Book+Rationale

Joseph Schimmel ENG 409 9/9/11

Book Rationale: __Alt Ed__

__Alt Ed__ was captivating, moving, powerful, entertaining, and quite relevant in today’s tumultuous teenage world. I would highly recommend this book as a high school English teacher. The characters within the pages had life, passion, and real issues similar to those roaming the halls of high schools throughout the country. The book centers around Susan Callaway, an over-weight, underappreciated, tormented young woman. She represents millions of teenagers who receive punishment and abuse on a daily basis simply because they’re different. Being different is something we’re told is a good thing. “Be unique, follow your heart, carve your own path”, etc. However, for many young students that comes with a price. It’s easier for those looking to bully when targets are self-appareled. The reasons why I would introduce this book and discuss its themes in my English class are simple: it’s an easy, quick read: it addresses issues from different perspectives and offers insight, rationale, and comfort: and, it’s relevant. Students today are desperately searching for who they are and how they belong. This book offers an inspiring look at what confidence, understanding, and good ‘ole fashioned communication can accomplish. This book is perfect for a high school student struggling with weight issues, a high school student living in a broken home, dealing with bullies, sexually confused and/or terrified, the jock, the bully, the promiscuous, the faithful, and everyone in between. Beyond reading this book in my classroom, I would encourage my fellow teachers to read it. The idea of a group counseling/reform service would be so beneficial to so many young students. Kids need someone to talk to, to listen to, to relate to, etc. The group in the book met because they were faced with a choice: either show up or get expelled. However, I strongly believe voluntary groups would thrive. This was a wonderful book and one I’ll pull off the shelves many times throughout the years.