Hey, Guys! I wrote the book Muchacho and I'm glad you are discussing it. Eddie's story is true - what happened to him actually happened to my real students. And he accidentally kicked his teacher when he was a little kid - she was twisting his ear. He was a straight A student before that. But that incident really changed his life. You never know when something is going to happen that will change your life-- and you never realize it until later. Like Eddie never thought he would completely rethink who he was because of taking a dance class. He just needed the credits and wanted to get close to some girls. But he ended up with a lot more than he expected. Life is like that if you aren't afraid to take some chances. I'm not talking about risking your life. I'm talking about taking a chance and do something you think you won't like or that other kids won't think is cool or where you might feel like a jerk because you don't know what's up. But if you have the heart, you never know what can happen...
That's an interesting suggestion, that a behavior disordered class of students could read this book. I wonder if they would "see" themselves? Sometimes we don't even realize what we are doing and saying. But maybe it would give them a chance to talk about things that they never talk about. Maybe they could connect better with their teachers if they talked about what they really cared about instead of just arguing because they hate school.
Eddie isn't really a sex offender, in the sense that you see in the news. He was just accused of that because of where he happened to kick his teacher. the problem is that he didn't tell his parents or anybody what really happened. He just clammed up and then they kicked him out of school. He even says that he should have told somebody, but he didn't want to cry and look like a baby. So things got out of hand. But he survived and now he looks back at that incident and sees that he could have made a different choice and things would have turned out differently. That's one of the things that he's really thinking about lately -- how every choice leads to other choices and can change your life. We are not powerless.
I was thinking the same thing about as I read this book. I have not finished the book yet so I don't know everything that happens. but so far I think it does show how kids really think and feel about school and other things that happen everyday around them.
Muchacho, written by louanne johnson, was an okay book. if i was to walk in to the library i probably wouldn't pick it up on my style of reading. i do like how it was based on a true story. Eddie, was never a bad kid at heart. when you are young and people give you a certain repuation you just tend to stay with that. and since he was in elementary school and everyone knew him by that rep he really liked it. Eddie was smart enough to do anything. but he didnt want to lose that rep. once lupe transfered to bright horizons and they meet in ballroom dance class she showed him how with the right support and mind set he can do anything. i feel as though lupe and eddie's story was the only continuing story in the book. the chapters didnt flow together. which was more confusing for myself to keep up with the book.
I thought the ending to this book was a very good one. I feel this book was given the Gateway Book Award because of how it keeps young readers wondering what is going to happen next. this book is about things that teenagers go through all the time so they stay interested. Since things that happened to Eddie and other characters might have happened to themselves or someone they know they want to keep reading the book.
Kurt,
ReplyDeleteFrom what i heard from Leo, i heard it's a pretty awesome book, from all the details he's giving me.
leo
ReplyDeletethis is a great book because it it shous u lot of things that open your ayes like girls geting pregnet at the age of 14 and doing drugs
Hey, Guys! I wrote the book Muchacho and I'm glad you are discussing it. Eddie's story is true - what happened to him actually happened to my real students. And he accidentally kicked his teacher when he was a little kid - she was twisting his ear. He was a straight A student before that. But that incident really changed his life. You never know when something is going to happen that will change your life-- and you never realize it until later. Like Eddie never thought he would completely rethink who he was because of taking a dance class. He just needed the credits and wanted to get close to some girls. But he ended up with a lot more than he expected. Life is like that if you aren't afraid to take some chances. I'm not talking about risking your life. I'm talking about taking a chance and do something you think you won't like or that other kids won't think is cool or where you might feel like a jerk because you don't know what's up. But if you have the heart, you never know what can happen...
ReplyDeleteLouAnne (Johnson)
www.louannejohnson.com
i agree with everything you do about this book that would be very ironic for a behavior disordered class to read.
ReplyDeletecarson
i think its a very possitive book and good that eddie wants to better his eduacation
ReplyDeletecarson
That's an interesting suggestion, that a behavior disordered class of students could read this book. I wonder if they would "see" themselves? Sometimes we don't even realize what we are doing and saying. But maybe it would give them a chance to talk about things that they never talk about. Maybe they could connect better with their teachers if they talked about what they really cared about instead of just arguing because they hate school.
ReplyDeleteEddie isn't really a sex offender, in the sense that you see in the news. He was just accused of that because of where he happened to kick his teacher. the problem is that he didn't tell his parents or anybody what really happened. He just clammed up and then they kicked him out of school. He even says that he should have told somebody, but he didn't want to cry and look like a baby. So things got out of hand. But he survived and now he looks back at that incident and sees that he could have made a different choice and things would have turned out differently. That's one of the things that he's really thinking about lately -- how every choice leads to other choices and can change your life. We are not powerless.
ReplyDeletethis boook shows u a tru story and tells how kids really speak and how they think about others
ReplyDeleteBrendon T.
DeleteJohnson 7
I was thinking the same thing about as I read this book. I have not finished the book yet so I don't know everything that happens. but so far I think it does show how kids really think and feel about school and other things that happen everyday around them.
Muchacho, written by louanne johnson, was an okay book. if i was to walk in to the library i probably wouldn't pick it up on my style of reading. i do like how it was based on a true story. Eddie, was never a bad kid at heart. when you are young and people give you a certain repuation you just tend to stay with that. and since he was in elementary school and everyone knew him by that rep he really liked it. Eddie was smart enough to do anything. but he didnt want to lose that rep. once lupe transfered to bright horizons and they meet in ballroom dance class she showed him how with the right support and mind set he can do anything. i feel as though lupe and eddie's story was the only continuing story in the book. the chapters didnt flow together. which was more confusing for myself to keep up with the book.
ReplyDeleteBB
Brendon T.
ReplyDeleteJohnson 7
I thought the ending to this book was a very good one. I feel this book was given the Gateway Book Award because of how it keeps young readers wondering what is going to happen next. this book is about things that teenagers go through all the time so they stay interested. Since things that happened to Eddie and other characters might have happened to themselves or someone they know they want to keep reading the book.