2/19/2006

Book Assignment Part 1: "A Door Near Here" by Heather Quarles


Students in the 7th grade at the Hudson Middle School are reading the book "A Door Near Here" by Heather Quarles. It is part of the communications curriculum and its use in the school has come under question by the admin at ontheborderline.net (You can read his post at this link: "http://www.ontheborderline.net/?p=2589").

The OTBL admin quotes a couple of paragraphs from the book of a scene where a kid gets a nasty cut on the finger while slicing bread and uses the word "shit" in the trauma that follows. Gee, imagine that, a teenager using the word "shit!" Admin doesn't go on to say that he read the book or give an overview of the context of the story. But he does ask this question:

"What is the real "Motive" behind using these kind of books? This is just wrong! I am pretty thorough with checking most of the content of what is being taught to my daughter but now even need to be more careful. They are teaching children to disrespect people by cussing. Something I don't even allow on this blog. Also, the topic chosen does not even remotely become age appropriate. These are issues I will teach her."

As is typical with the onthebordeliners, everything is part of a vast conspiracy...

I can just picture the OTBL admin sitting at his computer, sanctimoniously blogging away, back straight in his chair, gleaming halo thrusting heavenward, angelic harps emanating from his CD player, as he prepares another baseless attack on a dedicate member of the community. Other than the occasional "limp dick" that he lets slide by, the OTBL admin ACTUALLY doesn't allow swear words on his holy blog. Slander, innuendo, mudslinging, baseless facts are status quo -- but definately no swearing.

To me this OTBL post is a stellar example of the anti-community evil that lurks at the OTBL blog site. He has not read the book and I haven't either, but I've ordered it through inter-library loan and will report back later on it. However, he feels free to pontificate on the following:

"Yes, folks, politics, political correctness, pro-homosexuality, radical environmentalism, multiculturalism, and only god know what is being taught to your children, right here in Hudson. If your child is in 7th grade, give their teachers above a call. I don't contribute over $10,000 a kid to have them be taught this garbage. Call the principal and voice your concerns. Daniel W. Koch kochdw@hudson.k12.wi.us 715-386-4222."

Yes folks, the conspiracy rages on at the OTBL blog site. Notice the admin says he contributes "over $10,0000 a kid" to have them taught this "garbage." He must have a pretty big house and make a substantial income -- far exceeding that of any husband and wife who are teachers in the Hudson district -- to make that $10,000 statement. I say it's just another unsubstantiated, bogus fact floating in the OTBL intellectual, toilet bowl. I'm surprised he did drag out SpongeBob, Barney and Tinky Winky and run them through his conspiracy theory gauntlet. Likewise, the admin doesn't offer any alternative books to read -- another trait of the OTBL'ers. They can offer destructive criticism, but never anything constructive. Then again, seventh graders probably aren't strong enough to carry around a copy of Any Rand's boat anchor "The Fountainhead" -- their likely suggestion.

More on this later...on to the book:

About the author:
Heather Quarles received her M.F.A. from Emerson College. "A Door Near Here" was her master's thesis.

About the book:
Four siblings struggle to maintain a semi-normal home life when their single mother's alcoholism becomes debilitating. Without even noticing, 15-year-old Katherine has become the head of her household. She hasn't had time to notice. Her single mother, an out-of-work alcoholic, has been in bed for weeks, leaving Katherine and her three younger siblings to band together and fend for themselves. But it has gotten harder and harder to maintain any sort of stability. There's no time for housework, food and money are running out, and the kids' teachers are starting to get suspicious. Worst of all, Katherine's youngest sister, Alisa, seems to be losing her grip on reality; she is obsessed with finding a door to the imaginary land of Narnia. And the longer they all struggle to maintain their pretense of normality, the more they have to fear--and to lose.


Reviews of the book:
"Sad, powerful, and compelling."
--VOYA, starred review

"This story of siblings trying their best to survive without a functioning parent [will] pull in almost every YA reader. . . . Memorable."
--KLIATT, starred review

"A painful, authentic story."
--Booklist

"Katherine's hard-edged and driven narration will draw teens."
--The Bulletin

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

JPN,

Chris Kilber continues to degrade the Everyday Math Curriculum that Hudson uses yet you would be hard pressed to find any district in Wisconsin or Minnesota who does not use the curriculum, leave it again to someone who knows nothing about teaching students to criticize, slander, and demean the middle school teachers who are teaching a very volatile age.

Mr. Kilber, home school, it is a great alternative! Sorry, I forgot you are too busy running OTBL to have time to home school your daughter. I can guarantee you he isn't paying 10000 in taxes, have you seen his place?