Unintended Consequences
Unintended Consequences
Unintended Consequences
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Description
Description
Brimming with hope, Unintended Consequences, a story told through three Southern families, is a moving novel about the ways we weave in and out of one another's lives, sending ripples of change into the world.
From the second we enter this world, our choices, or lack thereof, are shaped by the circumstances already in motion when we arrive. Nathan Erskine wasn't particularly destined for greatness-neither were Matthew Beckham or Roderick Bastrop. And feeling no inward sense ofpersonal destiny, the three found themselves meandering through life, as if neither choices nor their consequences mattered at all, even while their futures morphed and molded into life-altering outcomes with every step.
Nathan, the son of a hardworking and successful real estate broker, never planned to teach. Little did he know, the classroom would become the unlikely stage for a destiny far larger than he could imagine.
Matthew, raised by distant and aloof parents, did everything in his power, good and bad, to get the attention he so deeply craved, until a punishing military academy broke him down and a summer with his eccentric family built him up.
Roderick Bastrop, orphaned as a young boy, lived with his great grandmother. Despite her love she could offer only minimal supervision, leaving Roderick face to face with the cruel injustice of the American justice system. And like so many young Black boys in this environment, Roderick simply slipped through the cracks of a system already skewed against him.
The lives of Nathan, Matthew, and Roderick collide in ways none of them could have foreseen, as they each grapple with courage, conviction, and the inescapable weight of their pasts.
A page-turner that surprises with emotion and heart, Unintended Consequences is for readers who relish rich and gripping stories about love, loss, and the surprises of everyday life.
"A compelling narrative and a call to conscience. Every teacher and parent should read this book."-Dr. Ronnie McGehee, former Superintendent, Madison County Public Schools, Madison, Mississippi
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Few novels capture the intersections of race, teaching, and redemption with such candor and grace. Unintended Consequences is both a compelling narrative and a call to conscience. Every teacher and parent should read this book."-Dr. Ronnie McGehee, former Superintendent, Madison County Public Schools, Madison, Mississippi
"Intertwining harsh realities with optimism and perseverance, Unintended Consequences weaves a heartfelt plot of three lives unlikely, yet destined, to cross paths. A real and raw look at humanity that leaves the reader wanting more." -Carla Fox, registrar, Cascia Hall Preparatory School
"Totally believable; totally engaging. I was immediately drawn in from the beginning and completely absorbed to the end. I eagerly await Mr. Boatwright's next novel!" -Lois McLeod, former human resources manager and director of training, US District Court
"Great storytelling with an authentic Southern flare. The reader cares about the multiple characters whose lives and stories weave together over the decades, arriving at a place of love, reconciliation, and hope for the future. Highly recommended!" -Larry Brown, family counselor
"Southern storytelling at its finest. Unintended Consequences takes a hard look at the failures of education in the South and its consequences. Redemption for young people, black and white, comes from the educators who care about their students and work fearlessly to help them succeed." -Teresa Brown, manager, Richland County Public Library
"Blending humor, heartbreak, boldness in truths, and gentleness at heart, Unintended Consequences addresses weighty issues and still manages to deliver hope with tenderness, honesty, and compassion. It challenges us to rethink how we view one another through the lens of privilege, need, pain, and possibility. It illustrates that lives, unlikely to intersect, can and do so with grace and understanding." -Jodie McGehee, registered nurse (Ret.)
"Unintended Consequences weaves a story with diverse characters so full of pain and joy, ambition, disappointment, grace and success, and heart and soul. Yes, I fell in love with them." -Kathy Chartier, retired assistant to the bishop of the South Carolina Synod of the ELCA
"Boatwright's writing style is both warm and reflective, characterized by an understated lyricism that suits his themes well. He often pauses to consider the ways that family, love, and memory guide the direction of our lives. The novel explores the unintended consequences that flow naturally through life-the quiet blessings and unexpected challenges that shape us more than we realize. This introspective tone, paired with vivid settings and believable characters, makes the novel deeply human and emotionally resonant." -Catherine Sims, assistant principal for curriculum, Cascia Hall Preparatory School
"Unintended Consequences is a poignant reminder that hope and compassion can break the chains of social injustices. It addresses the impossible inequities of poverty, racism, neglect, and broken systems, yet reminds readers that powerful change starts from many tiny choices." -Dr. Andrea Kieffer, MD
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
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