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thepetitepunk's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
This was great. Genuine kids and a burnt out old man who learns to be empathetic again? Always my thing.
This was great. Genuine kids and a burnt out old man who learns to be empathetic again? Always my thing.
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
The Unteachables is the most recent book I've read with my 9 year old son. We just wrapped it up tonight. This middle grade novel tells the story of a class of 7 "unteachable" students at Greenwich Middle School. These are seven 8th graders who for whatever reason (behavior, academic issues etc.) were deemed unteachable by other teachers...so they were all put into one class where they stay all day. This year, a veteran teacher who is REALLY looking forward to his early retirement in June is given the class out of spite by the superintendent. Mr. Kermit lost his passion for teaching after a cheating scandal and the superintendent has been holding a grudge ever since that event.
At first my son was confused by the changing perspective of characters (each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character) but that confusion faded away after a few chapters. He definitely had his favorite characters (Parker, Kiana, and Mr. Kermit) and would cheer a little anytime we got to one of their chapters. Overall, my son and I enjoyed this book and he was sad when it was over. It was an uplifting story and definitely made my son laugh out loud a bunch of times.
At first my son was confused by the changing perspective of characters (each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character) but that confusion faded away after a few chapters. He definitely had his favorite characters (Parker, Kiana, and Mr. Kermit) and would cheer a little anytime we got to one of their chapters. Overall, my son and I enjoyed this book and he was sad when it was over. It was an uplifting story and definitely made my son laugh out loud a bunch of times.
lbrlk's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Perfect 'Mr Chips'-like uplifting fare for KS2/3.
A good teacher gone to seed. A class of misfits the system has given up on. While you might guess how the story is generally going to unfold, it was an absolute pleasure listening to the multiple narrators tell their story of a year in the Unteachables.
The protagonist arguably is Kiana, only registering at the school for a few weeks while her mum is away working, and due to her stepmother's preoccupation with a baby, finds herself in a 'special class' with only six other students.
And trying to survive his last year before early retirement is teacher Mr Kermit, still jaded from a decades-old scandal he was unfairly implicated in. Doing the time, set the Unteachables class by a superintendent keen to force him to resign, his teaching methods include completing the puzzles in the newspaper every day and setting worksheets he never marks. He's just waiting for June and he's out of there...
But the seven students in his class - with anger issues, bad attitudes, the inability to read - they may still have something to teach themselves.
Multiple actors voice the roles of the children and adults who share the story, making it very clear who is speaking. I loved the structure, hearing everyone's own take on the class and how gradually they all start to affect each other. It's an ideal novel to listen to, first person with lots of voices that are easily identifiable and an easy-to-follow story.
The oft-utilised 'problem child' scenario is very nicely developed with several different issues experienced by the Unteachables cast, each humanised and shown to be someone who needs the right help, the right guidance... and just maybe so does their teacher.
Mr Kermit is made very sympathetic, and the story manages to fit in without issue an arc for each major character, bringing in business from years past. Readers will be cheering by the end (I was smiling broadly) and warmed.
No issues with language or violence, no mature themes, this is perfect material for ages 9-14.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
A good teacher gone to seed. A class of misfits the system has given up on. While you might guess how the story is generally going to unfold, it was an absolute pleasure listening to the multiple narrators tell their story of a year in the Unteachables.
The protagonist arguably is Kiana, only registering at the school for a few weeks while her mum is away working, and due to her stepmother's preoccupation with a baby, finds herself in a 'special class' with only six other students.
And trying to survive his last year before early retirement is teacher Mr Kermit, still jaded from a decades-old scandal he was unfairly implicated in. Doing the time, set the Unteachables class by a superintendent keen to force him to resign, his teaching methods include completing the puzzles in the newspaper every day and setting worksheets he never marks. He's just waiting for June and he's out of there...
But the seven students in his class - with anger issues, bad attitudes, the inability to read - they may still have something to teach themselves.
Multiple actors voice the roles of the children and adults who share the story, making it very clear who is speaking. I loved the structure, hearing everyone's own take on the class and how gradually they all start to affect each other. It's an ideal novel to listen to, first person with lots of voices that are easily identifiable and an easy-to-follow story.
The oft-utilised 'problem child' scenario is very nicely developed with several different issues experienced by the Unteachables cast, each humanised and shown to be someone who needs the right help, the right guidance... and just maybe so does their teacher.
Mr Kermit is made very sympathetic, and the story manages to fit in without issue an arc for each major character, bringing in business from years past. Readers will be cheering by the end (I was smiling broadly) and warmed.
No issues with language or violence, no mature themes, this is perfect material for ages 9-14.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Good story, but I almost think teachers/educators will appreciate it more than kids will. I will have to ask some of the kids next school year what they think of it when they read it. It was a great one to read on audio, because it had different readers for each character's chapters.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Digital audiobook performed by a full cast
From the book jacket: The Unteachables are a notorious class of misfits, delinquents, and academic train wrecks. Their teacher is Mr Zachary Kermit, the most burned-out teacher in all of Greenwich. He was once a rising star, but his career was shattered by a cheating scandal that still haunts him. After years of phoning it in, he is finally one year away from early retirement. The Unteachables never thought they’d find a teacher who had a worse attitude than they did. And Mr. Kermit never thought he would actually care about teaching again.
My reactions:
This was a fun, enjoyable middle-grade book about kids – and at least one teacher – who need a little extra help and a hefty dose of understanding and empathy. The two central students are Kiana, a temporary transfer from California who’s living with her Dad and Stepmom while her mother (an actress) is on location, and Parker, a local student who still can’t read, though he CAN drive. The rest of this special class of eighth graders is made up of kids with a variety of issues and special gifts: anger-management, dyslexia, an injured former star-athlete with limited academic success, a gifted artist, a student whose large size makes everyone assume aggression, etc.
I loved how the kids came to understand one another, and how they came to understand their teacher and his struggles. I cheered at their efforts to right the wrongs they witnessed. And I was glad that some of the adults stepped up to the plate to admit past mistakes and try to right past injustices that may have resulted.
I think that young teens and middle-grade students will particularly like the focus on what the kids CAN do. Put down and bullied, they are clearly NOT helpless victims. Bravo!
The audio version is performed by a full cast: Sarah Beth Goer, Oliver Wyman, Josh Hurley, Tristan Morris, Chris Gebauer, Sean Welsh Brown, Pete Larkin, Fred Berman, Jennifer Nittoso. Though I’m not certain which actor voices which character, I can say that they all do a marvelous job.
From the book jacket: The Unteachables are a notorious class of misfits, delinquents, and academic train wrecks. Their teacher is Mr Zachary Kermit, the most burned-out teacher in all of Greenwich. He was once a rising star, but his career was shattered by a cheating scandal that still haunts him. After years of phoning it in, he is finally one year away from early retirement. The Unteachables never thought they’d find a teacher who had a worse attitude than they did. And Mr. Kermit never thought he would actually care about teaching again.
My reactions:
This was a fun, enjoyable middle-grade book about kids – and at least one teacher – who need a little extra help and a hefty dose of understanding and empathy. The two central students are Kiana, a temporary transfer from California who’s living with her Dad and Stepmom while her mother (an actress) is on location, and Parker, a local student who still can’t read, though he CAN drive. The rest of this special class of eighth graders is made up of kids with a variety of issues and special gifts: anger-management, dyslexia, an injured former star-athlete with limited academic success, a gifted artist, a student whose large size makes everyone assume aggression, etc.
I loved how the kids came to understand one another, and how they came to understand their teacher and his struggles. I cheered at their efforts to right the wrongs they witnessed. And I was glad that some of the adults stepped up to the plate to admit past mistakes and try to right past injustices that may have resulted.
I think that young teens and middle-grade students will particularly like the focus on what the kids CAN do. Put down and bullied, they are clearly NOT helpless victims. Bravo!
The audio version is performed by a full cast: Sarah Beth Goer, Oliver Wyman, Josh Hurley, Tristan Morris, Chris Gebauer, Sean Welsh Brown, Pete Larkin, Fred Berman, Jennifer Nittoso. Though I’m not certain which actor voices which character, I can say that they all do a marvelous job.
breakfastgrey's review against another edition
3.75
Excellent book club read. I enjoyed the Jake Terranova plot line, in particular. The teaching aspects were ridiculously out of touch, though. I cannot imagine any school in the country where this group of kids represents the absolute most challenging students in the school, so much so they had to be put into their own classroom.
selreading's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my GOSH!!! Cutest heartwarming, almost brought me to tears, but I was too busy smiling.
alidottie's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this short visit to a middle school class who have been labeled misfits and basically forgotten. Great reminder that all kids' talents and brilliance does not shine within the school systems restraints and that this does not reflect the gifts they have.