expose a corrupt world operating under its own set of rules―even if it means jeopardizing his mother’s hopes and dreams.
When he arrives at Dunning, Sam is glad to be out from under his mother’s close watch. And he enjoys his newfound freedom―until, late one night, he stumbles upon evidence of sexual misconduct at the school and is unable to shake the discovery.
Both a coming-of-age novel and a portrait of an evolving mother-son relationship, The Nine is the story of a young man who chooses to expose a corrupt world operating under its own set of rules―even if it means jeopardizing his mother’s hopes and dreams.
328 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2019
83 people are currently reading
3238 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg
4 books156 followersJeanne Blasberg is an award-winning and bestselling author and essayist. Her novel THE NINE (SWP 2019) was honored with the 2019 Foreword Indies Gold Award in Thriller & Suspense and the Gold Medal and Juror’s Choice in the 2019 National Indie Excellence Awards. EDEN (SWP 2017), her debut, won the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Best New Voice in Fiction and was a finalist for the Sarton Women’s Book Award for Historical Fiction. Her forthcoming novel, Daughter of a Promise (SWP, April 2, 2024) is a modern retelling of the legend of David and Bathsheba, completing the thematic trilogy she began with Eden and The Nine.
Jeanne cochairs the board of the Boston Book Festival and serves on the Executive Committee of GrubStreet, one of the country’s preeminent creative writing centers. Jeanne was named a Southampton Writer’s Conference BookEnds Fellow in April 2021. She reviews contemporary fiction for the New York Journal of Books, When not in New England, she splits her time between Park City, UT, and growing organic vegetables in Verona, Wisconsin.
Jeanne cochairs the board of the Boston Book Festival and serves on the Executive Committee of GrubStreet, one of the country’s preeminent creative writing centers. Jeanne was named a Southampton Writer’s Conference BookEnds Fellow in April 2021. She reviews contemporary fiction for the New York Journal of Books, When not in New England, she splits her time between Park City, UT, and growing organic vegetables in Verona, Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
July 25, 2019
Hannah Webber cherishes her only son. She becomes consumed with making sure Sam gets everything he needs, even if it means harming her marriage in the process.
Sam is accepted to a high ranked boarding school, Dunning, and Hannah feels all her hard work and sacrifice has been worth it.
Sam loves the freedom of boarding school and spreads his wings out from under his mother’s watchful eye. In doing so, he finds out about something sinister at the school involving sexual misconduct, and he doesn’t turn the other way.
The Nine is such a special rendering of the mother-son relationship. I’ve not read many books focusing on this specific dynamic. It’s also about Sam coming-of-age and standing up for what’s right, even if he could lose something precious in the process.
Overall, The Nine is a beautifully-written powerful read with complex characters. Hannah wasn’t always easy to like, but she was always easy to understand as a mother looking out for her son.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Sam is accepted to a high ranked boarding school, Dunning, and Hannah feels all her hard work and sacrifice has been worth it.
Sam loves the freedom of boarding school and spreads his wings out from under his mother’s watchful eye. In doing so, he finds out about something sinister at the school involving sexual misconduct, and he doesn’t turn the other way.
The Nine is such a special rendering of the mother-son relationship. I’ve not read many books focusing on this specific dynamic. It’s also about Sam coming-of-age and standing up for what’s right, even if he could lose something precious in the process.
Overall, The Nine is a beautifully-written powerful read with complex characters. Hannah wasn’t always easy to like, but she was always easy to understand as a mother looking out for her son.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
August 7, 2019
Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg has written a compulsive and raw story about The darker side of parenthood. Parenting is the best, most rewarding, toughest, and least appreciated job you will ever have. This book really zooms in on the mother son bond as well as the fallout of helicopter parenting. As a mother of two boys and a girl, I do admit there is a different bond that you share with your boys then you do with your girls. I am not going to say it’s better or worse it’s just kind of different, a boy tugs at your heart strings in a special way. I found Hannah the mother in this book to be a relatable and sympathetic character, even if I did not always agree with her actions. I could also sympathize with Sam, because it would be rough to have a helicopter parent. Having said that though, it is hard to know when to step in and went to step away.
Hannah struggled to become a mother, so when it finally happened she gave her everything to her son. Her ferocious devotion to her boy ultimately destroyed her marriage and lead to her son pulling away. But it was all worth it, because Hannah got Sam into an elite prep school A definite springboard to the Ivy League. The problem is the school is much more sinister and much less safe than Hannah thought. Sam soon finds himself confronting issues of bullying, drugs, and sexual abuse. And Hannah realizes she cannot control everything in her son’s life and protect him forever. A dark somewhat disturbing story that really makes you think about parenting, the teenage years, and social acceptance. Well told taut and tense, a definite must for the TBR!
*** Big thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book ***
Hannah struggled to become a mother, so when it finally happened she gave her everything to her son. Her ferocious devotion to her boy ultimately destroyed her marriage and lead to her son pulling away. But it was all worth it, because Hannah got Sam into an elite prep school A definite springboard to the Ivy League. The problem is the school is much more sinister and much less safe than Hannah thought. Sam soon finds himself confronting issues of bullying, drugs, and sexual abuse. And Hannah realizes she cannot control everything in her son’s life and protect him forever. A dark somewhat disturbing story that really makes you think about parenting, the teenage years, and social acceptance. Well told taut and tense, a definite must for the TBR!
*** Big thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book ***
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August 3, 2019Review to follow for blog tour...
July 29, 2019
Hannah Webber is a helicopter mother that goes over the top wanting the best of everything for her son Sam. It causes great conflict between her and her husband.When Sam gets accepted to an elite New England boarding school, Hannah couldn't be more happy. Sam is happy to be out from under his mother's wing but finds it very difficult to fit in. That is until he gets invited in with a group of boys. When Sam discover the dark happenings and evidence of sexual misconduct he sets out to expose all the corruption and his life starts to spiral. This is the second book I loved by this author. The writing is compelling and the plot and twist are tense. This novels is very right now with all the headlines of ages old corruption at prep schools and universities. I couldn't help but feel for Hannah, a mother who just wanted the best for her son. A powerful drama. I highly recommend this for book clubs.
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
July 22, 2019
As a mom of a 10 and 7 year old, I could deeply relate to this story of the nurturing relationship it takes to be a parent in today’s world. While I don’t think of myself as a “hover mom” like main character Hannah, I can see why she felt the need to be involved so deeply with her fourteen year old son’s private school life. With topics of bullying, sex, drugs, and the peer pressures of today’s teens.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars!
*Thank you to SuzyApprovedBookTours for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars!
*Thank you to SuzyApprovedBookTours for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 4, 2019
There is A LOT of pressure that teenagers face these days.
And having a helicopter mom like Hannah Webber...? Not exactly helping the situation!
Hannah hovers. Like, a lot. She is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure Sam is at the top of everyone's list, and has every opportunity he deserves - including getting into the prestigious Dunning School. Even if she has to sacrifice her own life and possibly even her marriage.
And when her only child is accepted to the prestigious private high school, of course she will do everything in her power to make sure he is accepted in the community and thrives within it, but she also attends every single function - no matter how small.
Sam does begin to thrive away from his mother's constant hovering, but when he gets wrapped up in some pretty scandalous secrets at the school, he finds that he will finally have to make his own decisions and do what is right, because his mother may not be able to help him this time.
This was a really complex and interesting read. The private school life is pretty foreign to me, and also fascinating. As is the mother and son relationship, - but this one clearly shows just how strong and unbreakable a mother's love can be.
The writing was really fantastic - and I look forward to reading more from Jeanne!
And having a helicopter mom like Hannah Webber...? Not exactly helping the situation!
Hannah hovers. Like, a lot. She is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure Sam is at the top of everyone's list, and has every opportunity he deserves - including getting into the prestigious Dunning School. Even if she has to sacrifice her own life and possibly even her marriage.
And when her only child is accepted to the prestigious private high school, of course she will do everything in her power to make sure he is accepted in the community and thrives within it, but she also attends every single function - no matter how small.
Sam does begin to thrive away from his mother's constant hovering, but when he gets wrapped up in some pretty scandalous secrets at the school, he finds that he will finally have to make his own decisions and do what is right, because his mother may not be able to help him this time.
This was a really complex and interesting read. The private school life is pretty foreign to me, and also fascinating. As is the mother and son relationship, - but this one clearly shows just how strong and unbreakable a mother's love can be.
The writing was really fantastic - and I look forward to reading more from Jeanne!
August 21, 2019
“𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙽𝚒𝚗𝚎,” 𝙼𝚊𝚡 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍. 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗. “𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠, 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 , 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚕.” —𝙹𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚎 𝙼𝚌𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚖𝚜 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚐, 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙽𝚒𝚗𝚎
As a mom of a 10 and 7 year old, I could deeply relate to this story of the nurturing relationship it takes to be a parent in today’s world. While I don’t think of myself as a “hover mom” like main character Hannah, I can see why she felt the need to be involved so deeply with her fourteen year old son’s private school life. With topics of bullying, sex, drugs, and the peer pressures of today’s teens.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars!
*Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours for this gifted copy for review. All opinions are my own
As a mom of a 10 and 7 year old, I could deeply relate to this story of the nurturing relationship it takes to be a parent in today’s world. While I don’t think of myself as a “hover mom” like main character Hannah, I can see why she felt the need to be involved so deeply with her fourteen year old son’s private school life. With topics of bullying, sex, drugs, and the peer pressures of today’s teens.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars!
*Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours for this gifted copy for review. All opinions are my own
July 20, 2019
inda's Book Obsession Reviews "The Nine" by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, She Writes Press, August 20, 2019 part of Suzy Approved Book Tours
Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, Author of "The Nine" has written an intense, captivating, intriguing, thought-provoking, and emotional novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, and Contemporary Fiction, with Suspense. The timeline for this story takes place mostly in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The author describes her dramatic characters, as complex, complicated, each having their own set of problems.
Hannah Webber is an obsessed mother, who wants only the best for her son. Hannah and her husband are at odds what might be best for Sam. When the opportunity arises, Hannah decides that Sam should go to an elite and prestigious high school. Dunning is a boarding school with a specific set of rules. Hannah wants to be involved in her son's life.
Sam's adjustment to Dunning is difficult. The younger students are treated much differently by the other students and there is peer pressure. It seems that there are secrets. Sam feels very alone and thinks his way of belonging will be by "entering a side door". Sam discovers some disturbing evidence of inappropriate things that are going on. This is also a coming of age book, and Sam has to think of where his loyalties are. There is a tremendous amount of pressure and betrayals.
I love the way the author discusses the important issues in contemporary society today. Bullying, drugs, sex, peer-pressure are some of the topics discussed. A mother-son relationship is explored. The author also mentions the importance of family, trust, emotional support, communication, love, and hope.
I would highly recommend this thought-provoking novel. Happy Reading!
Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, Author of "The Nine" has written an intense, captivating, intriguing, thought-provoking, and emotional novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, and Contemporary Fiction, with Suspense. The timeline for this story takes place mostly in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The author describes her dramatic characters, as complex, complicated, each having their own set of problems.
Hannah Webber is an obsessed mother, who wants only the best for her son. Hannah and her husband are at odds what might be best for Sam. When the opportunity arises, Hannah decides that Sam should go to an elite and prestigious high school. Dunning is a boarding school with a specific set of rules. Hannah wants to be involved in her son's life.
Sam's adjustment to Dunning is difficult. The younger students are treated much differently by the other students and there is peer pressure. It seems that there are secrets. Sam feels very alone and thinks his way of belonging will be by "entering a side door". Sam discovers some disturbing evidence of inappropriate things that are going on. This is also a coming of age book, and Sam has to think of where his loyalties are. There is a tremendous amount of pressure and betrayals.
I love the way the author discusses the important issues in contemporary society today. Bullying, drugs, sex, peer-pressure are some of the topics discussed. A mother-son relationship is explored. The author also mentions the importance of family, trust, emotional support, communication, love, and hope.
I would highly recommend this thought-provoking novel. Happy Reading!
August 21, 2019
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Marla Warren
Sometimes the universe puts the book into your hand that you are supposed to read. The Nine is probably not a book I would have picked up to read, but with its themes of parenting, letting go, letting a child turn into an adult, and then begin a life of their own, as well as the ever-changing status of all of our relationships if we don’t nurture them appropriately, this started to hit very close to home. As a parent of a senior in high school who will soon be facing similar circumstances to Hannah Webber in The Nine, I can honestly say I felt this book in my soul.
Our main character is Sam, and this story covers his life roughly from age 14 to age 18 as he has started high school at an elite boarding school in New England. Our primary narrative is what Sam experiences at school, but we also follow his mother Hannah (described as a “helicopter mom”) as she deals with her son’s absence and her crumbling marriage. As readers, we don’t often get the “helicopter mom’s” point of view. She is often talked about, rather than being the one telling us her thoughts and feelings, so this was a terrific change from what we so often see. It is a testament to the writer’s skill how easy it is switching back and forth between the parallel stories being told.
Stark contrasts are drawn throughout the book between different types of groups. There are the legacies versus other students – those students whose family members attended before them, as opposed to those new to Dunning Academy. There is tension between how the athletes are treated versus how the academic students are treated. Year One students (Freshmen) are treated differently than Year Four (Seniors), as described by Sam as he goes through each year. There is even conflict between those adults whose paychecks are wrapped up in school politics versus those who work at the school simply because they live nearby.
All of this conflict leads to a constant feeling of distrust that may, or may not, be partly by the design of the administration. Even as the reader, those feelings of not knowing who to trust keep you tuned in to how each character responds to the others. As a student, Sam deals with not knowing who he can really trust, his mother Hannah also deals with it, as does new teacher Shawn Willis. We follow all these characters, rooting for them to make the right decisions, but not even knowing ourselves whether or not these are the “good guys.”
The Nine is one of those novels that different people can read and get something totally different out of. My feelings about my own child going away to school soon gave me one perspective, but someone reading it who is closer to Sam’s age would likely have a completely different emotional response to the book. A new teacher might see everything in yet another way.
There was a moment near the end where I started to worry about how things were going to turn out. I am not someone who wants an unearned happy ending, but I don’t want an unhappy (or unfair) ending just for the sake of being melancholy. I believe the ending works. For everything we go through with these characters, their ups and their downs, the ending feels just.
I have seen suggestions of this book for fans of Dead Poets Society by N.H. Kleinbaum, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, and A Separate Peace by John Knowles, and I have to agree. This book feels very much from the same vein as those classics. It both tells the story of Sam and how his life has changed as he has grown, as well as one of the best descriptions in literature of a mother’s changing relationship with her husband, her son, and herself.
Sometimes the universe puts the book into your hand that you are supposed to read. The Nine is probably not a book I would have picked up to read, but with its themes of parenting, letting go, letting a child turn into an adult, and then begin a life of their own, as well as the ever-changing status of all of our relationships if we don’t nurture them appropriately, this started to hit very close to home. As a parent of a senior in high school who will soon be facing similar circumstances to Hannah Webber in The Nine, I can honestly say I felt this book in my soul.
Our main character is Sam, and this story covers his life roughly from age 14 to age 18 as he has started high school at an elite boarding school in New England. Our primary narrative is what Sam experiences at school, but we also follow his mother Hannah (described as a “helicopter mom”) as she deals with her son’s absence and her crumbling marriage. As readers, we don’t often get the “helicopter mom’s” point of view. She is often talked about, rather than being the one telling us her thoughts and feelings, so this was a terrific change from what we so often see. It is a testament to the writer’s skill how easy it is switching back and forth between the parallel stories being told.
Stark contrasts are drawn throughout the book between different types of groups. There are the legacies versus other students – those students whose family members attended before them, as opposed to those new to Dunning Academy. There is tension between how the athletes are treated versus how the academic students are treated. Year One students (Freshmen) are treated differently than Year Four (Seniors), as described by Sam as he goes through each year. There is even conflict between those adults whose paychecks are wrapped up in school politics versus those who work at the school simply because they live nearby.
All of this conflict leads to a constant feeling of distrust that may, or may not, be partly by the design of the administration. Even as the reader, those feelings of not knowing who to trust keep you tuned in to how each character responds to the others. As a student, Sam deals with not knowing who he can really trust, his mother Hannah also deals with it, as does new teacher Shawn Willis. We follow all these characters, rooting for them to make the right decisions, but not even knowing ourselves whether or not these are the “good guys.”
The Nine is one of those novels that different people can read and get something totally different out of. My feelings about my own child going away to school soon gave me one perspective, but someone reading it who is closer to Sam’s age would likely have a completely different emotional response to the book. A new teacher might see everything in yet another way.
There was a moment near the end where I started to worry about how things were going to turn out. I am not someone who wants an unearned happy ending, but I don’t want an unhappy (or unfair) ending just for the sake of being melancholy. I believe the ending works. For everything we go through with these characters, their ups and their downs, the ending feels just.
I have seen suggestions of this book for fans of Dead Poets Society by N.H. Kleinbaum, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, and A Separate Peace by John Knowles, and I have to agree. This book feels very much from the same vein as those classics. It both tells the story of Sam and how his life has changed as he has grown, as well as one of the best descriptions in literature of a mother’s changing relationship with her husband, her son, and herself.
August 20, 2019
The Nine is a compelling, thought-provoking and timely story that revolves around Sam, a high schooler at an elite boarding school, and his mother, Hannah, whose ambitions for her son consume her. Sam has a hard time fitting in with his classmates, until he is invited to join a secret, power-wielding group of boys at his school. Hannah is a helicopter parent, anxious for her son to excel, fulfilling her dream for him to attend an Ivy League School. When Sam uncovers evidence of illicit activity at his school, his life begins to spiral out of control. Aside from the corruption and exploitation in this story, it is also an intricate, honest peek into the relationship between a son and his mother. I felt a great deal of sympathy for Sam, as he gets caught up in events beyond his control. Hannah was pushy and brash, but I never lost sight of the fact that she only wanted what was best for her son.
Read
August 20, 2019Every good mother wants to love and protect her children, but how far is too far to go when it comes to looking after them? Hannah Weber is teetering on that thin line already when she helps her son get into the area’s most prestigious boarding school, but when Sam gets into trouble away from home, she stretches her remote meddling skills to a whole new level. If she doesn’t find a way to make everything right for her baby, her Ivy League dreams may be dashed before applications are even submitted.
In The Nine (She Writes Press), Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg weaves strands of the story from Hannah’s perspective with equal parts from a third-person point of view with Sam or his dorm supervisor, Shawn, functioning as central characters. This artistic choice offers readers the most complete look possible into the curious events occurring at Dunning Academy. Blasberg has a knack for pulling readers in so close that they can share Hannah’s humiliation as she is belittled by wealthier parents and Sam’s adrenaline rush as he pushes himself to fit in with the other students. The fast pace of the narration, suspense, and well-timed revelation of new information work together to keep readers wanting more until the very last page.
The rest of the review: https://booktrib.com/2019/08/prep-are...
In The Nine (She Writes Press), Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg weaves strands of the story from Hannah’s perspective with equal parts from a third-person point of view with Sam or his dorm supervisor, Shawn, functioning as central characters. This artistic choice offers readers the most complete look possible into the curious events occurring at Dunning Academy. Blasberg has a knack for pulling readers in so close that they can share Hannah’s humiliation as she is belittled by wealthier parents and Sam’s adrenaline rush as he pushes himself to fit in with the other students. The fast pace of the narration, suspense, and well-timed revelation of new information work together to keep readers wanting more until the very last page.
The rest of the review: https://booktrib.com/2019/08/prep-are...
September 30, 2019
What a book! This book felt so realistic in this time and age which scares me when my own son goes to school.
This book tells the story of an overbearing mother, Hannah, and her super smart son. Sam.
Sam is accepted into a prestigious private high school where everything isn’t what it seems. Eventually Sam will end up getting g framed for something he had no part in.
Overall, this book was very good. The relationship between Hannah and Sam was very heartfelt. You could feel Hannah’s pain as Sam pulls away. You could also feel Sam’s pain as Hannah becomes very overbearing.
Definitely check this one out . It will get you thinking.
This book tells the story of an overbearing mother, Hannah, and her super smart son. Sam.
Sam is accepted into a prestigious private high school where everything isn’t what it seems. Eventually Sam will end up getting g framed for something he had no part in.
Overall, this book was very good. The relationship between Hannah and Sam was very heartfelt. You could feel Hannah’s pain as Sam pulls away. You could also feel Sam’s pain as Hannah becomes very overbearing.
Definitely check this one out . It will get you thinking.
September 25, 2020
Since I went into this simply expecting another story of an overanxious parent, I was pleasantly surprised at the complexity of the novel. When Sam, at 14, arrives at the boarding school, he is faced with ethical and moral dilemmas: how much does an oath to a group matter, how much do you risk when you know others are being hurt, how much do you risk to find the truth?
May 15, 2019
Huge thank you to the author and SheWritesPress for sending me an advanced readers copy of The Nine and it's matching tote to go with it #backtoschool19 - I haven't stopped using it since and read this book in two days.
With that said, not only was I hooked by the story-line but also because it is New England based like myself. This book had you constantly on the edge of your seat and made me fly through each chapter to find out more about Dunning and what has just been discovered...
Quick Recap:
Hannah Webber is the Mother of Sam Webber who attends New England's most prestigious boarding school called Dunning. Sam is glad to be out of the watchful eye and constant observation to do the best and be the best by his mother Hannah. Soon rather than later Sam befriends Justin Crandle and gets asked to be apart of a secret organized group of men that has been passed down generations throughout numerous decades of Dunning, called The Nine.
When Sam accepts the offer and keeps to himself while his introduction to The Nine, he soon realizes the hidden truths of the current Headmaster as well as the previous Headmaster.
While gaining more freedom from the constant observation of his Mother Hannah, the Crandle family takes him in for the summer were Sam then becomes close to Justin's, Uncle Henry and becomes apart of something greater than The Nine ever were...
Sam's understood version of The Nine was all fun and games, such as pranks they pulled off every year in tradition to the secret organization.
While returning back to Dunning in the fall, Sam immediately understood after spending the summer with Henry Crandle that he had a much grander plan for him after all this year and wasn't going to rest until it was completed.
Throughout the remainder of Sam's Junior year, his parents were struggling with their marriage along with the means to provide for his family.
Along the way of that, Hannah Webber befriends there dormitory, Shawn for guidance on Sam's recent behaviors and academic fall out.
Which resulted in leaning closer to the truth about what Henery Crandle's plans were for Headmaster Williams.
Back to review:
Like I said, highly suspenseful throughout each chapter!!
I have to say, Hannah Webber was not my favorite character but she overall made this book.
With her constant observation of her son and failing marriage, she made this book interesting and fun to read. Her son Sam also seemed to accept her behavior pretty well and really made me have an understanding of his relationship with his Mother.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Nine and thought the storyline was solid and well put together.
The ending did leave me hanging a little bit, to be honest. And that's why it got a 4/5 for me. I felt like leading up to the ending gave me so much hope for a conclusion that just wasn't there...
I've been so excited to share this with my followers on Instagram as well as my fellow BookSharks. And hope everyone gets a chance to read and be apart of the Dunning boarding school drama like I have because it's been a lot of fun!
Thank you again for the arc - I can't wait for its release date this August!!
With that said, not only was I hooked by the story-line but also because it is New England based like myself. This book had you constantly on the edge of your seat and made me fly through each chapter to find out more about Dunning and what has just been discovered...
Quick Recap:
Hannah Webber is the Mother of Sam Webber who attends New England's most prestigious boarding school called Dunning. Sam is glad to be out of the watchful eye and constant observation to do the best and be the best by his mother Hannah. Soon rather than later Sam befriends Justin Crandle and gets asked to be apart of a secret organized group of men that has been passed down generations throughout numerous decades of Dunning, called The Nine.
When Sam accepts the offer and keeps to himself while his introduction to The Nine, he soon realizes the hidden truths of the current Headmaster as well as the previous Headmaster.
While gaining more freedom from the constant observation of his Mother Hannah, the Crandle family takes him in for the summer were Sam then becomes close to Justin's, Uncle Henry and becomes apart of something greater than The Nine ever were...
Sam's understood version of The Nine was all fun and games, such as pranks they pulled off every year in tradition to the secret organization.
While returning back to Dunning in the fall, Sam immediately understood after spending the summer with Henry Crandle that he had a much grander plan for him after all this year and wasn't going to rest until it was completed.
Throughout the remainder of Sam's Junior year, his parents were struggling with their marriage along with the means to provide for his family.
Along the way of that, Hannah Webber befriends there dormitory, Shawn for guidance on Sam's recent behaviors and academic fall out.
Which resulted in leaning closer to the truth about what Henery Crandle's plans were for Headmaster Williams.
Back to review:
Like I said, highly suspenseful throughout each chapter!!
I have to say, Hannah Webber was not my favorite character but she overall made this book.
With her constant observation of her son and failing marriage, she made this book interesting and fun to read. Her son Sam also seemed to accept her behavior pretty well and really made me have an understanding of his relationship with his Mother.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Nine and thought the storyline was solid and well put together.
The ending did leave me hanging a little bit, to be honest. And that's why it got a 4/5 for me. I felt like leading up to the ending gave me so much hope for a conclusion that just wasn't there...
I've been so excited to share this with my followers on Instagram as well as my fellow BookSharks. And hope everyone gets a chance to read and be apart of the Dunning boarding school drama like I have because it's been a lot of fun!
Thank you again for the arc - I can't wait for its release date this August!!
Read
August 21, 2019 It’s a fabulous coming of age novel with a touch of suspense. The story centers around helicopter Mom, Hannah sending her son, Sam to an elite boarding school. When Sam witness an illicit act he has to decide if he will follow the pack or stand up for what’s right. I had so much fun with this book. I wanted to know what Sam would do and how Hannah would handle it. I flew through this book in one sitting.
I don’t have kids so I am not sure how I would be. Not sure if I would be a helicopter Mom or hands off. I can understand why Hannah hovered. She had a hard time having Sam and when she did she just wanted him to have the best of the world.
Pick up this book if you like family dynamics. Pick it up if you like elite, privileged children behaving badly. Pick up this book if you like a fun quick read.
I don’t have kids so I am not sure how I would be. Not sure if I would be a helicopter Mom or hands off. I can understand why Hannah hovered. She had a hard time having Sam and when she did she just wanted him to have the best of the world.
Pick up this book if you like family dynamics. Pick it up if you like elite, privileged children behaving badly. Pick up this book if you like a fun quick read.
August 22, 2022
Oof. This was pretty rough for me.
I'm not sure where to begin. There were so many things I didn't like that I'm honestly having trouble trying to find anything positive to say. Maybe that the relationship between Sam and his father was the most believable thing about this story.
And the denouement was, well, underwhelming. It was a lot of buildup for something that should have been readily apparent all along.
I also HATED the way time passed in this novel. Here, let me painstakingly detail every hope and dream I've fostered for my child over the past 14 years, but then let's gloss over 2 years in 2 pages and carry on, shall we?
Just a mess.
1 out of 5 stars.
I'm not sure where to begin. There were so many things I didn't like that I'm honestly having trouble trying to find anything positive to say. Maybe that the relationship between Sam and his father was the most believable thing about this story.
And the denouement was, well, underwhelming. It was a lot of buildup for something that should have been readily apparent all along.
I also HATED the way time passed in this novel. Here, let me painstakingly detail every hope and dream I've fostered for my child over the past 14 years, but then let's gloss over 2 years in 2 pages and carry on, shall we?
Just a mess.
1 out of 5 stars.
August 5, 2019
I found The Nine to be fascinating. I was able to relate to Sam, as my mother was also a bit overbearing when I was growing up. I loved how each character’s voice was so distinct and well-fleshed out, and I felt invested in all of their outcomes. Secret societies, corruption, and privilege make for an engrossing, fast-paced read, and I definitely recommend this one!
November 20, 2019
Reviewed by Rachel Dehning for Reader Views (11/19)
“The Nine: A Novel” by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg is the story of love and trying to fit in. What mother wouldn’t do anything she could for her child, especially when they are an only child? What if it was difficult to get pregnant with your rainbow baby, and you inadvertently make your child the center of your life?
For Hannah, she is and has been dealing with these issues with her now teenage son, Sam. Finishing middle school, it is now time to contemplate his high school years. Although not quite in the wealth bracket to comfortably afford a boarding school, Hannah will accept nothing less than the best for her one and only beloved son. With that decision made, Sam is off to Dunning, a co-ed private high school. As with everything, first glances can be deceiving. To the outsider, Dunning is a sight for sore eyes, with faculty who erase every worry from the anxious mothers who are stressed about leaving their child behind, and the list of alumni to make any school jealous. Once the school year begins, it’s fair game for every contestant participating on and in the Dunning playing field. Physical and mental demands are high, with great expectations made for everyone. Sam successfully makes it through his first year at Dunning, and then he discovers a secret that will forever alter his life and the lives of his family and everyone involved.
Beautifully written, “The Nine” encompasses so many different areas of life. Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg explores the complicated feelings that surface the moment you become a mother, and how they can intensify as your child gets older. She explores the rituals involved with growing up as a teenager and the trials one will most likely face, with some extra, rarer situations thrown in for added drama. She explores the family dynamic, and how they differ between families in different stages of life.
The subject matter is one that is being dealt with in our current society and becoming more prevalent throughout the years with movements such as #MeToo gaining popularity. Jeanne writes inclusively, so that men, women, and children can all relate to the characters. Not having any experience in boarding schools, I found “The Nine: A Novel” by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg fascinating and very believable about the dirty, self-centered secrets that these schools may hold, unbeknownst to so many.
Highly recommended reading!
“The Nine: A Novel” by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg is the story of love and trying to fit in. What mother wouldn’t do anything she could for her child, especially when they are an only child? What if it was difficult to get pregnant with your rainbow baby, and you inadvertently make your child the center of your life?
For Hannah, she is and has been dealing with these issues with her now teenage son, Sam. Finishing middle school, it is now time to contemplate his high school years. Although not quite in the wealth bracket to comfortably afford a boarding school, Hannah will accept nothing less than the best for her one and only beloved son. With that decision made, Sam is off to Dunning, a co-ed private high school. As with everything, first glances can be deceiving. To the outsider, Dunning is a sight for sore eyes, with faculty who erase every worry from the anxious mothers who are stressed about leaving their child behind, and the list of alumni to make any school jealous. Once the school year begins, it’s fair game for every contestant participating on and in the Dunning playing field. Physical and mental demands are high, with great expectations made for everyone. Sam successfully makes it through his first year at Dunning, and then he discovers a secret that will forever alter his life and the lives of his family and everyone involved.
Beautifully written, “The Nine” encompasses so many different areas of life. Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg explores the complicated feelings that surface the moment you become a mother, and how they can intensify as your child gets older. She explores the rituals involved with growing up as a teenager and the trials one will most likely face, with some extra, rarer situations thrown in for added drama. She explores the family dynamic, and how they differ between families in different stages of life.
The subject matter is one that is being dealt with in our current society and becoming more prevalent throughout the years with movements such as #MeToo gaining popularity. Jeanne writes inclusively, so that men, women, and children can all relate to the characters. Not having any experience in boarding schools, I found “The Nine: A Novel” by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg fascinating and very believable about the dirty, self-centered secrets that these schools may hold, unbeknownst to so many.
Highly recommended reading!
August 13, 2019
Wow! The Nine by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg really pulled at my heartstrings. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the mother, Hannah. While her marriage is crumbling, she enrolls her son, Sam into a well respected boarding school. The series of events that follow are unthinkable and a parent’s worst nightmare! Sam is unknowingly caught in a web of scandal and deceit with a prestigious and secret group of students at the school. Hannah desperately tries to help her son in every way possible. The bond between her and Sam is strong and admirable. Blasberg creates a realistic and thought-provoking story about raising teenagers today. The Nine is an entertaining and frightening story about the sacrifices we make for our children. It’s a powerful book about family, marriage and parenthood. I highly recommend this one! Thank you to the author and Suzy Approved Book Tours for sending me an advance reader’s copy and inviting me to participate in this book tour! This one releases next week - Tuesday, August 20th.
March 13, 2020
This is a very timely story considering what recently happened with the cheating scandal. Hannanh is a woman who never thought she'd be a mother. When she finally does end up pregnant and raises her son Sam, she can't help but be a helicopter mom. She gets too involved in his life, friendships, school, everything. Sam applies to the prestigious private school, Dunning, and gets accepted. Though they can barely afford it, mom Hannah thinks this is the best place for her son Sam. While Dunning has an amazing academic record, there are darker secrets hidden beneath its ivy covered walls. Sam will be called upon to expose the secret and at the same time jeopardize the life that his mom Hannah has worked so hard for him to aspire to. Thank you to the author for the review copy, opinions are my own.
November 25, 2019
THE NINE by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg is a compelling and timely story focused on the special bond between mother and son that is severely tested by the challenges of parenting in present day society. Hannah Webber is obsessed with making the right choices for her only son, Sam. Contrary to her husband Edward’s views on what is best for Sam and his education, Hannah will risk everything, including her marriage, for Sam to attend an elite New England boarding school where she is certain he will receive the discipline and training for a prosperous future. Little does she know that Sam is being thrust into an environment where he struggles to fit in with his rich and privileged classmates. Sam soon discovers some disturbing activities are taking place on campus and he unwittingly finds himself involved in the scandal arising from the wrongdoing. The important themes of peer pressure, sexual misconduct, drug and alcohol use among teens all feature prominently in the story. I really felt for Sam as he tried to navigate between his desire for acceptance among his peers and wanting to please his mother after all her sacrifices for him. THE NINE was an emotional and thought-provoking book that kept me engaged from beginning to end and I definitely recommend it.
August 6, 2020
So I liked the idea of a story that uncovered a secret society and a boarding school in New England... but I didn't like the nasty stuff that was covered up, and the young MC Sam was exposed to. The book wasn't graphic in its descriptions, but it still wasn't a fun thing to read about. I did relate to the mother sometimes, since I'm a mom of two boys, but she was so controlling and mostly it scared me to think that being that pushy with your child's achievements could push them away so much. It was sad that she didn't know about anything going on until it was too late. I felt so bad for Sam, having to face such awful things at such a young age! It was an interesting story overall, but the icky stuff just hit a little too close to home for me and my own worst fears, so I couldn't really enjoy it. However, it was written well, and I did think the ending was good. Not my type of story, but I can see why a lot of people like it!
August 30, 2020
The Nine
This was an interesting book. I saw a review of it and thought it sounded intriguing, it kept me to the end.
This was an interesting book. I saw a review of it and thought it sounded intriguing, it kept me to the end.
July 18, 2020
Compelling, THE NINE by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, had me hooked from the get-go. A book about smother-mothers, whom you can and can't bequeath the gift of trust, and resiliency, the adversities the protagonist encounters throughout the pages had me cheering loudly from his side of the court. I highly recommend this five-star book!
August 8, 2019
I received this for honest Review.
This is the first time reading anything from this author. I'm so grateful that I got the opportunity to review her book cuz its so good. I'm giving this a big big super 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book talk about the struggle of being a parent and how to handle your kid when they need you the most. Even though it fiction it talk about drugs, abuse, sexual abuse, bully, school, and being parent.
This was a eye opening cuz nomatter what school you put your child into you have to see the sign.
Me has a mom of 5 children I taught my kids not to let nobody touch them. To go to adult or anybody. Just tell somebody! I have dealt with kids bullying my kids. I took it to the teachers, the principal, and even the Police.
When something is happening or you think something is happening you do everything in your power to do everything.
The storyline was very good!
The theme and setting was well put together. The characters was well put together in the story.
Was so well put in the story.
Everything all in one book.
It was just perfect!
I highly recommend everybody get this and read it.
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. What a Rollercoaster! The sitting, theme, and the Characters had me pulled so in. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel would have you guess and thinking all the way to the end. This novel did just that to me. To the point that am wrong. When the ending comes am on shock. I wouldn't of never believe or guess. Like OMG!
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for her next book.
#thenine
This is the first time reading anything from this author. I'm so grateful that I got the opportunity to review her book cuz its so good. I'm giving this a big big super 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book talk about the struggle of being a parent and how to handle your kid when they need you the most. Even though it fiction it talk about drugs, abuse, sexual abuse, bully, school, and being parent.
This was a eye opening cuz nomatter what school you put your child into you have to see the sign.
Me has a mom of 5 children I taught my kids not to let nobody touch them. To go to adult or anybody. Just tell somebody! I have dealt with kids bullying my kids. I took it to the teachers, the principal, and even the Police.
When something is happening or you think something is happening you do everything in your power to do everything.
The storyline was very good!
The theme and setting was well put together. The characters was well put together in the story.
Was so well put in the story.
Everything all in one book.
It was just perfect!
I highly recommend everybody get this and read it.
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. What a Rollercoaster! The sitting, theme, and the Characters had me pulled so in. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel would have you guess and thinking all the way to the end. This novel did just that to me. To the point that am wrong. When the ending comes am on shock. I wouldn't of never believe or guess. Like OMG!
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for her next book.
#thenine
August 15, 2019
3.5 stars
The Nine by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg tells the story of prestigious East Coast boarding school Dunning Academy. Hannah Webber is a helicopter mom to the extreme and she frets and worries all four years her only son Sam is enrolled at Dunning. Rightfully so, as Sam ends up involved in all kinds of sinister and shady business at that school. With everything we hear about in the news these days, it makes you think a story like this probably isn’t that much of a stretch.
As I read this book, I had several thoughts running through my mind. Hannah is, at times, very unlikeable, as she desperately tries to maintain not only a relationship with her son but control over every decision he makes. Despite that, I, as a mother, found myself still relating to her. While most of us aren’t obsessed with every move our children make, opting instead to grant them independence as they grow, we all, at the very heart of it, want the very best for our kids. I know I relish that feeling of pride when my children are successful at something. Hannah was constantly in search of that. Sam was no doubt shaped by that pressure, becoming a people pleaser who had a hard time saying no, trying so hard to both fit in and succeed. Makes you think about how your actions are affecting your kids.
The Nine was an entertaining read, one that I was imagining as a movie, the boarding school drama with some twists and turns. It could be a great low key kind of thriller geared maybe toward teens?! It’s not a thriller but I could see that aspect of it played up a bit. How fun would that be to see it on the big screen??
The Nine by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg tells the story of prestigious East Coast boarding school Dunning Academy. Hannah Webber is a helicopter mom to the extreme and she frets and worries all four years her only son Sam is enrolled at Dunning. Rightfully so, as Sam ends up involved in all kinds of sinister and shady business at that school. With everything we hear about in the news these days, it makes you think a story like this probably isn’t that much of a stretch.
As I read this book, I had several thoughts running through my mind. Hannah is, at times, very unlikeable, as she desperately tries to maintain not only a relationship with her son but control over every decision he makes. Despite that, I, as a mother, found myself still relating to her. While most of us aren’t obsessed with every move our children make, opting instead to grant them independence as they grow, we all, at the very heart of it, want the very best for our kids. I know I relish that feeling of pride when my children are successful at something. Hannah was constantly in search of that. Sam was no doubt shaped by that pressure, becoming a people pleaser who had a hard time saying no, trying so hard to both fit in and succeed. Makes you think about how your actions are affecting your kids.
The Nine was an entertaining read, one that I was imagining as a movie, the boarding school drama with some twists and turns. It could be a great low key kind of thriller geared maybe toward teens?! It’s not a thriller but I could see that aspect of it played up a bit. How fun would that be to see it on the big screen??
July 3, 2019
The Nine<\I>, Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg’s eagerly awaited second novel, delivers a tightly plotted tale that taps the vein of secret terror every first-time parent harbors when sending a child on their own into the world. With devastating precision, Blasberg mines the insecurity, the denial, the projected hope and ambition of a mother singularly devoted to her only child played against revelations of dark doings at an elite prep school. Hannah, the mother, has neglected cultivating her own life and her marriage to nurture her brilliant son, Sam. Though devoted, Sam becomes entangled in the web of adult expectations, the rotting core of the power brokers at the school, and his own emerging sense of self. That the reader ratchets back and forth between sympathy and antipathy toward Hannah’s fierce love, blinding wishfulness, and searing heartache, reflects Blasberg’s skill at avoiding the easy trope of the overbearing mother. Along the way to the resolution of this complex story, the reader also keenly feels the gamut of coming-of-age wonder and pain that characterize the thoughtfully developed character of Sam. While he is a child in trouble, he turns out not to be a troubled child, a comfort to both the reader and the other characters. A painful, beautiful book.
September 20, 2019
The Nine is a compelling modern-day tale inspired by the biblical story of Hannah and her son Samuel. In The Nine, Hannah wants nothing but the best for her only child, Sam. Prestigious Dunning Academy will open doors to an Ivy League college and more. However, sending Sam away to boarding school at age fourteen is difficult for Hannah, who wants to be privy to every aspect of his life. What Hannah doesn’t know is that Sam has been invited to join a long-standing secret society, the Nine, which gives him a sense of belonging. But the Nine is also his avenue to discovering and attempting to get the bottom of an insidious campus sex scandal and, thus, potentially threatening his mother’s dreams for him. The Nine skillfully crosses genres, providing readers with a coming-of-age story, a campus thriller that touches on a variety of salient issues (such as sexual abuse, class differences, the need to fit in), and an exploration of a poignant mother-son relationship. Yet, it all works well together. The story alternates between Sam’s voice in third person and Hannah’s in first person, with occasional reflections of Sam’s dorm parent. This structure works well, moving the plotline along, but also focusing us on the pain that Hannah feels as her son distances himself from her in his need to be his own person. We feel for both of the main characters. The Nine is well-written and thoroughly engaging.
December 27, 2019
The Nine by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg was a believable, and fantastic novel examining life at elite boarding schools, and what can happen there. I am giving it 4/5 stars, and if you love novels about secret and underground societies or novels about boarding schools, this is one that you need to add to your TBR! Blasberg covers a great variety of themes and writes a killer ending, but she also does a great job of creating characters with realistic relationships.
The Nine was the perfect book to pick up now that summer is over, and it's back to work. Blasberg does a fabulous job of introducing and sucking readers into an elite boarding school in the New England countryside. There you meet Sam, and his mother Hannah. Hannah is an extreme, overbearing, and controlling mother who's sending her one and only child to the best boarding school in the area. Sam, on the other hand, is the only child, with an overbearing mother who's thrusting him into a world he knows he doesn't belong. In the world of the rich and powerful, Sam discovers normal rules don't apply, and there is a whole new set that he must figure out on his own. Told from alternating perspectives, we get to see Sam stumble his way through social circles and difficult situations, while Hannah tries to figure out what to do with herself and her marriage now that Sam is gone.
The Nine was the perfect book to pick up now that summer is over, and it's back to work. Blasberg does a fabulous job of introducing and sucking readers into an elite boarding school in the New England countryside. There you meet Sam, and his mother Hannah. Hannah is an extreme, overbearing, and controlling mother who's sending her one and only child to the best boarding school in the area. Sam, on the other hand, is the only child, with an overbearing mother who's thrusting him into a world he knows he doesn't belong. In the world of the rich and powerful, Sam discovers normal rules don't apply, and there is a whole new set that he must figure out on his own. Told from alternating perspectives, we get to see Sam stumble his way through social circles and difficult situations, while Hannah tries to figure out what to do with herself and her marriage now that Sam is gone.
November 3, 2019
The plot-line was ok. Scandal at an elite boarding school —of course that is going to draw you but the whole story could have been 180 pages instead of over 300. Where was the editor? The first 300 pages feel like filler. Nothing really happens. There is “character building” but it doesn’t feel important to the story. Not to mention that throughout the novel there is the over use of what some would call “big words” giving the book an elementary feeling instead of its intended purpose. The writing style wasn’t my favorite and the long drawn out descriptions felt oppressive. The dialogue between the teenagers and the teenagers and the parents seemed completely unrealistic. Also, Sam’s mother is border-line psychotic and casts an annoying vibe through the story. I felt happy that Sam and the father are able to get away from her in the end. Overall, the whole story seems like a lukewarm cup of tea.
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