Broken: 180 Days in the Wilderness of an Urban Middle School

by Ann C. Averill

Sarah James is an experienced ESL, reading, and English teacher who goes to work in a failing middle school. This novel, based on a true story, focuses on her personal and spiritual growth as a result of her relationships with students, colleagues, and administrators. The bite size chapters narrated by Sarah and key Raul, Benny, Daniel, Carmen, Luz Paz, Juan, Maricela, Marta, Flaco, and Beto tell their truth about the school, friends, rivals, and families. This is not a "Teacher as Hero” book, rather the story of a well-meaning teacher whose middle class paradigm for success collides with the destructive forces of poverty. Sarah is pressed to confront her core motivation as a do-gooder. Ultimately, if we are what we do, who are we when we fail? What Sarah discovers about herself, her students and her faith, rocks her world, and frees her to move on. The themes of this book transcend education. Anyone who works hard, tries to make a difference, and struggles daily to keep it together will find in Sarah James a kindred spirit.

Ann C. Averill earned her BA in composition at Syracuse University and her MA in language, literacy and culture from the University of Colorado at Denver. She’s taught students from kindergarten to college for fifteen years. She lives with her dear husband, brave dog, kitty cat, and a flock of happy chickens in the foothills of the Berkshires.

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2013