The Best Kind of People

Accusations of sex crimes with students send local hero and former teacher of the year George Woodbury and his family into a spiral of disruption and psychological damage that changes their lives forever. The wealthy Woodburys, pillars of the community, are rocked to the core, as no one truly knows whether George is innocent or guilty. His wife, Joan, stumbles through denial, anger, rage, and finally a degree of acceptance with the help of her work as a trauma nurse, her therapist, and a support group. Daughter Sadie, 17, escapes to her boyfriend's house, where she numbs her pain with marijuana and lots of sex. Older son Andrew struggles to support his father while reliving the ostracism he suffered when he came out as gay in their small, close-knit community. Whittall's writing is so strong and heartfelt that readers will wonder how such a young writer is able to offer this depth of emotion and psychological insight. This Giller Prize finalist is the Canadian author's first work to be published in the United States.