Roseanne Cheng

Agnes has never fit in. She has accepted this. She is bullied. When she finally reaches her breaking point, she takes matters into her own hands. She starts a blog where she starts telling secrets she knows about those who have tormented her. However, as things usually happen, things get out of hand. I would start the reading of this book by asking my students to answer the question; is it ever okay to seek revenge? What are some possible consequences of taking matters into your own hands?

I have decided to promote this throughout my school. This is a book that needs to be in each of my department’s classroom. As a middle grade English teacher I definitely could see this happening to any of my students. I have seen some of the things they post online to each other. It is so easy to be so nasty to each other. Teens today don’t consider it is the same as walking up to that person and saying it to their face. The major difference is that online, it is open for anyone and everyone to see. It becomes very public. They detach themselves from what they have written. I understand why Agnes did what she did. However, I think she could have handled things differently. Once something is out there online, you can’t take it back. This comes with questions in the back which help out the teacher. Every parent should read this with their child or along with them to facilitate those all important discussions.
I received a review copy from Netgalley… (mer)

When an ostracized and mocked teen starts a blog revealing her classmate's secrets, what is our every-person narrator supposed to do?

I asked my seven year old, after reading the book to her. Her response I don't know. That probably makes sense, as this book is targeted at, I'd say, the middle-school crowd (complete with vocab and questions at the end for study in the classroom! Which is probably great for a teacher, but I'd have a hard time believing that an eleven year old is going to be enthused about picking up a book only to find homework at the end). I did try to get some of my seven year old's thoughts as we read through. She said the other kids were mean to Agnes. That even so Agnes shouldn't have stolen their secrets. That she didn't understand why Agnes just didn't act normal to make the kids like her (I'm kind of worried about that response, but she's seven so maybe she hasn't developed as much abstract-empathy-thinking-brain-a-doodle stuff as an eleven year old. In any case, I'm going to re-read Franny K. Stein to her to reiterate the importance of not just being what other people want you to be).

The tone of the book is a bit moralistic, which is the point, but not too preachy. The ethical dilemmas presented are all basically simplistic with set answers (don't be mean to odd kids, don't steal things, speak up for what is right, don't judge people without getting to know them first, two wrongs don't make a right, etc.), which is expected given the target audience. I found it hackneyed, the nameless, genderless, every-person narrator, but I understand that it's so that the YA reader can put herself as the narrator. It's a decision that Cheng made, probably because most of us are bystanders rather than the bullied or bully, so the story could appeal to the broadest group of readers. But having the narrator a step back from some of the action means there's a lot of telling what's going on with other characters. If it were a trial, most everything would be thrown out as hearsay; and I'd rather hear from Agnes (the bullied) and Leah (the bully) more than nameless. Or to have some of the conflicts a bit less cut-and-dry. But it's YA. The whole point of YA is that nuance is only as developed as the teen/pre-teen audience.

Edge the Bare Garden is pure YA, doesn't claim otherwise, or pretend to be more than that. It's meant for a classroom setting, full of middle schoolers rolling their eyes and acting tough as the teacher reads it aloud and gives journal prompts, but it'll likely get through to some. Hopefully.

Edge the Bare Garden by Roseanne Cheng went on sale September 15, 2015.

I received a copy free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.… (mer)

Looking for a book for your middle school aged child to read this summer? THE TAKE BACK OF LINCOLN JUNIOR HIGH would be an excellent choice. This book fits the category of "Teachable Lit" and would give you and your child an opportunity to discuss financial implications of keeping schools open and offering all the opportunities that parents and kids want in their educational experience.

THE TAKE BACK OF LINCOLN JUNIOR HIGH covers a topic that hits close to home for many school districts. Funding for many schools (including ours) is decreasing as well as the number of students attending. This also results in less funding because the amount of state and federal dollars is based on the number of students in your school. So, cuts have to be made and teachers may lose their jobs. This book hits on the topic of saving our schools and the programs we love.

Andrew is a new student at Lincoln Junior High, entering the sixth grade. He isn't a popular kid and feels left out most of the time but wants desperately to "fit in" in middle school. The first day of school begins with an announcement from Principal Raasch announcing the "Take Back" program and their sponsor Whistler Farms. Whistler Farms proposes to supply the school with money to bring their football program back including a new stadium, scoreboard, and uniforms. All the school has to do is allow the Whistler Farms name to be displayed.....everywhere.... and allow their products to be at school. Seems harmless until another company offers to sponsor the music program, another offers to bring back the drama department, and yet another gives every student their very own tablet. Pretty soon the school is overrun with ads, product placement, and pressure to secure the best spot for their sponsor money.

Principal Raasch ends up spending more time dealing with the sponsors and their demands rather than running the school. Parent groups begin to form, both for and against the Take Back program. Teachers become frustrated with the demands of the sponsors and somehow the education of the kids gets lost in the shuffle. But, even in the mess, Andrew and his friends come up with a plan to save their school from falling apart. The problem is, it just might get them in the biggest trouble of their lives.

I really, really liked this book, written for middle grade on up. It really hit home since our school, as well as others in the area, are having to make tough choices about how we are going to spend our money. There are some serious budget cuts in our future and no one wants to see those cuts happen. This story was a great example of how corporations can get involved, but without clear boundaries, a school district could be in worse trouble than when you started.

I think this is a great book for kids because it touches on many great discussable topics: advertising, integrity, school pride, respect, and values. This is definitely a book I will be having our kids read and asking them their thoughts. It will make you stop and think about what is really important in a school environment. It will also remind readers that sometimes you need to step up and be a leader.

The book ends with a Study Guide over each chapter of the book. This would make for a great classroom read and discussion. Each chapter of the study guide includes questions for discussion, writing or group assignments and activities, and a vocabulary list. I can't imagine any school that wouldn't benefit from reading and discussing this book.

I think it is easy for parents to get swept up in the excitement of school activities without giving a thought to all it takes to run those programs. This book will also open parent's eyes to all the pieces needed to having programs such as sports, music, drama, journalism, and dances at your child's school and the need for physical, as well as monetary support. Financing for school programs isn't going to get any easier down the road and this book will open your eyes to the positives and negatives of opening your school up to corporate sponsors. It may not be all it's cracked up to be.… (mer)