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Title: A Hope in the Unseen : An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League by RON SUSKIND ISBN: 0-7679-0126-6 Publisher: Broadway Pub. Date: 04 May, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.36 (99 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Cedric gets a 5, Suskind a 2
Comment: Amid all the debates over affirmative action and inequity in funding for public schools, A Hope in the Unseen is the story of what these issues mean to a determined young man named Cedric Jennings as it follows him through his inadequate preparation at Ballou High School, to a summer program at MIT, to his freshman year at Brown University, with Cedric not quite fitting in anywhere. At home he's derided for his success, even for wanting to succeed, by his fellow students. At MIT, and later Brown, he finds himself inadequately prepared, academically and socially, to easily succeed. I found the story of his determination to make something of himself and his search for identity to be very powerful. I was put off, though, by the methods Suskind used to tell Cedric's story. This book reads like a novel, including the use of an omniscient narrator. I wanted to hear more from Cedric himself, in his own words, and not Cedric filtered through the lens of Suskind. I wish more of an effort to include Cedric's own perspective were included. If you liked this book, read the works of Jonathan Kozol, particularly Savage Inequalities, which further explains the inequities that exist in public schools.
Rating: 5
Summary: An inspiring story
Comment: Ron Suskind tells the story of Cedric Jennings, following him from his senior year at Ballou, pegged as one of the worst Washington, DC public schools, through his first two years at Brown University, one of America's premier universities.
Cedric has something of a support network -- some caring teachers, a strong religious background, a loving, hardworking mother -- and some scholarships and unique opportunities that open doors. Yet, even with some structure in place, he is not completely equipped to deal with the academic and social pressures of the Ivy League life. Even some of the people in Cedric's own DC community do not approve of his efforts to become successful.
Suskind points out that minority scholarships most often benefit middle and upper class students, while people like Cedric, with an inner city, working class upbringing, rarely receive the kind of financial support necessary for a superior education. Little help exists for those who are truly "disadvantaged." In light of how few supports he had, it is a true inspiration to read about Cedric's eventual success.
I hope that some of the anger at the disparities between rich and poor that this book arouses can be channeled into finding ways to help people like Cedric, and his less lucky peers.
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent
Comment: A great book! I read it cover to cover in a day, it was compelling. You feel like you're part of Cedric's story.
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Title: And Still We Rise: The Trials and Triumphs of Twelve Gifted Inner-City Students by Miles Corwin ISBN: 0380798298 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 April, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Learning and Motivation Strategies: Your Guide to Success by Bruce W. Tuckman, Dennis Abry, Dennis R. Smith ISBN: 0130330639 Publisher: Prentice Hall Pub. Date: 10 July, 2001 List Price(USD): $39.33 |
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Title: Giants among Us by Sandria Rodriguez ISBN: 0826513921 Publisher: Vanderbilt Univ Pr Pub. Date: January, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools by Jonathan Kozol ISBN: 0060974990 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 03 August, 1992 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: The Pact: Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream by Sampson, Md. Davis, George, Md. Jenkins, Rameck, Md. Hunt, Lisa Frazier Page ISBN: 157322989X Publisher: Riverhead Books Pub. Date: 06 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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