Seeing Past Z: Nurturing the Imagination in a Fast-Forward World

by Beth Kephart

Impassioned and eloquent―reasons and inspirations for nurturing your child's creativity. Kids today seem to be under more competitive pressure than ever, while studies show that reading, writing, and the arts in schools are suffering. Is there any place for imagination in kids' lives anymore? In a dog-eat-dog world, why dream things that aren't there?

In gorgeous prose and through personal stories, Beth Kephart resoundingly affirms the imagination as the heart of our ability to empathize with others, to appreciate the world, and to envision possibilities for the future. The star of her story is once again her son, Jeremy (as in her National Book Award-nominated A Slant of Sun), now fourteen years old―a child who at first resists storytelling, preferring more objective and orderly pursuits, but later leads a neighborhood book club/writing group and aspires to follow Steven Spielberg into moviemaking.

Embedded in the text and appendices are examples of how to inspire children to read, write, and dream.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

256 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2004

About the author

I'm the award-winning writer of more than two-dozen books in multiple genres—memoir, middle grade and young adult fiction, picture books, history, corporate fable, and books on the making of memoir.

I'm also an award-winning teacher at the University of Pennsylvania, co-founder of Juncture Workshops, and an essayist and critic with work appearing in The New York Times, Life magazine, Ninth Letter, Catapult, The Millions, The Rumpus, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and elsewhere.

Please visit me at junctureworkshops.com or bethkephartbooks.com.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memoir written in Beth Kephart's trademark poetic prose.

I thought this book was inspiring. I loved reading about Jeremy and his "projects", the way he was learning to cope with the world. I could see elements of myself in Jeremy, parts that I hid from the world because I wasn't sure whether they would accept me or not. This book gave me freedom to dream and to wonder if maybe what the world has always accepted as standard and normal isn't always to be desired.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected, but still worthwhile. I had expected a more practical book with examples and advice on fostering strong imagination in children. What I got instead was more of a memoir of the author's time with her son, teaching him how to appreciate the written word in all its forms. There are good ideas in here, and the appendix gives some practical ideas on how to encourage critical reading and writing in middle-schoolers through high-schoolers.

Anyway, a good read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent premise but a bit of a disappointing execution. Nonetheless, an important read for parents and teachers interested in cultivating curious readers.

[Carmyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book ages ago but had to return it to the library or risk having my card revoked. In order to finish it I had to borrow it again a few weeks later when I got a chance and so I feel as though I've lost some of my reviewing power in the process. What I know is that I liked it.

This is a book by a writer and a mother, rather than a teacher with a classroom. It's about the desire to preserve the natural imagination her son has even in the face of 6th grade adversity, during a school year where he was fragile and not as appreciated in the classroom as he was at home. Of course the story of her son and his imagination spans many more years... beginning with the first sparks of his interest in independent reading and ending well beyond the 6th grade year.


And I love the stories of the summer workshops. The glimpses into their activities. The descriptions of the books they read and the discussions they have. Kephart arranges a book club/writing group for her son and some of his peers in the summers and it sounds like a dream. It reminded me a little of Marci's children and their attempts at adapting a Magic Tree House story into a play last summer with their pal Juliet.

When the story ends Jeremy is 14 and is experimenting with film and animation. Throughout the book, I am struck by how willing he is to try things. How focused he is on various writing, drawing, screenwriting, spy story ventures. Most kids would be interested for about 30 seconds and as soon as the parent invests in the various tools to bring the young man's ideas to light, he would decide that he's more interested in baseball or dinosaurs. But not this kiddo. He's solitary (is it because he's an "only") and driven. Focused more than most adults and dedicated to the various crafts he undertakes.

Kephart makes me want to be a parent, when so often stories of parenting push me in the other direction. She makes me believe that one can make life and learning and story and creativity really sing in the midst of the busyness of day to day life.

I might need to invest a copy for myself and reread this one again soon.

[Victoria Marie Lees · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing Past Z: Nurturing the Imagination in a Fast-Forward World by Beth Kephart could be considered a case study for the power of imagination. The imagination is an important part of brain function, for creativity lives inside. Creativity adds to culture and is vital to society. In a global world filled with competition, exercising the imagination can be forgotten. Yet it is a necessary part of life—especially for children.

Kephart builds a case, example by example throughout the book, for the importance of time for imagination in children’s lives. Children as well as adults need time to themselves to support a healthy lifestyle. Kephart also offers suggestions to help others be able to assist children in exercising this important muscle. A truly inspiring book.

[Elinor Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am only about 20 pages in and am remembering now why I love Beth Kephart's writing so much. I loved A Slant of Sun and Into the Tangle of Friendship (ask me about that one). Beth is a neighbor and the daughter of a member of our church. I am relishing the messages in this book already! The closing sentence of each of the first few chapters carry great weight. More later as I continue reading.

[Bookmarks Magazine]

Kephart, author of an award-winning memoir trilogy and the National Book Award nominee, A Slant of Sun (also starring Jeremy), is no typical mother. And Seeing Past Z is no routine child-rearing book. What distinguishes it from all the other "how to" books on the shelf is its gorgeous depiction of the relationship between a mother and child

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! Worth the read for parents and literature buffs. It is the incredible tale of one woman's fight to raise her son with imagination and a love of reading rather than cave into our competitive-crazed, consumer driven society.

[Robin Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Kephart writes beautifully, and it was lovely to read about Jeremy again-- so much older and more grown up in these stories, and just as delightful as he was as a young child in Kephart's earlier memoir, A Slant of Sun.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite memoirist continues her story of mothering her unique son, this time in "seeing past z," helping him to develop his imagination. Includes lesson plans that she used with him & his friends for four different levels.

[Amiee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So wonderful. Is it possible to raise your kid like this?? Also wonderful writing; easy to lose yourself in it for a while...

[Briellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must read more from Beth Kephart!

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of the book was narrated in a style so overblown it was hard to believe. It felt like a film all in soft focus. I didn't get a sense of a real family, warts and all. I am not a fan of the scenario with the only child who is treated like a friend and peer by the hyper-involved parent (or parents?). This family and their circle of friends were probably not people I'd get along with. But there were some interesting educational ideas, and I definitely appreciated that the author provided an appendix with activities instead of just giving us glimpses of them spread throughout the body of the book.

[Rebecca I · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a book on nurturing one's own creativity, but soon found out it wasn't. It is more about creative writing for children and helping kids have ideas and following them to see what happens. I did end up reading a little back story about the author and her son and overall it was worthwhile to read as it has some recommendations for reading and for how to come up with ideas for any sort of creative project and to practice techniques that might get juices flowing.