On April 10, Britney Spears and her mom Lynne released a novel titled "A Mother's Gift".
Although the singing star and her mother teamed up before to write Britney's biography "Heart To Heart," "Gift" is the first work of fiction from the duo.
The novel is about a fourteen-year-old girl from Mississippi named Holly Faye Lovell. Holly is a talented singer who wins a scholarship to an exclusive music school. Leaving home for music school marks the first time Holly and her mother Wanda have been separated.
As the story goes on, Holly finds herself embarrassed by her mother although the two have always been close and "Wanda finds herself wanting to reveal a long-hidden secret . . . a secret that could destroy their bond forever," reads a synopsis from Random House Inc's official website.
Below is an excerpt from "A Mother's Gift". Check AllPop next week for a full review of the story.
A Mother's Gift
By, Britney & Lynne Spears
After 15 long, tense minutes, they finally rounded the school's curved driveway and stopped in front of the big doors. The car's engine was smoking as Wanda shifted into park.
Holly pulled her things from the backseat faster than a skycap hustling for a tip at a crowded airport. It seemed that everyone around her had fancy luggage with wheels and handles that pulled out and snapped back into place. There were duffel bags in bright colors and plastic crates filled with computers and stereo equipment.
Suddenly, the car quit idling. Its engine stalled. Smoke poured from under the hood.
Someone behind them in the line of cars yelled, "Move that clunker out of the way!"
"I'll just raise the hood," Wanda said quickly, flipping up the latch. A couple of guys standing near the curb laughed as she began to cough.
"Mom!" Holly said through her teeth, wondering if she really could die on the spot. "Are you trying to totally humiliate me?"
This was definitely not the way Holly wanted to make her entrance. Every second that passed left her-and the smoking car-open to public viewing. And mockery.
Holly wanted nothing more than to kiss Wanda good-bye and get her out of there. "Didn't we pass a gas station on the way in?" she tried innocently, pushing her hair behind her ears.
"I'm not sure, Holly Faye. And I'm not sure I'd make it there-"
"You would." Holly felt desperate.
"But don't you want me to come in? Help you get settled?"
"I'll be all right." Holly leaned over and planted a quick kiss on her mother's good cheek. "I-I'd better go." She jerked her head toward the school. "Don't want to miss the orientation meeting, right? See you at Thanksgiving."
Before Wanda could protest, Holly fled to the safety of the double doors.
"Bye!" her mama called out faintly, unable to mask the hurt in her voice.
But Holly was already inside the building.
Fourteen years of togetherness were over in a few embarrassed seconds.
Excerpted from A Mother's Gift by Britney & Lynne Spears Copyright 2001 by Britney & Lynne Spears. Excerpted by permission of Delacorte Books for Young Readers, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
-- AllPop
