The Prince of Nantucket

March 19, 2007
Teddy Mathison, the hero of Goldstein's unabashedly cloying second novel (after All That Matters
), is an ambitious California senatorial candidate called home to Nantucket because his Alzheimer-afflicted mother, world-famous artist Kate Longley Mathison, is nearing death. Teddy reluctantly flies back east for one last visit with his estranged mother, and campaign manager Judith Mackey conceives of the reunion as a shot at increasing the divorced Teddy's family values appeal. Accompanied by his moody 13-year-old daughter, Zoe, Teddy arrives in Nantucket prepared for the ultimate confrontation with his formidable mother, but is shocked by her withered condition. Before long, Teddy blows off the campaign in favor of helping his mother paint her last canvas, bonding with a self-mutilating Zoe and romancing Liza Swain, a local waitress/photographer with a tragic past. When Judith shows up on the island to remind him of his campaign responsibilities, Teddy is forced to choose between becoming the senator from California or the "Prince of Nantucket." If you think you know how it ends, you're right. But if you think you won't get at least a little weepy, you're wrong.

August 1, 2007
Adult/High School-All of the elements of a soap opera are here-the charismatic politician, the nagging sister, the hip artist, the multitasking campaign manager, the neurotic ex-wife, the misunderstood daughter, the Alzheimer's-stricken, once-successful painter mother, and the memory of a father wronged. The novel begins in California as Teddy Mathison attempts to be his party's candidate for U.S. Senate. Very quickly the scene changes to the sandy beaches of Nantucket when Teddy is abruptly called home to care for his estranged mother and his ex-wife insists that their moody teenage daughter Zoe join him. Over the next 14 days, many secrets are exposed and memories are challenged. Teddy watches as Alzheimer's steals his mother's mind and his relationship with his daughter deteriorates. He begins to question the memories of his childhood and eventually finds that much of what he has accepted as the "truth" is anything but. When the real truth is exposedand acceptedTeddy and Zoe learn much about themselves and also find the resources they need to unleash and explore if they are ever to be truly happy, successful people."Joanne Ligamari, Rio Linda School District, Sacramento, CA"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.