August 29, 2023 by HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Jayson is in middle school, and likes to play basketball and hang out with his friends at the Rock and Bowl. He is a person who stutters, and while it isn't always a concern, he does goes to a speech therapist, Dr. Dan. When his friend, Gloria, is told that she can research for the debate team but won't be able to speak because her stutter tends to put her over the time limit, the two are galvanized to stand up to many of the problems at their school. There is a class presidential election, and Mack (who is on the basketball team with Jayson and often makes fun of him) is expecting to run uncontested, with his girlfriend Suzy as his running mate. In addition to the injustice of the speech team, Jayson, which Gloria as his running mate, also wants to address the fact that the student council is mainly honorary and the student voices aren't heard. His friend Amia, who is nonbinary, would like to see the restrooms turned into gender neutral ones. As the election heats up, Jayson finds out that his single dad (his mother died when he was young) is dating Suzy's mother! Jayson also is at odds with his father because he doesn't care for Dr. Dan and doesn't feel that his techniques are helpful, while Gloria's therapist really seems to help him not only with his speech challenges but also with the way he feels about them. After some disastrous debates, the students decide to have one at the Rock and Bowl, since the principal is trying to quash the student involvement. Jayson has a lot of good ideas for what should be changed at his school, but does he have the confidence to make himself heard?
Strengths: I know that young Mr. Harrington came to national prominance when he spoke at the Democratic National Convention, but I don't know if this story is based on his own life. Certainly, the details of navigating the world while dealing with the difficulties of a stutter are well drawn, and it was interesting to see two different approaches to speach and emotional therapy. There's a nice cast of characters, and an interesting dive into student politics. Amia's quest for nonbinary bathrooms is definitely on trend, as is the idea that student voices should be heard. I'm glad to see a young person trying to write a compelling tale of trying to make the world a better place.
Weaknesses: I struggled with this one because the details of the election, while they may be an accurate reflection of how school politics work in California (where this seems to be set) or New England (where Harrington lives), they are absolutely not the way I've seen any elections happen in 25 years of teaching in Ohio. For one thing, the campaigning started at the beginning of the year and the election was held around Thanksgiving, which would mean that about a third of the school year was spent on campaigning. There were three debates, which would be hard to do, because students would have to get out of class. At one point, Jayson wants to use money set aside for the football team to renovate the bathrooms, and that's just not how school budgets usually work. Money for student actitivities comes out of a different fund than building renovations. While this might be fine for schools that have similar politics, I think the students at my school are just going to be confused by this portrayal.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who are really interested in student government, or who found it illuminative to read about speech challenges in Tandon's The Way I Say It or The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh.
Strengths: I know that young Mr. Harrington came to national prominance when he spoke at the Democratic National Convention, but I don't know if this story is based on his own life. Certainly, the details of navigating the world while dealing with the difficulties of a stutter are well drawn, and it was interesting to see two different approaches to speach and emotional therapy. There's a nice cast of characters, and an interesting dive into student politics. Amia's quest for nonbinary bathrooms is definitely on trend, as is the idea that student voices should be heard. I'm glad to see a young person trying to write a compelling tale of trying to make the world a better place.
Weaknesses: I struggled with this one because the details of the election, while they may be an accurate reflection of how school politics work in California (where this seems to be set) or New England (where Harrington lives), they are absolutely not the way I've seen any elections happen in 25 years of teaching in Ohio. For one thing, the campaigning started at the beginning of the year and the election was held around Thanksgiving, which would mean that about a third of the school year was spent on campaigning. There were three debates, which would be hard to do, because students would have to get out of class. At one point, Jayson wants to use money set aside for the football team to renovate the bathrooms, and that's just not how school budgets usually work. Money for student actitivities comes out of a different fund than building renovations. While this might be fine for schools that have similar politics, I think the students at my school are just going to be confused by this portrayal.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who are really interested in student government, or who found it illuminative to read about speech challenges in Tandon's The Way I Say It or The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh.
My speed is strictly word games; THREE DIMENSIONAL chess sounds impossible.
ReplyDelete