Customer Reviews

And Still We Rise: The Trials and Triumphs of Twelve Gifted Inner-City Students

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This gripping immersion into inner city school life makes the perfect companion read to Tracy Kidder's "Among Schoolchildren". From a nice, safe, concerned, caring enviornment, where the problems are understandable and manageable in "Among Schoolchildren"; to a place where success is measured not merely by acheivement but by the tremendous obstacles students must overcome merely to be in school, in this gripping, similarly styled work. The two books are a startling picture of the tremendous gulf of opportunity and enviornment at the spectrum ends of our society.

I strongly recommend both books, to everyone; not just parents, teachers or those who are usually associated with "education" interests. "And Still We Rise.." is not merely a vision of a brutal social/educational reality that must be addressed, but a poignant drama, as well. The young people whose stories are followed are the heroes of the most brutal battles raging today; crime, drugs, racism, and a culture of despair and degradation. These are the best and the brightest ... they are forced to face obstacles that should be reserved only for those who have transgressed horribly against society.

The incidental intrusion of the writer into this jouranlistic narrative is the only jarring note to be found in an otherwise seamless view. The unfortunate, even tragic circumstances that cause that intrusion, however, are understandable, from a human standpoint, even if they are inexcusable as viewed through the prism of journalistic purity.

An emmimently readable, engaging work. Recommended.

Nothing good can come out of a ghetto school especially one in South Central Los Angeles. If you believe in that statement then Miles Corwin's "And Still We Rise" will shatter your stereotype of the typical high school ghetto students. Corwin chronicles the lives of twelve exceptional high school students during the school year of 1996-1997. We are taken on a journey in the lives of these young people who battle gang violence, abuse, homelessness, and full time work to become great academic achievers in their high school. Corwin raises some pertinent questions that we need to consider. Why for example, are few advance placement classes offered in poor communties and inner city schools? Why are school administrators and teachers are allowed to play their petty political games at the expense of the students? Does the death of Affirmative Action mean the future absence of minority students in our nations' colleges and universities? Why are we willing to write off the education of our students simply because of their race and their economic conditions? The fact that these young people were able to rise above the conditions placed upon them is a testament to the human spirit's tenacity. How many more are there that need a boost to rise above those limitations that even adults find disconcerting? I enjoyed Corwin's text because it showed even in the worst of circumstances there is hope and it is a clarion call for us to become more active in the school system. Most of all it allowed us to get a brief glimpse of the lives of these inspirational young people. I highly recommend this book as a text not only for inspiration but for intervention in a system that fails its students.

After working in the LAUSD, I know how demoralizing it can be for faculty and students alike. Therefore, as an educator, I frequently seek out stories about kids who have developed a love of learning.

What was most interesting about this book was the representation of the relationship between Little and the students. While Little wasn't shown to be the most stable teacher, she had a strong and caring relationship with the students in her class.

Each of the stories of the students is compelling. From Olivia to Danielle, they ran the gamut of pathologies and outcomes, like any classroom. Ultimately, as a reader, I wanted to keep going to find out what happened to each student.

This book reminds me tremendously of Hope in the Unseen. I am frequently sceptical of the white middle class observer who bears witness to the folly of inner-city education. I worry about the accuracy of any ethnographic representation "getting it right." But like Hope in the Unseen, this book isn't for the kids who struggle, but it's for the middle class to observe and hopefully feel empathy towards the struggles of these students.

One complaint I do have about the book is how the descriptions of the students were redundant and also how each student came with a one phrase tagline (i.e., Miesha, whose brother Raymond acted as her surrogate guardian). Maybe it was more noticeable to me because I read the whole thing in one sitting. Or perhaps it is more symptomatic of the anthropolgists perspective.

Irrespective, this book will give much food for thought around the ideas of equity, priviledge and levelling the playing field.

"Victory, victory is spite of all terror; victory, however long and hard the road made be; for without victory, there is no survival." 13 May 1940 Sir Winston Spencer Churchill

Mr. Churchill certainly was not thinking about Crenshaw in South Central Los Angeles when he spoke those words. He was in fact speaking near the beginning of World War II. Sadly the quote is appropriate after reading of the day-to-day life of this small war zone.

Bullets are fired through the windows as teachers try to teach. Bullets and knives take the lives of friends and Family of the 12 Students this book focuses upon. Bullets penetrate the homes they live in. Many of these students come from backgrounds that would prevent virtually anyone from existing much less excelling.

The teachers of these students have issues as well. How do you teach Advanced Placement English without textbooks? Read and you will find out. If it seems impossible, the conditions almost did claim one teacher.

This is about one year and 12 kids, and the phenomenal amount of success they achieved. The excellence however is repeated year after year. As I read I was trying to decide whether these kids excelled because of, or in spite of what they faced. It really came down to each individual's story.

This book also touches on the issue of Affirmative Action and it's demise in California during the Senior Year of these students. They did not have to deal with the fallout, but subsequent classes did, and they will as well when they reach Graduate School. Did killing Affirmative Action have an effect; the book gives the results of subsequent classes and their experiences.

These kids are accepted at Yale, Stanford, Babson, Colby, UCLA, the list includes any top school you care to name. And when they arrive at College their performance remains well above the norm.

"Toya's stepfather strangled her Mother to death when Toya was in fifth grade. Olivia, a ward of the County, had lived in 10 different foster and group homes by the time she was 16. Sadi, who grew up as a gangbanger, has seen 3 of his homies die and numerous others go to jail. Stories such as these are part of everyday life for the gifted students of Crenshaw High School."

That's 3 of the 12 students in one year at Crenshaw. I'm glad I didn't have to compete with them based on merit and drive; I would have lost, repeatedly.

Mama Moultrie, Toni Little, Scott Braxton and others all provide for an amazing reading experience. They are amongst the teachers and administrators that maintain these programs in spite of the detractors.

Olivia's story was unique in some ways, as her story included how depraved the system is that's supposed to care of these kids. Olivia is to transfer to the school she has always wanted to attend. Olivia, there is a member of our household who is a Graduate of that same school. Contact if you ever are in need, you already have gained our respect and best wishes.

Remarkable book, remarkable people.

I started this book while in the sixth grade, and finished it just a while after Summer Vacation started. I knew after the introdution, about Olivia, that I was going to love it. Little did I know that it would end up being my favorite book, even more than all the Harry Potter books.

Though we don't have gang-banging or drive-by shootings here, I can closely relate to the students. I was deeply interested with Sadikifu. I have never been in dentention or anything of the such, I have been in rather an acedemic slump lately. I had planned not to go to college, to simply get a job that paid enough to sustain a living while writing in any spare time I had. My love of writing also connected me with Sadi.

However, after reading this book, my mind was changed. I now plan on going to the best college that accepts me. I was so moved by this book that I actually cried at the end, and planned to help my friend also get into a good college.

I was also touched by Olivia's story, and cried both when they sent her to the Dorothy-Kirby center, and when they released her. She'd had such a hard life, and strived so hard to succeed, she deserved to go to college.

To sum up my review, I can simply say that this a wonderful book, excellently written, and the plot was amazing to be true. I soon plan to read "The Killing Season" by Miles Corwin, as soon as I finish "The Street Lawyer" by John Grisham and "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

I highly suggest reading this book to all ages, although it is quite an advanced book, but Gifted Students in sixth will only further relate to it than remeadiate tenth graders.

"And Still We Rise" was a compelling look at a group of students rarely disscussed. Inner city students who not only go to school to get by but against great odds are able to beat the odds and succeed in school. "And Still We Rise" follows a group of students attending Crenshaw High School enrolled in their gifted students program. "And Still We Rise" looks at the daily obsticals and pitfalls of the gifted program students face as they try to attain a better life through education. "And Still We Rise" also causes those of us in the educational community to question the way we look present day educational issues as well as our students. "And Still We Rise" is both inspirational as well as insightfull. I highly recommend this book for all people, especially those in education.

This book was thoroughly entertaining. The fact that the story does not have a predictable happy ending makes it even more realistic and enjoyable to read.

This book should be mandatory reading for all teachers who begin their teaching careers in the inner city. It should also be required reading for middle class high school students who question the need for affirmative action. The students profiled in this book would run circles around your average middle class teenager.

This genre -- downbeaten students succeeding against all odds -- has been well worked over, from "Up the Down Staircase" to "Dangerous Minds." In this book, a year in the life of gifted kids in South Central, Miles Corwin claims to take a new spin on it by focusing on the students as heroes, rather than the teacher -- an interesting take. But not one that is entirely successful.

While there is no denying the inherent drama of their stories, the students often come across as two-dimensional: smart, determined, engaging kids battling nearly insurmountable odds. They're inspiring, and they're role models -- but they're a bit flat for literature. The facts of their life histories -- betrayal, abuse, abandonment -- are terrible, but not original. You root for the kids, but you don't get inside of them. What differentiates a student who can break out of the gangs from one who cannot? Why do some of the students fail, and others not? The book gives just enough detail that you beg to learn more; we are close enough to the students to respect them, and admire them, but not close enough to truly understand them.

The irony of this book is that the most interesting "character" in it is, in fact, the teacher, Toni Little, who is equal parts inspiring and infuriating. The battle between her inner champion (who inspires and genuinely connects with her students) and her inner demons (who abandon the children at a critical juncture over trivial issues) provides the book with much of its dramatic tension. She may not be the hero of the book, but she is the protagonist, a more compelling and fully developed character than any of the children.

This book is the first documentary that I've read that I could not put down. It offers great insight into the life of inner city school kids who struggle with so much more than the average high school student. As a student at an elite university and an LA native, I am shocked at how different the paths that lead to college are for people who might be sitting right next to each other in class. It is a must read for anybody who thinks affirmative action is unfair and who believes that everybody has equal rights in the USA. The playing field has to be leveled and this book shows you why.

This is an extraordinary tale following children who, against all the odds, seem to find comfort and safe haven in their desire to learn. I was fascinated by the struggle to see the next step for some of these kids, however. Even though they clearly value the education they are getting, the giant leap from the struggles of a neighborhood High School to a distant College Campus seems to really define how hard it is for these kids to break the cycle of poverty and broken homes most have experienced.

I am not an educator. I was motivated to buy this book after hearing it recommended on Imus. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and wonder what it will take to overhaul our dismal education systems.