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Reviews PRAISE FOR TIM WHITNEY’S THANKSGIVING AT THE INN “This is a very well written story of conflict, humor, morals to be learned, and life-changing events for Heath. The characters are well developed. It is easy for the readers to picture: Mustang Sally, who is an over-muscled, over-tattooed grease monkey who writes children’s books; Winsted, who is a wise Jamaican and former preacher and jailbird; Mrs. Farrell, who is an elderly woman giving away her late husband’s ill-earned fortune to needy people; and Carter, who is a TV news junkie and Harvard graduate. The interactions between residents and Heath and his father allow the reader to connect with the characters and become involved with their everyday life. It is a timeless, heartwarming story that is full of life’s lessons often overlooked in today’s fast-paced world. Thanksgiving at the Inn will relate well to many young readers. It is recommended as a basic book for any secondary school library. It would make an excellent selection for a basic books list for school libraries. Level: Junior/Senior/Subject: Family lifeFiction Category: Conflict/Rating for this Book: Excellent/Superior Quality.” “When reading a children's book, an adult usually has to keep in mind the author's intended audience. With Thanksgiving at the Inn, I didn't have to try so hard. It’s an innocent, heart-warming story that not only captured the spirit of Massachusetts in autumn with its vivid setting descriptions, but was a joy to read. I can see this wonderful book turning into a timeless classic.” “A lovely family story about forgiveness and appreciation.” "A touching story of family and forgiveness for fathers and sons everywhere." "A heartwarming story about family, filled with colorful and unforgettable characters." “This wholesome story about a young boy’s coming-of-age hits its stride after the first few chapters, with the initially disparate threads of the plot coalescing into a satisfying tale about the rifts between fathers and sons and the possibility of redemption. Although the book’s cover art and plot descriptions are reminiscent of a Hallmark movie, the likeability of the main character, Heath, and his realistic responses keep the more sentimental moments from being too cloying. For example, Heath’s befriending of a young autistic girl, which could easily have been overly sentimentalized, is instead natural and matter-of-fact. The novel’s secondary characters, particularly the wise, elderly Winsted and the tattoo-sporting softie Mustang Sally, are sometimes more stereotypical caricatures than three-dimensional but are nonetheless still appealing. Readers who enjoy this entertaining, family-friendly book are likely to wish that author Whitney had not provided an afterword with his characters’ fates, but had instead left the door open for a sequel.” "St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, felt that ingratitude was the greatest of sins. The quirky characters who gather around the Thanksgiving table at the Sleeping Inn help each other learn the true meaning of gratitude. As they face their struggles, they teach each other — and us — to be grateful for life's many blessings. It's easy to give thanks for this timeless, heartwarming, and inspiring tale of fathers and sons and the strangers in their lives who become our friends." “Told through the eyes of young Heath, this is a story of family values, of coming together, and of learning life lessons too easily forgotten in the bustle of the computer age. It has the warmth of a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, and the feel of a timeless classic.” "A delightful, well-written novel and easy, light read that pulls you into the story with descriptive visuals and gently suggests profound lessons to be learned." “Have you ever felt as if you couldn't connect with your parents? As if no matter what you did, it was never good enough? Ever feel like you just didn't fit in? Like you’re a victim to your parents’ choices? Or have you ever been so embarrassed about a weakness that you'd do almost anything to hide it? If you answered yes to even one of these questions, you are going to love this book. It is a heart-warming and vivid portrayal of a deep desire within all of us—to discover who we are, and to be loved for who we are. As soon as I finished my copy, I handed to my teenage daughter. She couldn't put it down! As a former teacher and member of the school’s PTO, I will be recommending it to be included on the students’ required reading list. Put it on yours, too.” “Several of us here have now had the opportunity to read the manuscript, and we are all huge fans of Heath’s voice, which we find to be authentic, sympathetic, and engaging. We think that the conflict between father and son is highly relatable. And we are enthusiastic about the overall quality of the prose.” "A must read . . . a true family classic!" “Definitely enjoyable. I liked the story setting and all the characters at the inn.” “A wonderful coming-of-age fable that will make you truly appreciate what is important in life.” “The unfolding secrets and the Inn characters were lovely.” "Tim Whitney’s Thanksgiving at the Inn is a simple, heartfelt, and loving book that everyone will enjoy reading. It focuses on the relationship between a father and a son and how the death of a family member eventually leads them to understand one another better, in turn leading to a better relationship. The writer has done an excellent job of capturing the common, everyday incidents of our lives, and of allowing the reader to connect with his characters." “Definitely has some very kid-friendly moments.” "In this story of hope and healing, a twelve year old boy, aided by the eccentric residents of a New England bed and breakfast, learns what thanksgiving truly means." “Heath is a very likeable main character.” “A heart-warming message and a life-altering read!” “Thanksgiving at the Inn is truly an exciting and easy-to-read novel for every young adult starving to understand life's strange twists and turns. It harks back to often forgotten life lessons in character and integrity-through-compassion for those just a little different from us. A recommended read for the young teen or the experienced parent striving to deal with issues in communication, understanding, and fear of failure, this is one of those few novels to truly parallel fiction and life. Follow Heath through his struggles to learn that love is shown and offered in many more ways than he could ever imagine.” “It’s been a while since I’ve read such a ‘feel good’ story. And at first, you don’t realize that the book will turn out like that. You just think that Heath and Junior will argue and the book will end like that. But was I wrong! Every single character has tons of personality, and some of them may even remind you of your own friends or family! I know they reminded me of a few people I know. And for those others, I wanted to hang out with them there at the Inn. Everyone has their own situations to deal with in the book, and it reminds you of our own difficulties and how you can conquer them. Anger, laughter, sadness, and family values come into play with every single page and chapter. While Amazon says it’s for ages 9-12, people of every age can learn from it. You’re never too old to learn a life lesson. You get a newfound sense of love for your family and for the strangers you meet. You can either be someone who has the problem but doesn’t do anything about it, or you can be someone who wants to do something about it but isn’t sure what to do. Or you can be that person who finally changes everything around. That’s what you’ll learn. I promise “A quick, light read . . . This is Whitney's first book, and I think he is a promising writer." “Wonderful, enjoyable varied characters. A good book to read as a family.” “I can honestly say this was one of those heartwarming stories I won't easily forget.” “An outstanding novel, this was one of the best books I have read in a long while . . . A really great read!” “A lovely young adult story line about people who manage to take life's bad breaks but continue to smile. The theme is one of gratitude—counting blessings rather than listing negatives.” “Thanksgiving at the Inn offers a nice story as well as some interesting characters . . . It dramatizes a good and important message: Life is too precious to hold onto grudges.” “Thanksgiving at the Inn is a warm-hearted and thoughtful story, perfect for reading during the Thanksgiving period.” “Thanksgiving at the Inn was a pleasant surprise . . . The characters were all interesting and colorful, and the interaction between Heath and his father was vivid and real. While I wish Mr. Whitney had included a message of faith in his story, the message is there if you look closely enough.” “Thanksgiving at the Inn isn’t a novel I see teenagers picking up on their own, more so as one that might be bought for them at holiday time, and one which other family members might enjoy. It might seem at first a bit preachy, based on the back cover blurbs and title, but it’s a great novel that’ll suit teenage boys especially. The characters living at the inn were all really well-developed, each with their own interesting back-stories and difficult pasts. This is a novel full of lessons and morals, but it’s still appealing and definitely a valuable read. One thing I love about small publishers is that their books don’t tend to appeal to trends – instead they just publish great books, often really unique. Thanksgiving at the Inn is a novel that families might enjoy together – as on Father’s Day here in Australia (we don’t have a Thanksgiving Day), and it’s the type of book dads might read to sons, or older brothers to younger brothers (if you do that type of thing in your family, which you definitely should!). Overall, Thanksgiving at the Inn is a great, family-friendly read.” “This is a heartwarming story of love and forgiveness, but there's another message in this little gem—people need friends. We learn something from members of our family, but it's often 'outsiders' who teach us how to live and love our family . . . The characters, especially Winsted, wormed their ways right into my heart. I liked the way Winsted would allow Heath to learn and grow from his own mistakes and life experiences rather than preaching what he could do or should do. There is also the young autistic girl who lives close by who makes an impact on Heath. Thanksgiving at the Inn is told from Heath's perspective and is therefore a great book for middle school and older readers who will be able to identify with some of the turmoil in Heath's life. It's also a perfect read for all the rest of because it teaches us the need to forgive and grow beyond past patterns in our lives and past disappointments. We can also learn about expectations. I can see this becoming a favorite book for young people to read over and over again.” "This book is unlike any that I have ever read. It's a remarkable, extremely good story about coming together as a family and recognizing what you need to be thankful for— but...without the cheese. . .This is such a beautiful holiday read . . . and a quick read too!" “Thanksgiving at the Inn is a heartwarming tale where the central characters not only learn from each other but also themselves. I enjoyed watching the progression both remaining Wellingtons made as each navigated their way through complex relationships. I found the struggle for the father and son to bond after the loss of Heath’s mother and Junior’s father believable and honest. While I was disappointed in the elder Heath’s emotional abandonment of his son at a critical juncture of life, it drove the story with great impact. I found it interesting to watch Junior replay and relive the sins of his father with his own son. His behavior and actions echoed those that were perpetrated against him long ago, yet he still didn’t have the common sense to look through his own pain to make it better for his own child. The fact that he continued to be so spiteful towards Senior (despite the man no longer being present) made it more believable that his own son did his best to be the better man. I adored the youngest Heath as the central character. Despite some challenging circumstances and situations, his reactions and behavior were far more dignified than a typical boy his age. He was so well mannered and caring, love-starved even, as he built relationships with the Inn-habitants and other members from town that he interacted with. He was not without his faults but was honest about them and did his best to become a better person. Whitney built a wonderful cast of characters in the Inn-habitants. The diversity of their lives allowed Heath to experience different life lessons through each. Even better, the author did well to showcase each individual and their life story without side-tracking the all encompassing plot by focusing too much on any. They were all a means to an end, not the main story. If you are looking for a light, quick read about family dynamics and growing as a person, then Whitney’s Thanksgiving at the Inn is a wonderful selection to add to your shelves.” "Thanksgiving at the Inn is a wonderfully original work where author Tim Whitney, in a warm and generous first novel, has assembled a collection of very interesting individuals. Each one has a very engaging interior life which he or she is willing to share with the reader. Each character has a concern for the common good, and it is encouraging to see what each contributes to the lives of others. The characters help us to understand that great love can be demonstrated in little ways, and they give us hope. Thanksgiving at the Inn reminds us how much we Americans have to be grateful for. As the story moves along, we also come to see how fully life can be lived in a small New England town as individuals try to work through their problems and and strive for human fulfillment. The action reminds us that nobody is perfect, and Tripod, the three-legged dog, becomes the symbol of working against the odds. Some of the more poetic passages in this human comedy remind us of the soaring tenderness of Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Energetically styled and briskly paced, this is a book which is hard to put down once the reader has come to know Heath Wellington III because he is such a sensitive and attractive young man. Heath has an aching heart, and to spend time with him gives one the opportunity to reflect upon one's own youthful desperations and disappointments. But Heath is great-spirited, and he always looks to the positive and sustaining aspects of life. He comes to understand that every human being has to pay a price for love. Heath can serve as a model for the youthful readers of our generation.”
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