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Windfall

Name: Windfall
Item: Windfall
Rating: 4
Author: Darienne Stewart

Book review by

Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 12+

(i)

Lucky lottery ticket changes everything in winning romance.

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Parents say

age 18+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 4 reviews

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Educational Value

Lots of references to books, including Charlotte's Web, The Bell Jar, Oliver Twist, The BFG, Little Women, and Harry Potter. Outlines how lotteries work, including how payouts are handled and common issues faced by winners.

Positive Messages

Questions about how we construct self-narratives and identity, and ways that can be both limiting and liberating. Realistically shows how painful and difficult loving relationships can be, and the value in taking the necessary risk to fully commit to such relationships. Demonstrates the rippling effect of kindness, and assures that moving on is not the same as forgetting. Shows strength of family support through difficult circumstances.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Alice is a selfless volunteer inspired by her parents' commitment to public service, dedicating much of her free time to helping others (tutoring, working in a soup kitchen, etc.). She, her cousin Leo, and their friend Teddy are devoted to one another. Teddy is less reliable, but his care and consideration come through in often unexpected gestures. Teddy's sudden fortune goes to his head at first, but he eventually adjusts his mindset with help from his relatively patient friends. Alice's aunt and uncle and Teddy's mother are supportive and emotionally involved, despite her uncle's difficulty opening up about her dead father.

Violence

References to a parent's death in a car accident years earlier. Adult men argue loudly and cause a scene at a school event.

Sex

Some kissing, both brief and romantic; a joking reference to Playboy.

Language

Occasional strong language includes "pissed," "hell," and "jackass."

Consumerism

Mentions of several snack foods (Oreos, Skittles, M&Ms), games and media (Skee-ball, Pac-Man, Pixar) and brands including Jet Ski, Post-it, and Velcro.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Teen who doesn't smoke is given cigarettes as an 18th birthday present. Parent drinks a beer during difficult conversation.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Windfall, another charming romance by Jennifer E. Smith (The Geography of You and Me), is centered on two teens who have endured family traumas and who see their lives changed by a winning lottery ticket. Alice lost her parents in rapid succession, one to illness and the other to a car crash. Teddy is estranged from his father, a gambling addict who abandoned his family after losing their savings and home. Leo lives with a strong, supportive family (they've taken in Alice, his cousin), but he's struggling to maintain a long-distance relationship with his boyfriend. The romance is light and sweet, with just a bit of kissing but an abundance of thoughtful, caring interactions.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written byjcm87 December 6, 2018

age 18+

Homosexual relationship

The reviews on this book completely miss the homosexual relationship between Leo and Max which is portrayed as completely normal.

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Teen, 13 years old Written byannie4321 September 9, 2017

age 12+

It's a really good book

I think it was really well written and a very interesting story.

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Kid, 11 years old December 2, 2017

age 11+

Inspiring!

A little kissing and arguing, but I don't think anyone under the age of 10 would have an interest or understand it. Teddy, he won the lottery, is selfish... Continue reading

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What's the story?

WINDFALL begins with Teddy's 18th birthday party. Alice, who has harbored a secret crush on her best friend for years, marks the occasion by giving him a lottery ticket. They're shocked when he's one of three winners of the $140 million jackpot, changing their lives overnight. The happy-go-lucky Teddy she grew to love is suddenly more distant than ever, enjoying his newfound fame and riches. Alice and Teddy had supported each other through extraordinary ordeals: the untimely death of Alice's parents and Teddy's father's ruin and abandonment of his family. As a devoted do-gooder, Alice is dismayed to see Teddy increasingly absorbed by his fortune. She's never believed much in luck, and Teddy's windfall increasingly appears to be more trouble than it's worth.

Is it any good?

This romance unfolds slowly and as you might expect -- but the real pleasure here is in seeing Alice, Teddy, and Leo challenged to reexamine who they think they want to be. Windfall is a long 400-plus pages, but readers will enjoy the time with Alice, who has a kind but aching heart. Her romantic interest in Teddy, a classically rakish character, is less absorbing than the big questions Alice wrestles with.

Author Jennifer E. Smith takes a fresh look at the question of what you might do if you were rich, and teases out new threads: What if you had a chance to share in a friend's good fortune? If you've been dealt some terrible hands, can you accept good luck? If you've never suffered misfortune, should you feel guilty? What responsibility do we have to share good fortune with others? Windfall is a great conversation starter for families.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the enduring appeal of romances like Windfall. Do you like stories of seeing how two people get together, or do you prefer will-they-or-won't-they plots?
If you've read other stories by Jennifer E. Smith, how does this compare? What similarities do you see among her female main characters?
What do you think you'd do if you won the lottery?

Book details

Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Genre: Romance
Topics: Friendship, Great Girl Role Models, High School
Book type: Fiction
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: May 2, 2017
Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 18
Number of pages: 432
Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle