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Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite
At twenty-six, Mark Patterson has no job, no savings, a wife with a kid on the way, and a wealthy father-in-law who detests his carefree and irresponsible lifestyle. Mark’s father-in-law best describes him as a beach bum. With a Master’s degree in physics, it seems the only job Mark can get is a physics teacher position at Winston Grant School, a small private high school in Montreal. However, this is not your typical high school. Wild and chaotic might be an understatement to describe the students. And the administration and the staff seem as incompetent as they are clueless. The headmaster has gladly saddled Mark with the role of coaching the school’s football and wrestling teams. Mark’s knowledge of these sports is as good as a cat’s understanding of calculus. Fellow staff have already wagered against how long Mark will last at the school. Will Mark survive the chaos at Winston Grant School? Find out in Gary J. Kirchner’s Throwing the Hammer.
Gary J. Kirchner’s Throwing the Hammer is the perfect pick for fans of contemporary realistic fiction blended with character-driven satire, workplace comedy, and drama. Kirchner’s tools of the trade in this delightfully immersive read are a sharp, wry sense of humor, subtly absurd satire, and a warm, sincere tone. The cast is well-crafted and compelling. I looked forward to Mark’s interactions with the deadpan headmaster and the students. It’s been a long time since I laughed as loud and hard as I did when reading this book. I still can’t get over how Mark ended up in a sports news article and taking credit for the school’s football team name, along with the equally ridiculous explanation for the name’s origin. Through this story, Kirchner sheds light on themes of institutional politics, educational bureaucracy, personal growth, resilience, teamwork, community, and more.
