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Accelerated Bronwen Hruska, adhd, becoming madame, book review, books, education, elite private schools, Literature, pegasus books, politics, writing
I recently received an advance copy of Bronwen Hruska’s forthcoming book Accelerated. One rainy afternoon a couple of weeks ago I settled into my favorite chair to begin sifting through the pages. Three-hundred and twenty-eight pages later that evening, I laid the book on my coffee table with a heavy heart and longing for the sequel.
Hruska’s debut into the world of parental fiction brings to life the story of Sean, a single father in New York City who as the book opens has recently lost his wife to an emotional breakdown and subsequent exodus from the family and become the sole guardian of eight-year old Tobi, a little boy reminiscent of Tim Allen’s son in The Santa Clause. Tobi is a sensitive, innocent youngster and a student at The Bradley School, an 
über-prestigious Upper East Side academy where the exorbitant tuition is paid by his indulgent maternal grandparents.
Sean, a fledgling artist – immediately bringing to mind David Duchovny’s newest TV papa-persona Hank Moody – is ultimately confronted with the realities of The Bradley School: unrealistic academic demands placed on his son; and insurmountable pressure to medicate his child ‘for his own good.’
At the core, Accelerated is a daring, honest and brave study that throws the doors of the elite Manhattan school world wide-open, touching in particular on three taboos of modern parenting: the ever-increasing rate of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) diagnoses; medicating 
children; and affirmative action policies at elite schools. The reader can well imagine Hruska pulling from her own experiences as a modern Manhattan parent to cultivate the characters of Sean, Tobi and his teacher Jess, the lady who eventually holds a certain fascination for newly separated Sean.
Opening with a steamy sex-scene in the bathroom of a parent association meeting, the one drawback from which the narrative suffers is the occasional smearing of the line between a wonderfully insightful and intelligent social satire and a Candice Bushnell-esque novel. We can almost hear the powers-that-be telling the author: “No one wants to read a serious book about the over-prescription of attention deficit meds in private schools. Put some sex in this thing so we can sell it!” So Hruska did. But the plunge was unnecessary.
As we read through the chapters, we are riding on Hruska’s ability to engage with her reader, to wrap us in an enthralling story of the love between father and son. She’s an impressive writer, an innate story-teller, and an astute social commentator. Her ability to reach into the depths of her soul and haul up a convincing male voice, completely in tune with the masculine psyche, is remarkable. Yet what’s even more compelling is her ability to raise a red flag and strip off the decorative curtain hanging over one of the most crucial issues concerning today’s parents.
Hruska’s Accelerated is a must read for all modern mothers and fathers, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles.
ADHD diagnoses and the Ritalin phenomenon are a largely North American, if not American, issue. Europe has yet to jump on that particular bandwagon. But that doesn’t mean it’s not clawing its nails into the social fabric of the Old Countries. With much less control over advertising and increased legislative constraint, pharmaceutical companies do not have the reach in, say, France that they are able to obtain in the United States. At least, not yet. And thank goodness for that.
The numbers are terrifying. Even worse is the side effect of creating an entire generation of medicated students. After reading Accelerated, I did a little research of my own. I stumbled upon several recent articles in the New York Times highlighting the staggering number of high school and college students abusing attention enhancement drugs, students who haven’t been diagnosed with a disorder. An entire black market has developed around these drugs. Other studies speak to the significantly increased percentage of young children diagnosed with such disorders over the last couple of decades. According to a national study, the percentage of children from ages 4 (yes, 4!) to 17 on prescription drugs to combat Attention Deficit Disorder rose 66% in the last ten years.
Some say it’s simply the effect of better diagnosis processes so children who need help are now getting it. Others, like Hruska, are far more skeptical.
As an adult who grew up with a reading disorder, I am sympathetic to parents who want to give their children every advantage and who worry about hindering their child if they refuse to provide aids that could make a real difference to the child’s ability to learn. But a drug? What are we teaching our children by having them pop one pill for this and another for that? We’re an easy fix society – we know that. But now we’re drugging our children. Pay attention parents.
That’s Hruska’s main thesis. And it’s a poignant one.
Accelerated is scheduled for release in October 2012 by Pegasus Books.
I don’t have children, but I was still horrified by those articles in the Times about kids who take drugs to get good grades and high test scores. I can’t imagine such pressure. Could it have been like that when I was a student? Did I simply not notice? I’ll look for Accelerated and I’ll be sure to recommend it to my friends with teens.
Shary, thanks for stopping by and for your comment. You know, I went to a private school and I know that prescription drugs weren’t a ‘thing’ at my school. If a student had touble with something, extra tutoring or special help was provided. It was hard work, the old fashioned way. But I was in high school 20 years ago, and it seems that this problem has exponentially worsened in the time since I graduated. In law school, I heard of a few people taking uppers during exam periods, but I thought it was just rumor. I was terribly naive, looking back. I hope you enjoy Accelerated. Take care!
Thank you for sharing your read. I will add Accelerated on my list of books to read ASAP. I just wanted to let you know that earlier this school year the French show Zone Interdite on M6 did a report on the use of Retilin for ADHD here in France and Belgium. The neurologist that tested my son here had suggested Retilin for him to overcome his concentration issues. My son, whom is dyslexic has a slight case that has affected his results at school. I kindly said no thank you to the doctor. But when my 15 yr old saw the documentary with me, he asked if we might give it a try. I said no, and he dropped it, thank goodness!
But the report was quite shocking as they interviewed college students and parents that were clearly Retilin advocates and users! So I am afraid to pop your bubble to let you know it is now present in Europe, and increasingly becoming available and reimbursable by the “secu” as long as your GP has prescribed it to you.
Audrey
Ps. I’ve been following and enjoying your blog for a while!
Hi Audrey, thank you for your comment! Not to worry about popping my bubble. I know that the drugs are increasingly available in Europe and in France, where I live, but the prevalence of them is still remarkably less important than in the States. So far. But you are absolutely correct, it’s in the air and parents need to be aware. Thanks again for your thoughts. Take care! (Ps. Thank you!)
I certainly wouldn’t have guessed you ever had trouble reading!
Both of my children were diagnosed as adults with Aspergers, and that diagnosis, too, is exploding both in North America and England (I haven’t heard anything about Europe). So many parents I know wonder what might have changed in the environment, food production, etc. that could be the cause, but we may never know.
You are my “serious fiction” reviewer. I stick to lighter things that help me escape from the grim realities.
Best wishes,
Nancy
Take a science class, kids, and stop wetting your pants over the fact that some people need help in boosting brain function. Really, you people are as bad as this craven author: pandering to the worst common denominator, on the backs of kids who have enough problems. Shameful liberal stupidity about neuroscience; it’s as bad as right-wing evolution denial. Grow up and get some compassion for these kids.
I’ll include this commentary despite my reserve that it is clearly written with spite and misunderstanding, as an attack on another point of view, rather than a measured, balanced argument. I might add that it is precisely for children who have learning difficulties, as I did myself with reading, that these sorts of studies and books are written. “Compassion” doesn’t even begin to describe it. The truth regardless of whether you see it or not, is that some people may believe in giving this sort of medication to children and other might find it questionable. The key is that parents, the decision-makers, are aware of all the realities. I appreciate, however heavy-handed, the contribution.
Thank you for the review. Interestingly enough, where I live (Israel – hope that that does not constitute a problem) Ritalin seems to be prescribed to help kids deal with boredom in school, rather than accelerated learning. When my son was around 10 i went to his primary school to tell them how often he was bored in class. Their answer? “Probably ADHD, better get diagnosed and medicated”
He’s now 15, in a super-accelerated school and doing fine. Strange how in NY (perhaps all of America) it seems to be reversed. But here I definitely see how Ritalin is prescribed just to let kids sit quietly through incredibly inane and boring classes.
Always delighted to have international readers! Welcome and thanks for your comment. It is quite interesting to see how this issue plays out in various parts of the world! Take care.
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