Thanksgiving at the Inn
By Tim Whitney
(Bancroft Press, Paperback, 9781610880084, 224pp.)
Publication Date: November 11, 2010
Other Editions of This Title: Google eBook, Hardcover
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Description
Ever since his mother left, life hasn't been easy for Heath Wellington, III. Between his father's (Junior's) bouts with alcoholism and literary rejection, and Heath's own wrongful suspension from school, there hasn't been all that much to be thankful for.
But following the tragic death of estranged grandfather Senior, father and son alike stand to inherit a life-changing fortune...with one catch.
Heath and Junior must spend the next three months managing Senior's bed and breakfast, located in the same Massachusetts home Junior has spent the last eight years trying to escape.
As Heath adjusts to his new world, what he needs most is to understand that Junior, too, is dealing with loss, and to realize that, even in the most tragic of times, there's a lot in life to be thankful for.
Thanksgiving at the Inn is a beautiful story of family and forgiveness, and a sure holiday classic.
But following the tragic death of estranged grandfather Senior, father and son alike stand to inherit a life-changing fortune...with one catch.
Heath and Junior must spend the next three months managing Senior's bed and breakfast, located in the same Massachusetts home Junior has spent the last eight years trying to escape.
As Heath adjusts to his new world, what he needs most is to understand that Junior, too, is dealing with loss, and to realize that, even in the most tragic of times, there's a lot in life to be thankful for.
Thanksgiving at the Inn is a beautiful story of family and forgiveness, and a sure holiday classic.
About the Author
Tim Whitney grew up in South Portland, Maine and now splits his time between Plano, Texas and Whately, Massachusetts. He completed his undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Northeastern University and has an MBA from Western New England College.He works as an international manufacturing consultant and Vice President of Operations for a growing company in Garland, Texas.
His interests include staying fit, traveling, visiting art galleries, fishing, camping, and spending time with family and friends.
Thanksgiving at the Inn is his first book.
Praise For Thanksgiving at the Inn…
"This simple . . . debut novel is the coming-of-age story of a teen's ability to accept and give gratitude and forgiveness .. . . with a nice nod to family values . . . The novel's sweet, laconic pace comes to an abrupt halt as both father and son must deal with near-tragic events. Their soul-searching encourages them to grow and appreciate one another. This energetic, encouraging tale concludes on a hopeful note for both father and son."--SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"This wholesome story about a young boy's coming-of-age hits its stride after the first few chapters, with the initially disparate threads of the plot coalescing into a satisfying tale about the rifts between fathers and sons and the possibility of redemption. Although the book's cover art and plot descriptions are reminiscent of a Hallmark movie, the likeability of the main character, Heath, and his realistic responses keep the more sentimental moments from being too cloying. For example, Heath's befriending of a young autistic girl, which could easily have been overly sentimentalized, is instead natural and matter-of-fact. The novel's secondary characters, particularly the wise, elderly Winsted and the tattoo-sporting softie Mustang Sally, are sometimes more stereotypical caricatures than three-dimensional but are nonetheless still appealing. Readers who enjoy this entertaining, family-friendly book are likely to wish that author Whitney had not provided an afterword with his characters' fates, but had instead left the door open for a sequel."
--VOYA (VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES)
"This is a very well written story of conflict, humor, morals to be learned, and life-changing events for Heath. The characters are well developed. The interactions between residents and Heath and his father allow the reader to connect with the characters and become involved with their everyday life. It is a timeless, heartwarming story that is full of life's lessons often overlooked in today's fast-paced world. Thanksgiving at the Inn will relate well to many young readers. It is recommended as a basic book for any secondary school library. It would make an excellent selection for a basic books list for school libraries. Level: Junior/Senior. Subject: Family life. Fiction Category: Conflict. Rating for this Book: Excellent/Superior Quality."
--LINDA MCNEIL, CHAIR, TRI STATE YOUNG ADULT BOOK REVIEW COMMITTEE (PA, NJ, AND DE)
"Engaging, imaginative, and highly recommended."
--SUITE 101.COM, THE WORLD’S MOST COMPREHENSIVE INDEPENDENT ONLINE MAGAZINE, WITH 20 MILLION MONTHLY READERS
"Each evening when I picked up this book, I kept thinking, I sure hope people don't think this is solely a seasonal book. The backdrop of the story is November, and celebrating Thanksgiving is part of that. But this is the timeless story of a father and son, their relationship, their responsibilities, and growing up . . . There are several themes that are just as relevant in May as they are in November . . . This is also an engaging story . . . The story and the characters' relationships are well developed and connected. Teens will see themselves in Heath, who sees himself as the 'victim' of his father's wrath: never taking his side, always over reacting, insensitive to his needs. One of the things that stood out for me is how the author held up a mirror for Heath . . . This is a book that will appeal to all audiences, not just pre-teen boys. Dormant readers will relate to main character Heath on several levels. The chapters are a little longer and the margins a bit narrower than what you normally look for in a book to grab resistant readers, but the well-paced events will keep them turning pages. The story is sophisticated enough that it would also make a good high interest/low readability book for high school students. As I was reading, I kept coming up with book club discussion questions. I could see this in a father-son book club or in one of the Boys & Girls Club reading circles."
--THE READING TUB, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES LITERACY BY ENCOURAGING FAMILIES TO READ TOGETHER
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