In The Corporate Kid we meet two ordinary people, Charles Sullivan and Bill Bradford, who are thrown together in a dramatic way. How will they react to the situations that unfold, and the relationships that develop? Charles is a young man from the inner city whose family is struggling to make ends meet; Bill is a rich and powerful businessman. As events unfold, the reader watches both Charles and Bill wrestle with fear, doubt, anger, greed, and other anxieties and emotions. Each will encounter people far different from themselves and ultimately prove that character is what a person exhibits when nobody else is watching.
The Corporate Kid is a story that invites questions and conversation, for young people and grownups alike. As a young person in today’s society, when is it right to stand up for what you believe? Who will listen? Who will do what is right, fair, and just? It engages the reader to question whether he or she would have made the same decisions that Charles and Bill make. Their motivations change as the story rolls along, demonstrating that people can change for the better despite their circumstances.
Authors Neil Shulman and Susan Wrathall have crafted a funny, adventurous, and brave tale about taking risks, exploring new worlds despite our fears, listening to each other, and listening to our own hearts. It’s about remembering where we came from, seeing where we’re headed, and envisioning what’s possible—not always easy to do. This is a story for everyone, poor or rich, powerless or influential. It’s a story for today, and it imparts lessons for tomorrow.
Charles Sullivan and Bill Bradford are both ordinary, like us. And at the same time they’re extraordinary—as we all can be.
John Lewis
Member of Congress
