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sammah's review against another edition
5.0
Jesse Stuart is the reason I am a writer. I started to read his books when I was a little kid, starting with his beginning readers and working up to books like this one around 5th and 6th grade. He showed me from a very young age that a writer from Eastern Kentucky, from the literal middle of nowhere, can make it. He was a poet laureate, a novelist, and a boy from the same hills where I grew up. He inspired me, and I will always thank him for that. I wish I could have met him, have told him what his words have meant to be over the years, but all I can do is keep reading these great books over and over again and appreciating him in new ways every time.
readwithmikey's review against another edition
3.0
11th grade summer reading: A memoir of one man reflecting on his decades-long career as a Kentucky schoolteacher. It wasn't always an easy experience, but the entire atmosphere of the book spoke of simpler times. A pleasant, if simple, read. (7)
mlmarks98's review against another edition
2.0
Dad's recommendations are usually spot-on, but this one fell very short. The content was classic and solid (a mountain school teacher in Kentucky sharing his rural experience) and I've read many enjoyable memoirs with similar themes. But Stuart was just so unlikable. The writing was bland (consistent simple sentence structure that's so tedious and boring to follow), the experiences felt cardboard flat, and the narrating voice was so unreliable. I instantly distrust any memoir that's entirety is describing one's accomplishments. I read it for the sentiment and the true experience, and I felt like most of the book (especially the second half) was purely his "beliefs" and how much "better" they were for the system, and then his persecution for it. Kind of a rant but in short, didn't like it and won't be reading more.
teachergabi's review against another edition
5.0
Made me laugh and cry. What an inspiring book! I imagine it will make its readers running to sign up as teachers. This book can change lives.
mdoubleb's review against another edition
4.0
I had to read this one my sophomore year in high school, and I'm glad my teacher decided to do a focus on authors from our state. I have a bit more appreciation for the history of my home state now.
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