Review by scarylibrarian -- A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen
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- Latest Review: A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen
Review by scarylibrarian -- A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Bloody Book" by Chris Bowen.]
(i) A Bloody Book (/i), by Chris Bowen, was written to target reluctant readers. Bowen, a former ‘Teacher of the Year’, wrote this book to highlight the patience and empathy a teacher needs in order to work with their students. Mr. Bowen’s first book,(i) Our Kids: Building Relationships in the Classroom (/i), was hailed as a compassionate look at classroom life that resonated with his readers. Which he attests is how he came up with the idea behind (i) A Bloody Book (/i).
In Bowen’s summary of (i) A Bloody Book (/i), he uses the example of asking Kindergarteners how many want to become readers. In that experiment, one will often see that every hand will shoot up. What happens to those same students when they wind up in remedial class in a few short years? Why are they struggling and their grades failing? He asks the question “When did these students stop caring?”
Although the real question very well may be, “Why did they stop caring?”
That is where (i) A Bloody Book (/i) comes in. The story is told through the fictional character of Maxx, an 8th grader. Maxx tells us why the students in remedial class don’t get out. Through examples of poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, violence and neglect, students have turned to a system that was supposed to teach them the skills to succeed but instead failed them.
Although the stories in this book are emotional to read, I can see how it would appeal to reluctant readers. Since it is told from the viewpoint of the students, many teens will relate to the struggle of the characters. There is potty humor, jokes at the expense of teachers and jabs at the school climate, mainly those “perfect” students. All of which will appeal to teens.
Although I’m not a teenager, there were a few examples that I even chuckled at. For example, the advice to teachers to never tell middle school kids that you are counting on them. “Like we’re just going to nod and go along with them.” Or how middle schoolers cringe when teachers start using words that they think kids are using today. As a teacher myself, I will have to remember that advice!
I wouldn’t recommend this book for students younger than 8th grade. There is one particularly violent scene. But for the most part, the mild swearing and self-deprecating language wasn’t inappropriate for teens. I gave the book (b) 4 out of 4 stars (/b). It was edited well and told an interesting and gripping story. There was one time the word, retard, was used and it rubbed me wrong. I felt that author didn’t need to go that far. But I didn't feel as if it justified taking off a star because of it.
The character of Maxx will sit with you for a long time. Bowen did an admirable job of showing students in a remedial class in a different light and for that I applaud him.
******
A Bloody Book
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
(i) A Bloody Book (/i), by Chris Bowen, was written to target reluctant readers. Bowen, a former ‘Teacher of the Year’, wrote this book to highlight the patience and empathy a teacher needs in order to work with their students. Mr. Bowen’s first book,(i) Our Kids: Building Relationships in the Classroom (/i), was hailed as a compassionate look at classroom life that resonated with his readers. Which he attests is how he came up with the idea behind (i) A Bloody Book (/i).
In Bowen’s summary of (i) A Bloody Book (/i), he uses the example of asking Kindergarteners how many want to become readers. In that experiment, one will often see that every hand will shoot up. What happens to those same students when they wind up in remedial class in a few short years? Why are they struggling and their grades failing? He asks the question “When did these students stop caring?”
Although the real question very well may be, “Why did they stop caring?”
That is where (i) A Bloody Book (/i) comes in. The story is told through the fictional character of Maxx, an 8th grader. Maxx tells us why the students in remedial class don’t get out. Through examples of poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, violence and neglect, students have turned to a system that was supposed to teach them the skills to succeed but instead failed them.
Although the stories in this book are emotional to read, I can see how it would appeal to reluctant readers. Since it is told from the viewpoint of the students, many teens will relate to the struggle of the characters. There is potty humor, jokes at the expense of teachers and jabs at the school climate, mainly those “perfect” students. All of which will appeal to teens.
Although I’m not a teenager, there were a few examples that I even chuckled at. For example, the advice to teachers to never tell middle school kids that you are counting on them. “Like we’re just going to nod and go along with them.” Or how middle schoolers cringe when teachers start using words that they think kids are using today. As a teacher myself, I will have to remember that advice!
I wouldn’t recommend this book for students younger than 8th grade. There is one particularly violent scene. But for the most part, the mild swearing and self-deprecating language wasn’t inappropriate for teens. I gave the book (b) 4 out of 4 stars (/b). It was edited well and told an interesting and gripping story. There was one time the word, retard, was used and it rubbed me wrong. I felt that author didn’t need to go that far. But I didn't feel as if it justified taking off a star because of it.
The character of Maxx will sit with you for a long time. Bowen did an admirable job of showing students in a remedial class in a different light and for that I applaud him.
******
A Bloody Book
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen
