Customer Reviews

Alt Ed

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I loved the book, ALT ED by Catherine Atkins, because the characters were really people I could relate to from people I've known in my life. All her life, Susan has struggled with her weight and with getting acceptance. It's been especially hard because her mother is dead and her father doesn't understand her very well (He is her school's athletic coach and really into that). She doesn't feel like she can talk to him. She has a big crush on this nice guy at school, but this other guy, Kale, always picks on her. When Brendan, a fellow outcast, trashes Kale's truck, Susan gets blamed for it and is almost glad that people thought she struck back. She, Brendan, and Kale are all ordered to attend an after-school detention program, along with Susan's crush and two girls -- one, a popular cheerleader, and the other, a girl with a reputation (Amber, who was my favorite character). Although the six have little in common, they eventually develop some grudging friendships or at least a little bit of understanding. I thought the plot unfolded realistically and the characters were true to themselves too. Everything didn't end up perfect in the end, because that wouldn't really have happened with these people. Most of them still had prejudices, but at least they'd made some steps in the right direction. Fans of the classic movie, THE BREAKFAST CLUB, or other "group therapy" type books like Chris Crutcher's IRONMAN or STAYING FAT FOR SARAH BYRNES or Alex Flinn's BREATHING UNDERWATER will really like this book!

The fat girl, gay guy, cheerleader, jock-all in a class that is the alternative to expulsion from high school...think of this book as a modern day Breakfast Club, because it's all about people who think they have nothing in common discovering that (some of them, at least) can actually be friends, and really talk to each other. Susan Callaway, the self-described fat girl, is an engaging and interesting narrator who is struggling with her mother's death and her alienation at school, and trying to mend her relationships with her father and brother. If you liked The Misfits by James Howe, and pretty much anything by Chris Crutcher, then check this book out.

Just when you think you know all you need to know about the school life of teenagers, along comes Catherine Atkins' novel Alt Ed to show us another aspect of it. Atkins' teens are neither urban nor suburban. They live in the rural town of Wayne where options are few and daily lives are lived in pods -- Balkanized by town tradition -- and the threat of the Other rules the day. This is particularly true among the youth at Wayne High. Atkins does a great job of bringing individual students out of their pods and into a room at the school where they must interact. Over the course of a semester, each of the Others spend time attacking, defending, moralizing, venting, and some of them even learning to see the flesh and bone beneath the armor each of them wear. What I particularly like about Alt Ed is that there are no stereotypes in it. No one is perfect and some of them don't even want to be. Some of the characters seem clueless, but even those (Dad, Kale) end up on the plus side. Maybe they only finish up with a 51 or 52 out of 100, but still. . . there is some forward progress in their thinking. Teen life in small town America can be every bit as gritty as it is in places with greater pizazz. Read Alt Ed -- or better yet hear it on audio as you read it --if you want a looksee at the milieu in which Susan Calloway, Kale Krasner, Randy Callahan, Tracee Ellison and Amber Hawkins operate. It's an eye opener, and it will make you a Catherine Atkins fan, as I am.

ALT ED was a book I read in one sitting. The characters were well drawn, distinct, and each developed through their combined experiences and interactions gleaned from the mandatory "last chance" class.

Yes, the book is reminiscent of THE BREAKFAST CLUB. Yes, the ending was on the melodramatic side (the bumper stickers made me want to gag). Things came together a little too cheesily and easily. But it's a good book for any kid who feels alienated. He/she can just sit in on the discussions and observe the struggles as each member of the group fumbles around trying to deal with his/her misconceptions and ways of relating to others and self. The book has an appropriate "feel good" ending, because that's just what the reader wants for these kids.

The author also took pains to make each character complex. Amber is tough and sleeps around way too much, but she also def has a caring, softer side. Brendan is gay; he's not "out and proud," though, but agonizes over it. Tracee is a committed Christian and, though popular, she really does try in her own insular way to be kind to others. The other characters disparage her for being a shallow "Miss Perfect," but I didn't come away with that impression. Her motives were mostly good, and she stuck to her convictions even under fire. Randy, the thinking jock, is a great character -- he's pitifully weak at times and amazingly strong at others. He grows the most, in my opinion, throughout the story. And he's such a NICE guy. Kale, the bullying red neck is cruel, but you ache for him while you hate him -- you get the feeling that he's just so mixed up the only thing he knows how to do is strike. Susan, the main character, is grossly overweight and is harassed incessantly because of it. She hates herself, but eventually comes to terms with her size, even as she starts taking care of herself -- eating right and exercising. The reader knows that she'll never be a slim and sleek Tracee; she'll always be chunky, but that's okay. Classmates describe her as sweet (something she doesn't appreciate exactly because it's so vanila), and she is, but her soft voice is juxapositioned with her sharp inner dialogue.

Atkins makes her characters real, like us. Some parts good, other parts flawed. Lugging lots of baggage everywhere we go. Atkins thankfully doesn't rely on overdone sterotypes: dumb jock, bigoted "holier than thou" Christian, etc. Many YA authors out there ought to take note and snag a page from her play book.

Atkins does a pretty good job of making her point without the heavy hand.

Alt Ed is a well written book about six very different high school students who have to pay a price for their mistake. They have to attend after school sessions. As the story progresses, the students get to know and understand each other. This is a story about relationships--not issues. Each character is unique, flawed, and wonderful in their own way. I loved the book and kept thinking about the characters long after I finished reading.

Six high school kids. Six problems. None of them like each other. And for twelve Wednesday afternoons they have to sit and talk. Or get expelled. Cathy Atkins holds our attention with great characters and keeps us guessing about what brought these kids into this room in the first place. And will they leave with anything useful?

I taught for twenty years. These kids are real. Their problems are real and Ms. Atkins has them nailed. ALT ED is a wonderful read. In one of these kids, you'll find a shadow of yourself and the shadow of the person that makes your high school days miserable. And maybe a glimpse of hope.

And you'll meet Amber.

This book was excellent. It reminded me of my life in middle school. If you've ever been made fun of, EVER, this is definitely the book to read. I even had tears in my eyes at some point.

I had to read this book for school. I opened it and read the jacket. "Oh, come on," I thought, dropping my head to my desk. "I'm going to be so bored."

Then I started reading it. And I started to get into the heads of the characters. The book wasn't very slow-paced and it kept me guessing what was going to happen. It depicted teenage life pretty accurately (although not exactly how it is).

When I finished this book, I was thoroughly entertained. The only reason this book got four stars was because I didn't think the ending was written well enough and had a few loose ends.

I would recommend this book to young adults looking for a quick and enjoyable read.

As a fantasy novel addict, I decided to try a new genre of literature. And I honestly wanted Alt Ed to be my first young adult novel choice. Surprisingly, I found a lot in common with the Character susan and myself. Which makes novels are the more interesting. In my honest opinion it matches the exact same High School enivornment I used to be in. It's a wonderful Book to read and gives and insight on what it's like not to fit in. I give this book an outstanding A+

I thought it was a good book. It is very similar to what it is like in high school today. The differences between us by our looks make us feel that that person is bad or that person is strange. It really follows life like today. I would recommend this book to others because it really makes you think about what you are doing to others or thinking about others by the way that you see them as and you can be friends with people that you may never even consider to acknowledge.