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epellicci's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
2.0
It is clear that Clanchy is a successful English teacher who has developed as a practitioner over the course of her career and certainly did inspire her students. However, this book is shockingly dense and loaded with her unacknowledged prejudices. Clanchy has an apparent saviour complex, and as such non of the children in this book were able to speak for themselves. Instead of elevating their stories, Clanchy marches over them with her limited and privileged analysis which completely invalidated the attempt I think she was trying to make to give the children more depth. I was also disturbed by the extent that she took it upon herself to meddle with some of the children's lives - not just those of her own students. The story about Royar - the troubled son of a Kurdish widow seeking asylum in the UK - made me particularly uncomfortable. She abused his mothers trust, privacy, and lack of English language ability to meddle unopposed in the boys education, eventually contributing to Royar's expulsion.
There is unchecked racism throughout the book, alongside sexism, fatphobia, and an uncomfortable attention to detail when describing the bodies of (mostly) her female pupils. The authors white, middle class analysis of events is unchallenged, and the 'what the children taught me' element was lacking compared to her preaching of her brilliance in transforming disadvantaged children's destinies.
I enjoyed the use of the children's poetry to frame their stories, although there is a question of whether the correct permissions were gained for Clanchy's use of them, and whether she should be profiting off their work. All in all, a disappointing read, featuring some disturbing actions and attitudes.
There is unchecked racism throughout the book, alongside sexism, fatphobia, and an uncomfortable attention to detail when describing the bodies of (mostly) her female pupils. The authors white, middle class analysis of events is unchallenged, and the 'what the children taught me' element was lacking compared to her preaching of her brilliance in transforming disadvantaged children's destinies.
I enjoyed the use of the children's poetry to frame their stories, although there is a question of whether the correct permissions were gained for Clanchy's use of them, and whether she should be profiting off their work. All in all, a disappointing read, featuring some disturbing actions and attitudes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Sexual assault, and War
parksmj's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Trafficking, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Rape, Physical abuse, and Pedophilia
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