Review: The Duke of Bannerman Prep - Katie A. Nelson

The Duke of Bannerman Prep
Katie A Nelson
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Tanner wants out: out of his house, his situation, his circumstances. He wants to see how the other half lives. He finally gets his chance, when he is awarded a debate scholarship to the posh Bannerman Prep School. It is evident, that Tanner is out of his depth as soon as he steps foot on school grounds, and is drawn into this upper crust world. But, will he be able to afford the price tag it comes with?

First and foremost, this is a Great Gatsby retelling, and I thought Nelson's approach was quite fresh and entertaining. The essence of the original story was obvious, but the story was still it's own. The tale of a boy from modest means, who is seeking his fortune, and is drawn into the vortex of this mysterious, but gracious stranger is all there, but now we also have the modern twists, the pressures of high school, and debate.

After reading this book, I am quite upset that my high school did not have a debate, because that world sounds amazing. If Neslon's portrayal of high school debate is even close to reality, count me in. Each part of the book, where debate took center stage, I was able to feel the stress, the pressure, the exhilaration, and the defeat as the characters practiced, prepared, and competed. I was genuinely enthralled by it all.

"I'd seen what was possible, and I wanted it. I wanted it more."

I really loved Tanner. There were so many sides to him: he was a dutiful son, a protective brother and cousin, but also a normal teen boy. Tanner came to Bannerman for all the right reasons: he knew it was his only way out of Hollister and a minimum wage job. He went to Bannerman with the intention of winning the state championship and securing a scholarship, but he sort of lost his way at one point. Being out of his home, he escaped that pressure cooker for a new one. It's no wonder he could not resist the gravitational attraction to The Duke, and was drawn into his orbit. He made a bad choice, which sort of set off a chain reaction of poor choices, and snowballed into disaster, deception, and betrayal. But he was still there. The real Tanner was still present, and his mea cupla and bid for redemption was the stuff that kept me believing in him, and cheering him on.

"But he knew me. Knew exactly what I needed. And he made sure I got it."

The Duke was also written quite well. He was everything we expect in our Gatsby. Gracious, but standoffish, with an air of mystery. I loved finding the breadcrumbs, and trying to piece together who The Duke really was. I thrived on the tension as it all started to unravel, and I was a little on edge waiting to see what the fallout would be.

"You don't know anything about him. You know what he wants you to know."

And yes, there is a little romance in there too. I wanted this for Tanner. I needed this for him. The kid had it tough, and I am glad Nelson gave him a sweet romance, with an independently minded young woman, who supported him, lifted him up, and was compassionate. I was sailing on this ship, even if it was only a minor part of the story.

 Overall: A great retelling, which encapsulated the essence of the original, while still coming across as new and unique.


**I would like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

Do you like debates?

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