Book Review: Reading With Patrick: A Teacher, a Student, and a Life-changing Friendship

After she graduated from Harvard, Michelle Kuo decided to join Teach for America. this sent her to Helena, Arkansas. This part of the country is poor and still feels the effects of slavery. She finds one student, Patrick Browning, who she decides to mentor, in addition to her teaching. She discovers that this broken school has a truancy and gun violence history.

Patrick is in the 8th grade at the age of 15, however, he is doing so well under Michelle tutelage. After two years, Michelle decides it is time to go to law school. After this grueling schedule, just as she is about to graduate, she finds that Patrick has been accused of murder. She feel responsible so she goes back to finish Patrick's schooling, while he is in prison. She can see his education is making a difference in this young man's life. What she wasn't expecting was the change it would make inn her life.

As an educator, I knew exactly what Michelle was talking about. I often was amazed at how much one-on-one teaching could change the student and myself. I felt she was able to relate this so well, with such a beautiful writing style. Others who read this book could also see that this does not only speak to teachers but each one of us and the impact we can have on  others.  What an inspiration.

I recommend this book highly.

I am so glad that I was given this book by NetGalley and Random House in exchange for my honest review.

This book can be found at Amazon HERE!
This book can be found at Barnes and Noble HERE!

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Book Review: How English Became English

How English Became English, fascinated me. This book explains how the English language has been transformed over the centuries and it is done in a manner that kept my attention throughout. I never felt like I was in a classroom but instead I was taking part in a discussion with someone who has a love for the language. Horobin was able to do this by intermingling humor with the topic. It is a short book but the amount of research that was done in the writing of this book is astounding.

I highly recommend this to anyone who speaks the English language.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Oxford University Press in exchange for my honest review.