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A Small Civilization: Journal of a 7th grade classroom
With edgy humor and revealing insight, a journalist-turned-teacher finds her 'best story,’ witnessing firsthand the metamorphosis that takes place in her students—physically, intellectually, hormonally, socially, magically, and sometimes tragically—over a pivotal 13th year.
179 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 11, 2023
What motivates a writer to write her own story? According to Lucy Emerson Sullivan her “yearning to leave something behind.” Life is gone in a poof; how will we be remembered? What a delight to have Lucy join us for our book club gathering at Tate Mountain and share her personal experience in writing her story about teaching 7th grade literature for 13 years. She felt desperate about sharing what went on in the classroom, a burning desire to tell the story that the 7th grade transformation is magical. She admits she did not pick the story – it picked her.
Sullivan was guided by Anne Lamott’s words to “tell your story, because if you don’t no one ever will.” She also had the memoirs of her grandmother and great grandmother to inspire her. Through their stories she was able to learn more about her ancestors and how they lived. Write it down. If you don’t it gets lost. This is (part of) her story. Lucy is very much a writer as evidenced by the amount of contemporaneous documentation she had in her possession when she started writing this book. She had her own notes and journals as well as writings left behind by her students to give her the fodder to craft this wonderful story about life in the 7th grade.
Enough about Lucy! A Small Civilization: Journal of a 7th grade classroom is part memoir part story telling. The author condensed 13 years of watching caterpillars become butterflies into a narrative that lets us peek into this wonderful timeframe. The story begins with her decision to teach and starting her first year and concludes with her final year and retirement (spoiler alert!). You can watch her students try, sputter, trip, awaken and shine. Based on real students and real events, the story walks us through a school year of books, essays and journals in the classroom; overbearing, overworked, separating, dying, absent, caring, nurturing parents and family outside. Her students are all individuals with distinct needs. Praise and encouragement or guidance and (running) interference when required.
What’s your second act? What story are you going to leave behind and how? We can’t wait to see what Lucy does next.
WSBCGA Ratings according to me. Our founders wanted to read Southern literature that highlighted strong women and important issues. Our rating scale reflects these characteristics; however, we are not bound by any limitations in our book selection.
Women :-)) – The teaching profession is dominated by women.
Short :-)) – It is a compact book told in short stories/chapters.
Southern :-) – The author and her family are from the South; however, the story took place in Connecticut.
Depth :-) – A lot more goes on in this book than you would think from the title.
Good Book Club Book :-)) – Yes, especially if you get the author to join you!
Recommend :-)) – To any teacher or anyone that has survived the 7th grade.
Sullivan was guided by Anne Lamott’s words to “tell your story, because if you don’t no one ever will.” She also had the memoirs of her grandmother and great grandmother to inspire her. Through their stories she was able to learn more about her ancestors and how they lived. Write it down. If you don’t it gets lost. This is (part of) her story. Lucy is very much a writer as evidenced by the amount of contemporaneous documentation she had in her possession when she started writing this book. She had her own notes and journals as well as writings left behind by her students to give her the fodder to craft this wonderful story about life in the 7th grade.
Enough about Lucy! A Small Civilization: Journal of a 7th grade classroom is part memoir part story telling. The author condensed 13 years of watching caterpillars become butterflies into a narrative that lets us peek into this wonderful timeframe. The story begins with her decision to teach and starting her first year and concludes with her final year and retirement (spoiler alert!). You can watch her students try, sputter, trip, awaken and shine. Based on real students and real events, the story walks us through a school year of books, essays and journals in the classroom; overbearing, overworked, separating, dying, absent, caring, nurturing parents and family outside. Her students are all individuals with distinct needs. Praise and encouragement or guidance and (running) interference when required.
What’s your second act? What story are you going to leave behind and how? We can’t wait to see what Lucy does next.
WSBCGA Ratings according to me. Our founders wanted to read Southern literature that highlighted strong women and important issues. Our rating scale reflects these characteristics; however, we are not bound by any limitations in our book selection.
Women :-)) – The teaching profession is dominated by women.
Short :-)) – It is a compact book told in short stories/chapters.
Southern :-) – The author and her family are from the South; however, the story took place in Connecticut.
Depth :-) – A lot more goes on in this book than you would think from the title.
Good Book Club Book :-)) – Yes, especially if you get the author to join you!
Recommend :-)) – To any teacher or anyone that has survived the 7th grade.
May 11, 2023
Well written, well thought out book. And yes, it makes you go back to 7th grade from an adult point of view....but so well done you enjoy the year with this teacher, writer, journalist. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews