Still Needs Work - by Ellen Barker (Paperback)

About the Book

When Marianne is abruptly laid off from her tech job during a recession, she's forced to move back to the seedy Kansas City neighborhood she thought she'd left forever. As she applies for jobs in an industry that doesn't value the middle-aged, Marianne must rally her inner strength to rebuild her life again.

Book Synopsis

When Marianne is abruptly laid off from her tech job during a recession, she's forced to move back to the seedy Kansas City neighborhood she thought she'd left forever. As she applies for jobs in an industry that doesn't value the middle-aged, Marianne must rally her inner strength to rebuild her life again.

Review Quotes

"An incisive, warm take on juggling the realities of home, work, and income."
-Kirkus Reviews

"An insightful, compelling exploration of the challenges and intricacies in the current tech landscape . . . Still Needs Work by Ellen Barker is a relevant, immersive novel that explores the complexities of the corporate world through its true-to-life protagonist."
--Readers' Favorite, 5-star review

"The writing is crisp, perfectly befitting the personality of the protagonist, whose insights into the hidden messages and evasive mind-games of the corporate world are perfectly on target--even if that doesn't always work out in her favor. The character's inner voice is entertaining and insightful."
--Diane Winger, author of the Ellie Dwyer series

"A realistic portrayal of how isolating, ruthless, and demoralizing the modern tech economy can be."
--Mike Trigg, author of Bit Flip

"A well-written, satisfying story that will resonate for many readers."
--Linda Moore, author of Attribution

"Ellen Barker's wry sense of wit and amazing attention to detail draw the reader into the real-life dilemmas faced by her protagonist."
--Jude Berman, author of The Healing Zone and The Die

"Barker tells her story with humor and a steadfast pace of overcoming adversity. This is a story of resilience and finding one's way in life."
--Nancy Chadwick, author of The Wisdom of the Willow and Under the Birch Tree

About the Author

Ellen Barker grew up in Kansas City during a period of demographic upheaval, and she returns there in her novels. She has a bachelor's degree in urban studies from Washington University in Saint Louis, where she developed a passion for how cities work, and don't. She began her career as an urban planner, then spent many years working for large consulting firms, first as a writer-editor and later managing large data systems. Her volunteer work involves years of pet-assisted therapy with children in "the system," both foster care and prison. She is the author of East of Troost, which introduced readers to the neighborhood where The Breaks takes place, and Still Needs Work, which takes place in the same area. She now lives in Los Altos, California, with her husband and their German shepherd, Boris, who is the inspiration for the dog in this novel.