Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Not Much Just Chillin': The Hidden Lives of Middle Schoolers by Linda Perlstein ISBN: 0-374-20882-4 Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Pub. Date: 01 September, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.68 (19 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: A good read on an important topic
Comment: I attended Wilde Lake Middle more than 20 years ago and Linda Perlstein has shown me either how much middle school has changed or how little self-awareness I had during those tender years. Or perhaps both. Perlstein opens the door into the strange world of 6th- through 8th-graders as they cope with increasing academic demands, struggle (above all else, it seems) to fit in as new social dynamics swirl about them and, of course, deal with the physical changes of adolescence. She does so with insight, humor and compassion -- and an engaging narrative flair. We come to know each child she follows and to feel for them even when we (not to mention their parents and teachers) are dumbfounded by their actions. In a few instances the details Perlstein reveals seem so personal and intimate that I was amazed at the level of trust she established with her subjects, always the hallmark of a good reporter. My one quibble with the book is that Perlstein uses pseudonyms -- to protect the children's privacy, I presume -- and so we are not treated to pictures of the kids she profiles. In one way or another, however, all of their parents should be proud of their participation in this ambitious project.
Rating: 5
Summary: An Understudied Group: An Interesting Approach
Comment: Middle school kids often receive far too little attention by way of study and research. Perhaps some believe that middle school kids are not worth studying separately from adolescence since it is such a brief period of time. Yet, at the same time, there is probably no age group that goes through such a significant and dramatic set of developmental changes in a few short years than middle schoolers.
I applaud Linda Perlstein's efforts to capture the essence of middle school kids and to represent the trials and tribulations of this age. In her study, Perlstein spent a year's time becoming a part of a real middle school. Rather than study these kids from an academic perspective, Perlstein took a much more holistic and anthropological approach. She talked to the kids, she watched the kids, she spoke to their parents, and she observed their relational interactions and their highs and lows and she spent a lot of time with their teachers.
The result of Linda Perlstein's efforts is a significant book for educators, parents and kids on the struggles of middle school years. While some might attack this as a study less scientific or quantitative than rigorous academics might prefer, I believe that she is right on the mark in reporting on these kids through her experience of them. This is a tough age and my belief is that it grows even more stressful on kids as our society continues to change and as kids mature faster on a physical level.
I believe this is a book that should be read by a number of different groups and that it could be a foundation for some wonderful discussions among teachers and between teachers and parents.
An understudied subject most interestingly presented. High Recommended.
Rating: 5
Summary: An accurate account of a middle schooler's mind
Comment: As a teacher in middle school I found this book to be incredibly accurate in portraying the thoughts and actions of middle schoolers. It gives an earnest insight into what a middle schooler goes through. It is an excellent guide for parents as well as middle schoolers, to show that they are not alone in what they are experiencing. Today there is little research on the preteen age and this book offers great perspectives presented in the eyes of middle schoolers. I recommended it to not only my fellow teachers, but to parents of my students as well. I am currently reading it to my students and they love it!
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
