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Cliffhanger: Jump Before You Get Pushed
In 2030, viruses, spy drones, terrorism, joblessness have eroded American optimism. People want something to believe in. As demonstrated in a Midwest high school election, politics have taken on the inflexibility and dogma of a new religion. Only true believers will survive and prosper. Or so they think.
274 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2020
About the author
Michael R. French
27 books121 followers#1 Amazon best selling author Michael French graduated from Stanford University and Northwestern University. He is a businessman and author who divides his time between Santa Barbara, California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is an avid high-altitude mountain trekker, as well as a collector of first editions of twentieth-century fiction.
He has published twenty-four books, including fiction, young adult fiction, biographies, and art criticism. His novel, Abingdon’s, was a bestseller and a Literary Guild Alternate Selection. His young adult novel, Pursuit, was awarded the California Young Reader Medal.
The Reconstruction of Wilson Ryder was published January 2013.
Mountains Beyond Mountains was published April 2013.
Once Upon a Lie was published March 2016.
He has published twenty-four books, including fiction, young adult fiction, biographies, and art criticism. His novel, Abingdon’s, was a bestseller and a Literary Guild Alternate Selection. His young adult novel, Pursuit, was awarded the California Young Reader Medal.
The Reconstruction of Wilson Ryder was published January 2013.
Mountains Beyond Mountains was published April 2013.
Once Upon a Lie was published March 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 25, 2021
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
In a soft dystopia, a high school election in Indiana gets out of control.
In a soft dystopia, a high school election in Indiana gets out of control.
January 27, 2021
Michael R. French's novel Cliffhanger is a story set in the middle of the country in the near future and flows around an endearing young woman and her bid for the position of senior class president. The overall substance of the story is of consequences and the additive choices made to produce them, of how choices and actions made at this moment can be amplifier through time to create consequences of greater scale in the future. I think that even if ones interests lie outside that of high school political campaigns, it is effortless to be quickly drawn into a very good story so very well told.
Mr. French's manner of story telling is unique and his writing masterful and precise. I feel I'm being mesmerized bass I read- if that can be possible - as if I'm watching a painting being made, brush strokes by brush stroke. His style is invisible, he is not standing between the reader and the story. And the story seems to materialize out of itself.
Mr. French's #1 talent as a writer is his way of generating living, breathing characters. I became aware of his flair for this about half way through the book. I had been reflecting upon what I had just read when I realized that I have a high definition image of the main character, Brit, and that I have no recollection of reading lengthy passages that describe her in such fine detail. My dawning was this: she was assembled by me from lots of little pieces, unrelated quirks, gestures, stray thoughts. Perhaps this is the same mechanism that we use when we come to "know" someone, that we form a composite from the bits and pieces of what we observe. Here we areaquainted with High School seniors in the process of sifting and solidifying the traits that will define their future roles. The readers are on a parallel course with that of the characters, we are aquiring an ever increasing detailed image of them as they gain deeper understanding of themselves. In one memorable scene, we become more familiar with Nathan through the eyes of Brit as she clandestinely surveys the contents of his bedroom through a closed window. His possessions help us to understand the diverse factors influencing his internal make up, subtle hints ,that become obvious with hindsight , of the ingredients that will flavor his unfolding personality disorders. Here, Mr. French's fluid manner of description is cinematic, successfully emulating that of Hitchcock in the opening scene of Rear Window.
Cliffhanger is a purely fun-to-read novel. We become witness of aspects of average American High School life coalesce into a promise of a greater future, one that they will play a part in designing.
Mr. French's manner of story telling is unique and his writing masterful and precise. I feel I'm being mesmerized bass I read- if that can be possible - as if I'm watching a painting being made, brush strokes by brush stroke. His style is invisible, he is not standing between the reader and the story. And the story seems to materialize out of itself.
Mr. French's #1 talent as a writer is his way of generating living, breathing characters. I became aware of his flair for this about half way through the book. I had been reflecting upon what I had just read when I realized that I have a high definition image of the main character, Brit, and that I have no recollection of reading lengthy passages that describe her in such fine detail. My dawning was this: she was assembled by me from lots of little pieces, unrelated quirks, gestures, stray thoughts. Perhaps this is the same mechanism that we use when we come to "know" someone, that we form a composite from the bits and pieces of what we observe. Here we areaquainted with High School seniors in the process of sifting and solidifying the traits that will define their future roles. The readers are on a parallel course with that of the characters, we are aquiring an ever increasing detailed image of them as they gain deeper understanding of themselves. In one memorable scene, we become more familiar with Nathan through the eyes of Brit as she clandestinely surveys the contents of his bedroom through a closed window. His possessions help us to understand the diverse factors influencing his internal make up, subtle hints ,that become obvious with hindsight , of the ingredients that will flavor his unfolding personality disorders. Here, Mr. French's fluid manner of description is cinematic, successfully emulating that of Hitchcock in the opening scene of Rear Window.
Cliffhanger is a purely fun-to-read novel. We become witness of aspects of average American High School life coalesce into a promise of a greater future, one that they will play a part in designing.
January 16, 2021
Excellent book! Michael is ta pro at writing his book characters. They are truly living, breathing individuals. Having read other books by him it's clear that he understands the variety of the human experience.
June 1, 2021
For young adult readers and beyond!
Although centred around a student body president election, Cliffhanger: Jump Before You Get Pushed is about much more than high school. Touching on corruption and truths, this page-turner of a novel will have you on the edge of your seat, enthralled to read on and find out who wins the election and who wins at life.
The story unfolds in the future when society hasn’t changed all that much but current events are in the past and that’s cool. Michael uses language that is engaging and interesting without being too basic for adults to enjoy and too graphic for young teens to handle. The action level increases with every chapter and with every change in the multiple POV’s; and just when you think it’s all over, the finale will make you gasp!
Dotted with loads of wonderful references to literature, poetry, history, and current events, this book has it all. School corruption and life lessons are in abundance, keeping you on the edge of your comfort zone ready to jump before you get pushed!
My Favourite Quotes:
“Number one, develop a skin as thick as a hippo’s. Number two, know the opposition better than it knows you. Rule three, don’t beat yourself up when your campaign comes off the rails. Setbacks are how you learn.”
“It confirmed that three or four determined friends could best an army of professionals.”
Although centred around a student body president election, Cliffhanger: Jump Before You Get Pushed is about much more than high school. Touching on corruption and truths, this page-turner of a novel will have you on the edge of your seat, enthralled to read on and find out who wins the election and who wins at life.
The story unfolds in the future when society hasn’t changed all that much but current events are in the past and that’s cool. Michael uses language that is engaging and interesting without being too basic for adults to enjoy and too graphic for young teens to handle. The action level increases with every chapter and with every change in the multiple POV’s; and just when you think it’s all over, the finale will make you gasp!
Dotted with loads of wonderful references to literature, poetry, history, and current events, this book has it all. School corruption and life lessons are in abundance, keeping you on the edge of your comfort zone ready to jump before you get pushed!
My Favourite Quotes:
“Number one, develop a skin as thick as a hippo’s. Number two, know the opposition better than it knows you. Rule three, don’t beat yourself up when your campaign comes off the rails. Setbacks are how you learn.”
“It confirmed that three or four determined friends could best an army of professionals.”
May 12, 2021
This fascinating novel constructs a vision of American secondary education (and politics) that will bemuse some readers, and perhaps startle others. The author, Michael French, fearlessly and gracefully maneuvers the literary acrobatics of, personally, vaulting back three generations by using the vehicle of the interplay and machinations of a Midwestern high school, while impelling the reader a decade or so forward into a disoriented, futuristic world in which national politics, and politicians, seep inexorably into the lives of American teenagers. A very engaging and compelling read from many points of view that entertains, and perchance educates, until the final pages!
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January 16, 2021This book is an excellent combination of traditional storytelling and dystopia. Michael French has the rare gift of writing stories that flow easily but explore complicated themes and mores. I found myself deeply involved in this high school election and the originally drawn young heroes and anti-heroes as well as thinking about much broader issues facing our nation and the world. Highly recommend!
April 26, 2021
This book introduced a lot of interesting concepts and the author was able to effectively weave them into the plot. However, I would've liked to see more development in the character relationships. I feel like we knew too little about Matthew considering he was a pretty important character. A backstory on him and Nathan would've been nice, too. Overall, though, an interesting read that tackles a lot of relevant topics.
January 17, 2021
This novel really explores the complexity of our world, where we are headed and how politics can really become a religious force for a lot of people. It is thought provoking, page turning and so relevant and important! Love it! Highly recommend reading ASAP!
February 8, 2021
“Intertwining historical content, the present, and not-so-far-off future, Michael French offers young and seasoned readers to ponder the present human conditions engulfing and perhaps extinguishing humanity. This allows readers to ponder their own identity and place in today's fast paced world, and how they might add, positively or negatively, to the political struggles tormenting society. History, mystery and suspense abound in “Cliffhanger."
June 23, 2021
Michael French brings a vision that is both microscopic and apocalyptic to this YA parable of power politics set in the jungle of a midwestern high school in the near future. His heroes are flawed, his villains have redeeming features, and his plot confounds by reaching its apparent climax at the three-quarter mark and then going on to land blow after blow in the later rounds. French has a lot to say about history as prologue and predictor, and his subtitle (which makes a harrowing reference to 9/11) carries an urgent message to young people: don't wait for life to happen TO you, get out there and make it happen FOR you.
This novel is a reworking of an earlier French title, and in his intro he dangles the promise that he's at work on a sequel, set near mid-century. Want to know what kind of a hellish hand basket the world will be in by 2048? Stay tuned!
This novel is a reworking of an earlier French title, and in his intro he dangles the promise that he's at work on a sequel, set near mid-century. Want to know what kind of a hellish hand basket the world will be in by 2048? Stay tuned!
June 7, 2021
Reading Cliffhanger is like being in a current events class with a soothsayer for a teacher!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews