Review of Backpacks Full of Burden

[Annika porter]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Backpacks Full of Burden" by Chris Bowen.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Chris Bowen’s novel Backpacks Full of Burden is incredibly heartfelt and honest. Bowen has taught both elementary and middle school classes and utilizes this book to tell stories based on the realities of his and his students’ lives. This story is told in vignette form, with each chapter being a short window into the life of one of Bowen’s students based on his observations. Bowen tells true stories such as: a young girl who thinks her leukemia is in remission due to the pain she is feeling about her parents’ divorce; a student whose brain overflows with words and poems yet has become invisible in the classroom; and several students who are so focused on caretaking for their siblings and parents that schoolwork seems inconsequential. While many adults assume that kids behave poorly in school out of spite, Bowen’s stories highlight that children (and any human) are dealing with a multitude of unseen struggles. Each chapter tells stories of Bowen’s students and how he has been able to connect with and engage even “problem students” by actually seeing each as an individual and honestly connecting with them. Students are often doing the best they can to survive given the skills they have access to. Bowen uses this collection of anecdotes to demonstrate how students want to be seen and treated as equals. This book lets its readers know that if you are open and honest with children, they will be honest and sincere with you. Bowen clearly develops a high level of trust with his students, and each chapter demonstrates how Bowen will meet each child where they are at.

I loved every minute of this novel. Each short chapter is a snippet of a student’s life, intertwined with Bowen’s personal experiences. Bowen’s writing is completely sincere and engaging, which made me never want to put down this book. His writing is candid and earnest without being self-congratulatory or coming off as a white savior. While this is a trope that many education-related movies, books, and TV shows fall into, this book makes it clear that Bowen views his students as individuals and as other humans just trying to figure out how to navigate the world, just like himself. Throughout the book, Bowen acknowledges his flaws and mistakes and repeatedly apologizes even to students when he is wrong. His writing demonstrates how powerful this can be to children, as it is this accountability and honesty that allows Bowen to build substantial trust with his classes and students. Each chapter highlights a different interaction with a student or class and is written in a short, snappy manner that keeps the reader engaged, amused, and turning pages.

I truly loved everything about this book and was amazed by the author’s sincere and humble tone throughout the writing. Bowen does not write this book to make anyone feel bad for not being an educator but instead encourages others not to make assumptions about anyone’s circumstances. Beyond this, Bowen highlights the necessity of every student seeing themselves and their lives represented in media. Many aspects of school are not engaging for students because they cannot see how they fit into the narrative. Bowen’s book ends with a snippet from a novel he wrote with the help of one of his classes of struggling readers. The author discusses how writing a work that spoke to his students allowed them to actually engage in reading, writing, and editing. I think this novel is a wonderful depiction of how students (and any child) want to be treated and viewed. Every individual is searching for connection and to be seen, heard, and believed. The sincerity of this writing clearly demonstrates how Bowen does a wonderful job of connecting with his students (and readers), and for the book’s honesty, sincerity, and compassion as well as excellent writing, I rate this book 5/5 stars. I have nothing to critique about this book, and I think anyone who wants an honest and refreshing look at schooling would love this book.

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Backpacks Full of Burden
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[Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine]

Backpacks Full of Burden is an interesting and important book. A teacher like this is rare; one who cares about his students and sees them beyond their flaws. I am glad the author wrote this book to share his experiences, and to raise awareness about some of the things children might be going through.