No Child... by Nilaja Sun

by Nilaja Sun

NO CHILD is a tour-de-force exploration of the New York City public school system. An insightful, hilarious and touching master class not to be missed by anyone who is concerned about the state of our education system and how we might fix it.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Education, Audiobook

Paperback

First published December 31, 2007

Reviews

[Jo - •.★Reading Is My Bliss★.• · Rating 3 out of 5]

An insight to what happens in high school classrooms when a substitute teacher announces to the class that they will all be taking part in a school play.

There is a broad range of reactions and I love the real banter between students and with their teacher.

Some kids just need someone to believe in them so they can believe in themselves :)

[Tom Romig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this play when it was first performed at the Barrow Street Theatre in Greenwich Village. Nilaja Sun played all 16 characters--Janitor Brown, the narrator in his 80s; a range of students in a Bronx high school; teachers and the principal. The teaching artist prods, cajoles, entices the reluctant students, raised on deprivation and low expectations, into performing a play about convicts in an 18th-century Australian prison who are themselves drawn into performing a play. In analyzing the play and preparing their roles, the students get glimmers of a world beyond their constrained environment, a world where their potential may just be far greater than they've imagined. The deadening aspects of test-driven education are exposed in the process. Reading the play is worthwhile, though seeing it performed is an emotionally wrenching and, ultimately, uplifting experience.

[Cassandra Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very accurate about how students act in class. Laughed out load many times. Excellent short read/listen for teachers!

[jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

"We will laugh, we may be moved. We may even think a little."

The play, "No Child...," written by Nilaja Sun is a short, witty, fun, and at times, emotional play. It's a great read to those who are new/interested in reading plays. The plot follows the story of a "teaching artist" as referred to by herself, Ms. Sun becomes a theater teacher to a group of high school sophomore delinquents to earn some money.

In all honesty, I was expecting this play to be another cheesy high school story, but it mentions serious topics such as race and harmful stereotypes. For example, in scene six, as the class begins to put up the play, the discuss harmful, racial stereotypes that are product of a society embedded with deep racial prejudice. Which is shown by the kids, who are all black and/or latino, only calling themselves convicts, and expecting nothing of themselves but dropping out, getting pregnant, and going to jail. Not even the kids can break the influence of society telling them that they don't become anything important in life. "Many criminals seem to have been born that way. It is in their nature," one of the children say. To that, Ms. Sun opens a conversation about what is in a person's nature.

Some of my favorite quotes are the following:

MS. SUN. Well, what is in your nature? Coca?
COCA. Love.

JEROME. The theater is an expression of civilization.....And we, this colony of a few hundred, will be watching this together. For a few hours we will no longer be despised prisoners and hated gaolers. We will laugh, we may be moved. We may even think a little.

The writing is simple, yet effective to get the story across. The biggest problem I had with this story is that it was too short, and thus I felt like the ending was rushed. I feel like their was lots of different potentials side plot lines with the children that could have deeper explore the negative psychological effects of being undermined and that they wouldn't amount to anything. I felt like there was multiple plots (won't spoil!) at the end that felt severely skimmed over that could have really added to the book, while I felt like some side plots (e.g. with the Janitor) that felt unnecessary and even random to the story.

All in all, I personally though that this play was a fun, short read. And I'm still super impressed with Nilaja's tone in her writing. I'm so obsessed with how she uses tone for the Janitor and the teenagers. There is a such a clear difference! I've never noticed that before in other writers' work. Nijala Sun has perfected teenage slang and mimics perfectly how teenagers act. (Speaking as a teenager myself) I've never seen a teen captured so perfectly, by the stupid, idiotic jokes we make, to the snickers and disses, and to the boredom and laziness to do anything. I swear, when the teenager said "That's O.D." I literally searched up online to see if it was actually a teenager who wrote this. The difference by how the characters talk was astoundingly brilliant.

On a final note, I cannot wait to research more into the "No Child Left Behind" educational policy law, which is mentioned throughout the story.

[Sherrie Shaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the struggles of this past year with Covid and disengaged students, I found this book to be an honest reflection of how many of our students today are disconnected from school and the motivation to learn. It reminded me of "Stand Up and Deliver" without quite as much feel-good emotions attached to the ending.

Quick warning--the language is BAD. While it was probably a realistic expression of how students in these situations talk, I found myself being concerned about how anyone accidentally overhearing my Audible account would think about what I was listening to.

[Krista Lukas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming story about a teaching artist who teaches in a difficult neighborhood school. It details the problems the students have to face outside of school which partially explains their behavior in school. Miss Sun is about to resign, but changes her mind when one of the class leaders decides to come over to her side. They do a play, it is a success, and all ends well. Although it ends well, the story remains realistic throughout.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story about a teacher trying to make a difference in the lives of at-risk students. I actually hate that term. To me their kids that have been considered lost causes, so why bother. Well, maybe if someone bothered then maybe they wouldn't be "at-risk" or "lost causes". Realistically the environment these kids grow up in and their circumstances set them on a path that outsiders see as hopeless. Believing in them, investing in them will not change their environment or circumstances, but it might change their future. You might plant a seed that takes root when they become parents. Their children might be a little closer to going down a different path. Those circumstances may not change for a couple generations. We can't give up. We need to support and encourage the Ms. Sun's.

[Husein B · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the students were distinct characters and felt like real high school students in any intercity public school. There was a lot crammed into a 30 page play.

I thought it was a poignant commentary about the American school system and the No Child Left Behind policy.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about a teacher trying to make a difference.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, heartwarming and witty! ☀️

[Jestin James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hilarious!!

[Darby Steeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Nilaja, for this beautiful outlook i to Humanity.

[Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horribly acted!

[sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

felt very real. enlightening to read about the nyc school system in a format as intentionally presentational as this.

i wish i could've seen this run in person ... so much....

[Will Schmitt]

Similar to Pipeline. A really important piece that helps give voice to those who normally wouldn’t communicate through theatre or writing about the serious issues with the public education system.

[Reyna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Important content but not a big fan of this play

[Katy Shafer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
A very clever idea and relatable as a teaching artist

[belleabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been blessed by Ms. Sun! And I’m proud to call her a teacher of my own. Wonderful little play.

[Ms. D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this one-woman show last night and it blew my mind. Here is a review from its first run: http://nymag.com/arts/theater/reviews.... It runs at the Barrow Street Theater until 7/31 and I may be able to get free tickets, so send me a message if you'd like to go. They sell the script at the theater, and it's definitely worth reading too, although only before or after actually seeing the play- so much of what she does, how she transforms herself into at least 16 different people and brings each one to life, is unwritten.

[Liz Bernardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing play about... well, really, everything! Our educational system, race, sex, the arts, the debt crisis, violence, family issues, you've got it all in this beautifully written one-woman play! It's an easy, quick read and worth your while, especially if you're interested in social issues!

[lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good. A little short, though. I didn't have any attachment to the characters. The lesson was a little heavy-handed, kind of like a children's book. I'm sure it would read better on stage.

[Yu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring!