City Kid

by Mary MacCracken

MacCracken recounts her experiences as a middle-aged woman returning to school to earn teaching credentials and the relationship she develops with a seven-year-old delinquent she tutors

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Education, Psychology, Biography Memoir, Adult

280 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1981

Reviews

[Ruth Turner · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

At 50 pages I'd had enough. The author irritated me so much!

This book should have been titled Mary Knows Best.

Mary MacCracken is a woman in her forties who goes back to school to get her teaching degree and certification when the school where she's been teaching emotionally disturbed children for the past six years becomes state approved.

I quickly tired of Mary's moaning about the fact that she has to return to school to get a degree, and about the courses she needs to take. She makes it plain that she thinks these courses are a waste of her time. Of course. Mary knows best.

While still at school Mary gets the opportunity to be part of a Mental Health Clinic grant to put “therapeutic tutors” into one of the schools in Falls City. She does the necessary training and is taken to the school to meet her first child, Luke, whom she will see three times a week, for fifty minutes. Luke is "hard core. He’s "got a list of arrests as long as your arm. Been picked up twenty-four times. He’s set over a dozen major fires, stolen over fifty dollars’ worth of goods from the stores on Main Street." And he's a truant, with over one hundred absences in two and a half years.

So...during her first 50 minute session Mary takes Luke out of the classroom, which she isn't supposed to do. But she couldn’t stand "to waste the time." Huh? What?
But, Mary knows best.

Then, after her first 50 minute session with Luke, Mary speaks to her husband that night and tells him she doesn’t understand it. Luke just didn’t seem that bad to her. Huh? What? Does she think the police made up all those arrests?

The next afternoon, Tuesday, sees our Mary heading back to the school, despite the fact that her next visit isn't supposed to be until Wednesday. But, Mary knows best.

She goes through Luke's file and sees for herself the evidence of all the arrests, fires, thefts and truancies...but..."the mismatch between this file and Luke of yesterday was the hardest to understand."

Really? So what was she expecting? That he'd set fire to school and steal her handbag? She's been told that Luke isn't a problem at school. He's quiet and keeps pretty much to himself. But then again, maybe she wasn't listening. After all, Mary knows best.

At that point I waved the white flag and called "uncle"...I was done with Mary knowing best.

This author was compared to Torey Hayden in some of the reviews, so I should have known better!

*headbang headbang*

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now in school full time to earn her Bachelor’s degree and become a certified teacher, Mary MacCracken becomes a therapeutic tutor to second grader Luke, who has a history of fire setting. She can’t reconcile the sweet, eager-to-please, quiet little boy as the neighborhood arsonist.

I didn’t enjoy CITY KID as much as MacCracken’s first two books because of the greater concentration on her class work. She rails against the lack of practical knowledge college courses provide vs classroom work. I get it. I always learned more from working with clients than reading theory in books and I think that’s true of most professions. I can as decades later I’m glad to have the theoretical foundation and while not obviously practical, the knowledge helps my understanding of children and my work with them, almost subconsciously. Reading about a student knowing more than teachers and books, while true, was of little interest to me.

The story of Luke and Mary’s work with him was touching and not unlike experiences I’ve had with kids. I worked with a fire setter close to Luke’s age and other kids who appeared lost in bad behavior and sometimes no greater pathology exists but a need for consistent regard, listening and showing the kids they aren’t bad, can learn to express themselves without violence/destruction and that they are lovable and worthy. These are the kids on the brink, who can go either way. Without intervention, their futures are pessimistic. They don’t need a miracle worker, just consistent patience and boundaries. Not every kid falls into this easier category of healing. Luke did and in MacCracken’s capable hands, he thrived.

[Hannah Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never thought that this book would be so inspirational and heartfelt. And I actually read the whole book. Even though it was a older book, published in 11980 something, it was a neat story. The author starts off talking to the boy, Luke, about some fire he starts. Then it back to the beginning and explains about her college life and what she had to do to get a certification to teach again. Then Luke comes in. This little boy who doesn't speaks or barely does his school work. So you have this 40-year-old lady trying to get this 7-year-old boy to speak and see what's going on in his head. She gets him to trust her and they become close. In her Senior year of college she has to teach at a school as one of her requirements to get certified. She she ends up teaching at the school where Luke goes too, again. She has also gets to help four more little "special" kids and has a lot of fun doing it. When she graduates she has to say good-bye to the kids and hope and pray that they will be good little kids. She does her job so good that Luke talks, and does his work. When he was in second grade, he got held back because so group of people thought he wasn't ready for third grade. But at the end, she ends up Going back to his right grade with the help of one special, caring, compassionate lady. Mary MacCracken. this story seriously touched my heart, I loved it.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent story, if at times unbelievable, about a 7-year-old delinquent and the teacher who reaches him. Mary is a 40-something former special education aide who went back to school to get a teaching degree, and while there, she became involved in a program that provided one-on-one guidance to kids who were on the verge of slipping through the cracks. Luke is a second grader whose mom is perpetually ill and whose father is out of the picture, so he spends his time taking care of his younger siblings and getting into trouble. This was in the same vein as some of Torey Hayden's books, although not nearly as good. Torey doesn't mind showing us her flaws and her guesswork; Mary would have us believe that she's actually Mary Poppins sans umbrella.

Mary spent a good deal of the book bemoaning the fact that she had to go to COLLEGE to get a DEGREE in order to become a teacher, which was completely unfair to her because she was naturally just fabulous with kids and knew instinctively what to do at all times. And, according to her, every last one of her classes was a complete waste of time, she learned nothing, and she didn't even attend graduation because it was all so pointless. I happen to be a fan of teachers having degrees, and I really couldn't see where she was coming from.

But the kid in the story was sweet, and it was encouraging to see him grow and become less rebellious. There were moments that made me wonder exactly how real this "non-fiction" book was; Luke gets held back a grade one year because of poor academic performance, but he becomes such a well-behaved and smart kid that the Powers That Be, without any prompting or special work, actually let him skip a grade the next year. I suppose it could happen, but I kind of doubt it. The comparison to Torey Hayden's books is inevitable, but while Torey includes work from her kids in her books and has a "where are they now" section on her website, MacCracken's characters come off as a little unbelievable. Perhaps Luke was a composite of several kids she had worked with--that would make more sense.

The book did provoke an emotional response, and it made me want to volunteer at an elementary school. It's clear that so many kids out there would benefit from an adult just showing up to have lunch with them one day a week.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"City Kid" is more than just the story of Luke. It's the story of one persons determination to prove to the world that this "rotten" kid isn't what he seems. With lots of guidance, triumph, failure and heart, Mrs MacCraken is able to help Luke (and others along the way) to see that he's more than what other people say he is. I found "City Kid" to be a highly enjoyable read.

Anyone looking for a sneak peak into the world of "special needs" workers should enjoy this book.

Anyone looking for a reason to say "Thank You" to their child's teacher, councilor, etc should enjoy this book.

Anyone looking for a steady-paced, heartfelt, true story to read, should enjoy this book.

[Darlene Valencia · Rating 4 out of 5]

City Kid by Mary MacCracken is a very inspirational book. It shows how big of a difference a teacher can make in a students life. MacCracken uses love and honesty to help kids achieve what they need. City Kid is about a very special little boy whom MacCracken helps, so he can be a "normal" child. The writing is extremely beautiful and clear. It gives you a completely knew point of view. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to be a teacher or anyone who likes stories that make you feel like you can make a change in the world.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like Torey Hadyn's books, you will like this one, too.

Mary had been teaching special ed for years but then her school was certified and she needed to go back to college to earn her teaching certificate. None of her classes have anything to do with kids (so true!!!) but her adviser gets her involved in a program at an inner city school where she meets 2nd grader, Luke. Although only 7 1/2 years old, Luke has already been arrested 24 times for arson, shop-lifting, etc.

[Ms. Tongate, TLC Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great inspirational read for teachers. This was handed down to me from my Mom. She said an oldie, but a professional goodie! Even though it was written many years ago, today's Luke's are just the same. Today, we have even more Luke's who are needing so much love and attention. Loved Luke! I just wonder how's Luke today?

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The based on real life novel of Mary MacCracken's journey to become a certified teacher. It is inspirational in it's determination that children (and not just theory) should be at the basis of education.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about young kids that struggle to make it in the city and how it only takes one caring adult to help make a difference.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always knew I wanted to be a teacher; reading this book in 10th grade made me chose special education.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reason I became a Teacher.

[Kathy Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book....very fast read...although the story happened over 25 years ago, its still relevant today....reaffirms why I am a special ed teacher

[Rebecca Schrader]

City Kid is an amazing book. I love how Mary MacCracken formed a relationship with this little boy and helped him. Great story

[Michelle Dixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary MacCracken has a gift for really listening to troubled children, and for sharing that gift with her readers.

[Julia Katic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Mary MacCracken. Her approach to the children she is involved with is inspiring. Such a meaningful life!

[Patricia Kaniasty · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. Compared to Mary MacCracken's other books this one was extremely boring and uninteresting. It started off ok but just died. Nothing else to say.

[CikguKaykayAlkhair · Rating 5 out of 5]

another memoir on how to reach the maladjust children. caring and knowledgeable is important in teaching this kids.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Outside in? Maybe that's the way to get to known a child. Outside in or inside out. What did it matter? We both knew what he meant."

[Ruth]

Easy read. Interesting

[Abbigayle Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I personally think that the author talked to much about her schooling and stuff instead of luck. It board me in some parts and took me longer to get though then I thought it would. I really was not to interested in picking it up to keep reading. It did not really catch my attionhing vary much. It was not a bad book but I did not personally like it that much and probably wont pick the book back up again in the future.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary MacCracken had her hands full. A boy only 7 1/2 years old with a rap sheet, arson, and dysfunctional relationships/communication skills it was no easy task on working through all the distractions and appearances to reach him. But she did it. Heart rendering, and wonderful book

[Julie Mørup · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like other books in this category it’s okay. It’s not deep literature but a nice read. This one missed some depth though. It felt like things came too easy. It’s apparently a true story therefor I can’t really say it should be different, but I missed some background, some deeper characters!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Found the story very inspiring and heartfelt. Mary and Luke are two very likeable characters. Easy flowing writing style too with elements of humour scattered throughout which I really enjoyed.

[Marwa Ghazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

April 2024