The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger is a witty, caustic, and unnerving book that peeks inside the cutthroat, occasionally brutal world of contemporary parenting and education. The story, which is set in the made-up wealthy town of Crystal, Colorado, centers on a group of lifelong friends whose bonds fall apart when a new public school for talented kids opens.

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Fundamentally, the book is more about the adults—aspirational parents who will do whatever it takes to guarantee their child’s place on what they see as the path to future success—than it is about the kids. Holsinger examines issues of class conflict, privilege, entitlement, and the damaging consequences of status anxiety. All under the pretense of “doing what’s best for the kids,” what starts off as friendly competition quickly turns into lies, betrayals, and moral concessions.

Holsinger’s work is perceptive and insightful, striking a balance between humorous and emotional moments and scathing social criticism. His characters are multidimensional, and although while their imperfections are frequently visible, their fears and insecurities make them incredibly accessible. The book also has a haunting resonance that is both current and timeless because it references current crises, especially the college admissions scam of 2019.

The book’s capacity to serve as a mirror of modern society is one of its strong points. It poses challenging queries, such as: What does being “gifted” actually mean? Who is left behind and who has access to opportunities? And how far will parents go to achieve their own definition of success?

Even though the book occasionally borders on caricature, the exaggeration serves as satire by highlighting the ridiculousness of a culture that is fixated on success. The Gifted School is probably going to be just as captivating to those who liked Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies or Tom Perrotta’s Little Children.

The Gifted School is a humorous, thought-provoking, and admonishing story about privilege, ambition, and the delicate balance between wanting the best for ourselves and our kids. It’s an eerie and intriguing book that makes you think about the difficulties and traps of contemporary parenting long after you’ve turned the last page.