Genre: Middle Grade, Self-help, Biography
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I want to be up front about a few things with this review.
I agreed to read and review this book
because I teach middle school students. Both her former middle school teacher
and the author explain that the author purposely uses a lower case “I” throughout her writing. This is not a case of
laziness. This is a way of letting the experiences stand out instead of
herself. I mention this because this
year seems to be the year a large number of my students write with a lowercase “I”.
From her opening chapters she makes it clear that middle
school is where you often become the person you will become. You enter completely unprepared. Two things
stood out. She said that most students enter it thinking it is now time for freedom,
but realize that it is the opposite. Those who have it easiest are those who
have matured faster. This was important for me to read. I have been telling
parents this for years. I told them this not because I was a middle school
teacher, but because I had lived through raising two children through their
middle school years. At the end of her each chapter she has statements or
questions for the reader to respond to.
This young woman has truly examined middle school life. Her
second chapter on maturity is spot on. I think both parents and young students
need to read this book. I honestly believe this should be a must read for all
middle school teachers. As I read this book I thought about the writing
assignments at the end of each chapter. I was able to recall my middle school
years. I think they stay with you forever until something brings them to mind
again. My students often look at me strangely when I am trying to make a point.
An example, a young lady was being targeted by someone in the class. They were actually inviting others to join
them in making up stories. I stopped them and told them about how a similar
event in my middle school years affected
me. I told them how I had handled the situation and why it stuck with me. Middle
schoolers see adults as just that. They don’t realize the things they do in
middle school will stick with them throughout their life. Middle school actually
helps shape who you become, just as the author of this book said.
Chapter 23
rang true
for me. It is called “Dream-Building—Big and Small”. I told my parents when I
was in fourth grade I was going to be a teacher. That dream started way before
that. I was an early reader and I would spend recess helping my friend who
usually had to stay inside because she couldn’t read. We practiced on the
playground. I convinced the teacher to let me help her during recess so she
could have some play time too. I taught my sisters to read before they were in
kindergarten. I worked with kids with learning disabilities when I was in
middle school. My parents encouraged me to stretch the boundaries, but at the
same time I had to decide my own dream. This is my last year of teaching. When
I walk into class on Monday to do a book talk, this is the book I will talk
about. I teach eighth grade and this is a book that needs to be read. I will
recommend it to our media specialist and our counselors as well. I am also
recommending this to our district. One day every month we have what they call a
resiliency lesson. They are lessons to help middle school students deal with
the very things this author has addressed. It has questions for discussion at
the end of each section. I believe this book would be much more beneficial
since it was actually written by someone who was thirteen at the time.
To the author I say this. Keep working on your passions. You
were right when you said this was the book you wish someone had written for
you. You took that wish and decided to help others by writing it yourself.
Thank you for your contribution. Know that you are and will be changing the
world one book reader at time.
