Alt+Ed+Book+Rationale+-+Erin+Basgall

Alt Ed by Catherine Atkins

====Stereotypes, something that all high school students subconsciously have as labels for each other. In Alt Ed, Atkins takes us into the world behind the students' minds. She introduces us to the main character, Susan, who is struggling with her weight and so much more. By having this problem she has lost her voice and believes that she should feel pain, that she deserves this as her punishment.==== ====Susan isn’t the only one with issues, but all of the other characters within the book have their own individual problems as well. In order to not be expelled from the school for whatever problem this group of students did, they must meet with Mr. Duffey (high school counselor) in a camouflaged therapy/counseling group.==== ====The problems addressed deal with weight, sexual abuse, alcohol abuse, violence, physical abuse, pregnancy, and gay rights. With all of these problems come solutions. The students are forced to work together, to discuss their problems, their points of views and opinions. By doing so the students develop a kind of understanding and also make friendships by the end.==== ====I have never come across a book that fully talked about so many real world issues and ways of dealing with them before. It was refreshing to be able to follow these students’ lives and see how they handled certain situations, and in the end found a voice for themselves or finally stood up for something they believed in. Usually in books we hear about all the negative endings to such big problems that students might not find that there are ways of seeking help and healing.==== ====With this book being present within middle school or high school curriculum, we may be not only educating our students but also hitting the few that really do struggle with these problems in their every day lives where they can relate and find an outlet/ solution for what they are dealing with.====