Customer Reviews

The Kids from Nowhere

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There are times when stories about successes in educational advancement are told in a manner that feels more like inspirational magazine material than a book: the achievements of underprivileged young people overcoming potentially insurmountable odds are related in a touching way but hardly register as great writing - content over style.

In the matter of 'THE KIDS FROM NOWHERE: The Story Behind the Arctic Educational Miracle' the author is George Guthridge who not only is a fine educator but he is also a superb novelist. It is this added bonus of a beautifully written novel that just happens to contain a true story that makes this book so fine. Guthridge writes with utter clarity, presents his amazing facts, and yet relates this 'miracle' in a manner that makes every page a literary delight.

In 1982 teachers George and Mary Guthridge and their two young daughters accepted a teaching assignment out of financial desperation - a school in Gambell, Alaska on an isolated St. Lawrence Island between Alaska and Siberia, a school approaching collapse, peopled with Yupik 'Eskimos' known for their defiance of authority and apparent lack of ambition - a job that would pay well despite the formidable prospects. With wise insight and elegantly fluid style, Guthridge relates his time in Gambell, his family's assimilation into a new culture, and his approach to education that turned a 'trapped' class of young students into scholars by involving these inherently very bright students in a process called 'Future Problem Solving Program'.

Guthridge takes the reader to this strange place with his ability to create atmosphere and to define his cast of characters in a way that the True Story aspect of the book is merely one part of a most satisfying novel. He carefully describes the young students' lives and initial responses to regarding classroom education as secondary to walrus/whale/seal hunting, finding stories about each that are at once comical and tender and tragic. The fact that he struggled with the educational system of Alaska and the paucity of supplies such as books and computers and yet overcame all odds, both administrative and personal, to slowly develop the students into the brilliant scholars who would win national championships in the Future Problem Solving Program is indeed a miracle, a testament to the courage and humanity of the man who writes this memoir. 'We married Western culture's syllogistic, abstract, linear thinking to the holistic, nonlinear, realistic reasoning of indigenous culture. The result is a communicator who addresses the world in a new way.'

THE KIDS FROM NOWHERE is not only a book that will appeal to educators (and should be required reading for burned out teachers!), it is simply a very fine novel about life and humanity and courage and triumph of the human spirit. Highly recommended reading. Grady Harp, May 07

When I first read George Guthridge's book, I couldn't wait to share it with others. I found it greatly motivating, hugely inspiring and totally captivating. Perhaps it was more meaningful to me since I have friends that come from Gambel, but I really think it stems from the outstanding job that was done by George in portraiting the struggle in schools. The deeper meaning isn't written so much about Alaska, but just the struggles children face in general, and how they can be overcome with help from caring and inspired adults, this just happened to be a rural Alaskan setting. I highly recommend this for students, teachers, coaches and parents. I enjoyed it so much I purchased 2 dozen more to give away as gifts to those I thought could really use a lift.

The Kids from Nowhere is a beautifully written story of triumph. I could not put this book down and continue to think about it. George and his students made me laugh, cry, and cheer, all while learning about the Yupik culture and innovative teaching/motivational strategies. This book has inspired me to be a better person, a better teacher and a better mentor to our youth. A must read for all teachers and anyone that loves a great non-fiction story. In my opinion it towers above many great inspirational teaching stories such as Stand and Deliver and To Sir With Love.

If anyone wants a chairside tour of another culture, this is the book for you. The author takes us to a Yupik (Eskimo) whaling, subsistance community in Gambel, Alaska where he is a teacher. The reader "stays" in Gambel for 3 years while the author and his students participate in day-to-day Yupik life and pursue a national academic championship. Preparing for the championship, the students blend their Yupik culture with the Western culture to understand and solve the problems presented to them in the exams. A true triumph of the spirit written in a gripping story that the reader will not be able to put down until finished.

My daughter purchased this book with a gift certificate, and after reading it, sent it to me, as I am an educator waiting to get my foot in the door. After starting the book, it was difficult to put down, and when it ended, I wanted it to continue with a sequel. Since my family and I spent several years in Chignik, AK, it was easy to relate to the trials and tribulations of living in a fishing village. But that is where it ended. The will and determination of the students - their wise, uncanny intelligences - the 200% give of Mr. Guthridge - all was so mind-boggling. And these students had to translate from their Native language to English to perform the tests.

Thank you, Mr. Guthridge, for educating your readers by showing them that anything is possible.

I would love to see this book made into a movie.

D. Jepsen
Selah, WA

In the 1980s an amazing thing happened. Siberian Yupik kids, who lived on a remote island in the Bering Sea and who spoke English as a second language, won national academic competitions. Their teacher was a writer who took the teaching job in order to support his young family and writing, but the experience turned him into a dedicated teacher as well as award-winning author. The Kids from Nowhere is his story of teaching junior high and high school students in Gambell, Alaska.

George Guthridge went to Gambell to teach in 1982. His students were Siberian Yupiks, who called themselves Eskimos, who got their water from the village's tank, and who missed school to participate in the subsistence activities of their families and community. Located on the northwest corner of St. Lawrence Island, Gambell has a view of nearby Russia on the rare clear day. When he arrived, the Gambell schools had discipline as well as academic problems, and teacher turnover was very high. The school district was considering closing the high school.

Coming from the "outside"--outside of Alaska, Guthridge had much to learn. He learned about Eskimo culture, teaching methods, public school politics, and academic success. His story is also the story of the kids he coached. These kids had the typical Eskimo shyness. Guthridge learned to read the raised eye brow that meant yes, and the lowered brow that meant no. He learned to listen to the silence exchanges among the students--and the discussions in Yupik.

Guthridge was assigned to coach Future Problem Solving at the elementary, junior high, and high school levels. Initially, he did not know what Future Problem Solving was. It is a method of solving a problem set in the future, and a program to teach youth problem-solving skills. Given an assigned topic, the students were to identify at least 20 problems that could go wrong, chose one of the problems, solve it at least 20 ways, develop criteria for evaluating the solutions and then evaluate their solutions, identify the best solution, and write an essay about the solution. In competition, all this had to be done in two hours.

Guthridge's challenge was to teach assigned Future Problem Solving topics like nuclear waste and genetic engineering to students who had seen neither a tree nor an escalator. At times teaching was frustrating, very frustrating. Gradually, Guthridge began to apply the tools of writing to teaching. He developed the "what because why" format to focus on the relationships inherent in any topic. He kept repeating to the students, "Original thinking is precise thinking," and he placed emphasis on research. He ignored grade-level complexity, and he borrowed techniques from Superlearning and educational philosophers. He also had to teach competitive strategies to kids in a cooperative culture.

He also remembered that he was coaching and teaching kids for life. He sent a smelly sock home with any student who insulted another student. The kids were to participate as a team and support each other. In the end, both the junior high and high school teams won national championships.

Guthridge tells his story with grace, modesty, cultural sensitivity, and skill. He stayed in Gambell for six years. He now teaches through the University of Alaska's campus in Dillingham, Alaska, and he continues to write short stories and novels. With full respect for cultural differences, Guthridge reminds us that kids can learn--even "the kids from nowhere."

"The Kids from Nowhere" is truly a remarkable book. Inspirational and awesome, everyone involved in education as well as those that simply enjoy a well written, touching book should read it.

This is the story of the transformation of seemingly non-caring students to knowledgeable, determined young people. They did what no other of their own kind have done before - succeed in a world different from their own, a world where they were not expected to succeed.

I was not able to put it down until it was finished and was reading well into morning - a definite must-read.

During production, I was asked several times to preview this book as I am the author's daughter. However, I lacked the courage to do so. Growing up in the rural Alaskan village was not an easy endeavor. There were some very difficult times and many memories that I have tried to suppress.

Post-print I gathered the strength to order the book and face my demons. Emotions were a flurry -- I cried...I laughed...I cried again, but I could not put it down.

Many who have read it have asked me about the accuracy of the book. The words truthfully depict the events of that chapter in my life - the good and the bad. So many events took place on that island, it would take a trilogy to describe everything, but what is written is absolutely the truth. This book provides readers with a solid understanding of life in an Eskimo village and of kids that achieved really amazing success against so many odds.

As a mother myself, I intend to allow my children to read this story as well. I hope that the struggles that I endured will make them stronger. It is truly inspirational.

This was the best book I have read in a long time. I could not put it down, eager to know what came next. As the parent of two twice-exceptional children, I was enthralled by the author's dedication to unlocking the educational complexity of his students. As the author of a book on educating children with autism, I was entertained by Gutheridge's sense of humor and perseverance. I would highly recommend this to every educator and parent committed to sharing a love of learning.

This very inspirational book captures village life in Alaska, the difficulties and outrageous problems of the school district, and the unquenchable human spirit of the Native children who are its subject. This is our choice for "best book we've read this year," and we are gifting it to several people for the holidays. The author makes good use of humor, interesting anecdotes, and victorious moments to offset the cold climate, difficult life styles, and his own times of depression and self-doubt. This book is hard to put down. The afterward sets forth the current situations of some of the main characters, which is a nice touch. Proceeds go to Greg Mortenson's "Three Cups of Tea" schools, which is the icing on the cake.