BACK TO CLASS

by Mel Glenn ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 17, 1988

A new series of ingenuous, blank-verse vignettes from the author and photographer of the Class Dismissed collections. Glenn gives each of his 65 subjects--all fictional high-school teachers or students--an individual voice, though many have needs, problems, or strengths in common: fears of standing out from the crowd or of failure; resentment against parental control or life in general (""I have been in this school for ten years. . .too long""); or anxiety over social expectations (""The only important questions are:/How far to go,/How far to let him go,/How far to let yourself go. . .""). Some face life with brash confidence, others are obviously heading for a fall (""I don't have time to study history./I'm making it instead""), but in general the tone is upbeat and hopeful. As in the previous books, candid, lively black-and-white photos portray natural-looking teen-agers and older adults in relaxed poses. The simple language and clearly stated themes make this accessible to the most unpracticed poetry reader.

Pub Date: Oct. 17, 1988

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 95

Publisher: Clarion/Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1988

Categories: POETRY