Shirley P. (booknookchick) reviewed on 2/21/2006 + 117 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Perlstein writes about a middle school in urban MD. My son's school is in rural Wisconsin. Despite the distance and the culture some problems rang true right here at home. Bored with school, frustrated with the curriculum, nothing to do on the playground, the social pecking order....it was all there. A statement I found interesting is that it is important an adolescent have a lot of mental stimulation and varying life experiences because it will have a positive effect on permanent brain development. In other words, you don't use it, you lose it. From my experience, profiles in learning does not seem to fit this physical need our kids have.

Reading the book I sometimes felt as if I was snooping in a journal or diary as Perlstein relates 5 middle schooler's experiences and feelings. On the flip side is the voice given to parents, teachers, and administrators. Sometimes I'd forget I was the parent and not the kid --I could relate so well to the experiences she documented.

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