Permission Slips [Paperback]

Jerry Sander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

A mosaic of teen chaos, confusion and sexual anarchy is the backdrop for suburban ninth-grader Alison Gepner's search for meaning and first love. A 'good girl' who would rather be seen as an edgy individualist, Alison is surrounded by the soldiers of a cruel and crushing teen culture. She faces the fight of her life, just to have a life. The wily schemes of a jealous competitor (Claire, the newly slimmed-down group home girl) threaten to take away Alison's new connection with the intensely attractive and mysterious Elijah before she can claim him as her own. The adult world, too, seems to be a lonely mess, full of insecure 'helpers' who cling by their fingertips to the illusion of control.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...An awesome novel...captures what it is like in high school; the irony, the frailty, the humor, the ludicrousness." -- Nina Snyder, High School Counselor

"...PERMISSION SLIPS brings you back to adolescence – whether you want to go there or not. Very engaging dark humor." -- Susana McDermott, parent

"...Permission Slips is a dark novel about the chaos of teen life...not sanitized for one's emotional protection..." -- Midwest Book Review, November 5, 2005

"...a profoundly disturbing book and not for the squeamish...Parents of teenagers will benefit from reading this book." -- Bookviews, May 2005, Alan Caruba

"...an eye-opening first novel..." -- Mitchell Uscher, Sunday Times Herald-Record, November 13, 2005

"...brutal honesty in his portrayal of characters...can be downright shocking...a gritty, unromanticized look at... American high school." -- Emily Shaffer, Bookpleasures.com

"...has the speech, the rhythm and the jargon of teenagers absolutely right. I've seldom read such vAberbal spot-on accuracy." -- January Magazine, Cherie Thiessen, November 30th, 2005

"...hilarious and full of love...a huge slice of life...Sander certainly knows his terrain......a package of revelation." -- Chronogram Magazine, Anne Pyburn, January, 2006

"PERMISSION SLIPS is raw. These are our kids as they really are, not as we want them to be." -- Desiree Gibbs, C.S.W.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Author

Sometimes it takes fiction to get to the truth.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: The Way it Works Press (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976612704
• ISBN-13: 978-0976612704
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,692,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars what an acomplishment, May 12, 2005

By 

Yvette (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Permission Slips (Paperback)

I've now known Mr. Sander for 3 years and when reading this book felt like I had seen a whole new side of him. I was amazed at his talent in portraying the students he sees everyday. I will admit I was shocked at his ability to hold me as a reader and keep me interested. I think he has definitely found his talent; he is a writer at heart, and I can't wait till he puts out another book. And being a senior now I will have to drive back to the school to get it. This is a suggested read. Some teenagers may be offended or find the writing "fake" but it is the pure genius with which he captures the reality of student's lives and minds that may send people away. If you want to know the hysterics that are high school, I suggest to you (as a student still myself) read this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Permission Granted, December 28, 2005

By 

Ryan Schiff "The Gent" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Permission Slips (Paperback)

Realistic. Almost frightning.
If only the superintendent had her office across from the lunchroom.
Each character is easy to relate too. Each one is a real high schooler, with real high school problems: simple and complex, often both at the same time.

Changed the way I think about high school.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dark, sometimes violent story of struggling to maintain a stable life, November 10, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Permission Slips (Paperback)

Permission Slips is a dark novel about the chaos of teen life, written by high school student assistance counselor and parent Jerry Sander. Permission Slips is not sanitized for one's emotional protection, like most novels about a ninth- grader lost in the chaos of high school are, and not intended expressly for young adults - which may be a moot point since far too many young people live in the world of meanness, uncontrolled sexuality, mindless conformity, and brutal demands to be cruel enough and dumb enough to fit in with the group. A dark, sometimes violent story of struggling to maintain a stable life, identity, and maybe even find love amidst the worst youth has to offer.