Now that you have "met" the characters are you feeling like one person is to blame for the shootings? Who could have changed the path Peter was on? Is the relationship between Alex and Josie healthy?
You may
"If we don't change the direction we are headed,
we will end up where we are going."
-Chinese Proverb
Happy Reading!
Paula
I have finished the book but will refrain from giving away anything. In the beginning, I felt sick to my stomach when I read the notes from the boy. I know as a special ed teacher, many of my kids are teased and harassed at some point or another. It made me think of them and how they feel when these things happen. We sometimes try to pretend everything is okay but in actuality, situations like this are more common than people like to think.
ReplyDeleteChristina, I know exactly what you mean. It made me feel sort of guilty for brushing aside somethings that I should have taken seriously.
ReplyDeleteI have also finsihed the book - it was good I could not stop reading. I worry about the relationship between Alex and Josie having 4 daughters myself. I think the school is largely to blame for not protectign Peter from bullies.
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard to know when a student is being serious or not, because they know the word "bully" gets the attention. I have several students who joke around and laugh when they tell me...like they will be "Mrs. Crowe so and so is bullying me" while he is laughing and they are joking. And I always have to say don't use that word lightly because you don't want to be the boy who cried wolf. You want people to take you seriously. After that class I pulled that student up and asked if there was any truth to it..he said no. But it is scary to be a teacher now--you have to worry about EVERY aspect and when something happens you can't help but reflect and wonder if you missed something and feel a bit of guilt.
ReplyDeleteTonya, the relationship thing was/is scary to me too. Teenagers are so good at keeping things from their parents.
ReplyDeleteAshley, it is hard to know when students are "just joking." When does "just joking" turn into not funny anymore? A teacher has many more jobs than just delivering the content.
It's hard for me to blame the school alone. Remember the parents were trying hard, but somewhere someone forgot to SERIOUSLY ask Peter what he wanted. The stories of the sports efforts broke my heart. I think my favorite aspect of the book is you can't just label anyone all bad or all good.
ReplyDelete