Trust Exercise

Susan Choi's 'Trust Exercise' is that rare novel which keeps the reader guessing in terms of plotting and character depiction in her story of high school pupils in the Deep South of the 1980s. Under the iron rule of the charismatic yet intimidating Mr Kingsley, the various teen protagonists find themselves propelled into trajectories beyond their control leaving indelible marks on their future lives far away from the Citywide Academy for the Performing Arts. 'Trust Exercise' calls into question with conviction the trust young people are expected to place in adult mentors and instructors who themselves have failed to transcend certain foibles of their teen years. A worthwhile and mesmerizing read.