Poets Society - Seattle Style

Poets Society – Seattle Style

A review of Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott

Number 7 is the tricky one. A lot of slackers totally screw up number 7.

7. Listen.

That’s right. Listen to everything.

Sam is never late to class. He never looks the teacher in the eye. He develops a blank stare and never raises his hand. In short, he has the rules to slackerhood down. Until a new kid with a scary scar on his neck arrives in his English class and the teacher decides to hold a poetry slam. Reluctantly Sam begins to work on a poem with Luis and in doing so, his world opens up.

Does this sound a bit like Dead Poets Society? Sure. Replace New England in the fall with Seattle in the rain. Switch the uniform of gray flannel jackets and striped ties to hoodies and jeans. Change the sound track from Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” to Nirvana’s “Scoff”. Translate “carpe diem” to “YOLO”. Mix in Hispanic characters. Keep the inspiring English teacher, determined to do what he or she can to insure that the boys succeed. Jumped In might echo the movie, but it is also rooted in experiences that the author had as a public school reading specialist.  Themes of finding a voice, coming into your own, friendship and loss are staples in young adult fiction and Patrick Flores-Scott has found a fresh way to tell such a story.  

As they work on the project together, Sam slowly gets to know more about Luis.

“Who’s the real Luis?” I ask him. “This tough guy I see at school? Or the royal dork scheduling my poetry practice on a dirty napkin?”

They work together making sure their poem is perfect and practiced. Sam is nervous about speaking out loud but draws inspiration from a video image of Kurt Cobain singing to a wall. Singing to a wall to focus on the words. So he is not distracted by anyone. Because he wants to get it right. Sam tries the same technique and finds it helps. Around the same time, his grandfather tells him the story of his friend, Tex Johnson, and how Tex barrel rolled a 707 Boeing jet. Grandfather Bill passes on to Sam a prize possession, the control knob off that very 707, given to him by Tex himself. Slowly Sam finds the inspiration and the courage to perform the poem he wrote. He is ready for the slam. He nails his performance in class. He has his own nirvana moment. The only trouble is, Luis has disappeared.

The chapters in this book are short and designed to pull even reluctant readers along. After every few chapters are samples of Luis’s poetry – raw and designed to be read out loud. Swear words are used liberally but honestly. Readers will relate to the setting and feel propelled forward by the story. Perhaps they will even be moved by the ending. Let’s just say that John Green is not the only writer who can construct a teenage tear jerker.

Jumped In is on the long list for the 2014 Washington State Book Awards in the Young Adult category. Check back October 10^th to see if it won. Meanwhile, let us know of other books which have inspired you to read or even write your own poetry. 

Bush Staffers Share Summer Reads

In his back to school letter to faculty and staff, new headmaster Percy Abram talked about two books he read this summer and invited us to share what we had read. Here's a sampling of responses, starting with what Dr. Abram had to say about his recommendations:

  Whistling Vivaldi: and Other Clues to How Stereotypes Affect Us, by Claude Steele
Dr. Steele explains through first-hand accounts the effects of "stereotype threat" on students' academic performance and sense of self, and how they overcome these 'threats' and succeed in spite of them. I really enjoyed the book, and felt it illuminated the experiences of many students.
  I have also been reading The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown as a way to learn more about Seattle and the surrounding area. This rich, historical narrative paints a dramatic picture of life in western Washington in the early 20th century, and documents the rise to prominence of the University of Washington's men's crew team.

Michael, 7th grade science teacher

  The Good Rain: Across Time and Terrain in the Pacific Northwest, by Timothy Egan

It is a great book that gives historic and current history to the places and people of the Northwest. Great way to get some perspective on the natural and historical parts of this region. 

Melissa, college counselor

  My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor

It’s ridiculously inspiring.

Beatriz, MS Spanish teacher

  Our America: a Hispanic History of the United States by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto.

I read this with the thought of creating an elective based on the topics discussed.

Meggan, Admissions administrative assistant

  How Children Succeed by Paul Tough

-         A great look at the education gap that doesn’t focus solely on socioeconomic status or IQ.  It’s a very informative and well written book for both educators and parents.

  Whatever It Takes by Paul Tough  

-         A wonderful book about the amazing Harlem Children’s Zone and Geoffrey Canada. It highlights and celebrates the school and its founder from the highs to the lows, the issues, and the achievements. It’s a well-rounded snapshot of an amazing group of educators and students.

 Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Set in Seattle, this book jumps from 1986 in the Paramount Hotel to the 1940’s during WWII. It’s an unlikely love story that demonstrates the best and worst of human interactions.

Susan, Development director

  A Fighting Chance by Elizabeth Warren

If you’re inspired by women who overcome the odds, challenge the status quo, and fight for social justice, then this is a book to read. Elizabeth Warren is matter of fact, funny, and warm in telling her story of growing up in a small town in Oklahoma, watching her parents struggle when her father loses his job and her mother shoulders the family’s financial burden by taking a job at Sears. Elizabeth manages to get through college, go to law school, and become a professor at Harvard deeply committed to research around bankruptcy. She led the Bankruptcy Review Commission and headed the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program and in 2012 defeated incumbent Republican Scott Brown for a seat in the U.S. Senate. She is feisty, honest, and inspirational! 
  Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

This is a sweet, intelligent, and romantic novel about love by e-mail. A multi-degreed college addict finally takes a job at a newspaper reading flagged e-mails at night and sending warnings to employees who use the system improperly. He is drawn into the lives of a reporter and an editor (both women, one married, one with a questionable boyfriend) whose emails are regularly flagged for language, and is so charmed by their lives that he never reports them – but he keeps reading their messages. If you’re looking for a little escape, take this book to your happy place and read it.

Jen, teacher-librarian

  I had a great time reading a wonderful array of children's and young adult books over the summer. For several years, I wanted to read young adult author A.S. King. This summer, I did just that – with four of her novels! Have you read any of her books? If not, I recommend any of those I read: Please Ignore Vera Dietz, Ask the Passengers, Reality Boy and Everybody Sees the Ants. Ms. King’s ability to share such rich realistic themes was impressive. There was certainly no sugar coating of the issues – for the teens or the adults in their world. Powerful and intense books. It made me think a lot about the adults’ challenges and how those challenges impacted the children in their lives. I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend a few wordless books as well. I adore them because they are accessible to so many people. A few favorites – Mirror by Jeannie Baker, Chalk by Bill Thomson, Wave by Suzy Lee, South by Patrick McDonnell and Journey by Aaron Becker.