"The Gifted School" a Dramedy that Mirrors the College Scandal of the Social Elite

Bruce Holsinger's novel "The Gifted School" is a prescient dramedy that mirrors today's college scandals of privileged parents with plenty of means and believe the means justify the ends where their precious prodigies are concerned.  Felicity Hoffman is the first among a throng of celebrities and wealthy families sentenced for fraudulent tactics taken to insure their teens a backdoor entrance to elite universities.  This easy read, real housewives parody brings together 4 women in Crystal, CO whose friendships were born after the births of their children.  The mommy and me group has lasted more than a decade and consists of a colorful foursome including Rose, a neurological physician whose head needs examining.  Holsinger has written a romp of female friendships that sours into frenemies as they vie to get their pre-teens into a new public school for the gifted child.  Rose is not the only voice we hear and the multi-narratives becomes somewhat muddled between the women, their spouses and their offspring.  The young bloods include competitive twins Aidan & Charlie and two Emmas attached at the hip.  The strains of over programed privileged children parodies the tilted playing field that already favors the rich.  Almost no one comes off smelling like a rose except for the twins mother Azra and a young Atik, a self-taught origami talent.  Atik's single mom & grandma make ends meet by cleaning the homes of the rich on the sparkling side of Crystal.  Holsinger scores with the unscrupulous measures taken by parents to provide an added edge and appearance of perfection.  The vloggings by Tessa, a talented but troubled teen are particularly noteworthy.  Tessa and her younger, quirky chess wiz brother bring down the house of cards of pretentious preening and scandalous secrets.  "The Gifted School" raises good questions regarding the allocation of educational investments and focus for the general population but reads like a pop culture reality show.  "The Gifted School" gets a grade of B-.