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If I Ever Get Out Of Here
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From: Debra <djjz62_at_comcast.net>
Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:02:42 +0000 (UTC)
Because of all of our conversation about this book, I am pleased that I just received my public library copy yesterday via ILL. I am in chapter 2 and already realize that I will love this book. When I was in 7th or 8th grade (1975 -76 ) , I read Piri Thomas' autobiography "Down These Mean Streets." We actually studied it in our inner city NYC classroom. Gansworth's protagonist makes me think of Thomas in that there is the same feeling of being an outsider in the white world but feeling comfortable in his own community. In addition, I was also an outsider because I was mixed race (African American and Jewish) at a time when that was an oddity rather than something celebrated as diversity and difference . Oh, I was also fat with braces and glasses, which was a more visible way of being an outsider back then. In fact, that was more of a bigger deal than being "half and half" (the term "biracial" wasn't used then).
As a result, I can definitely see this book as relating to my own life. In fact, when I saw the words "Wacky Packages," I thought about how I used to love buying those things and sticking them on my notebooks. Before Saturday Night Live, there were Wacky Packages. And I was also a big Paul McCartney fan back then (and still am today). Before I had heard of the Beatles, I knew of McCartney. So not only is it pleasing to read about the mid 70s but also seeing representations of that time such as Wacky Packages and Paul McCartney.
So my question for Gansworth, based on just one chapter, is why did he choose to have his protagonist love the Beatles and McCartney? Usually when one speaks of the Beatles, John Lennon is the focus. So reading about McCartney is a nice change. I'm sure that I'll have other questions but even before I opened the book I had wondered about Gansworth placing Paul within the narrative .
Will this book appeal to kids today? I think anyone who feels like an outsider, anyone who has been bullied, anyone who longs for a friend and who loves music. Certainly the Beatles are still well known today and McCartney has been all over the place -- he was just on the Grammys and the Beatles themselves have been celebrated for their 50th anniversary on the Ed Sullivan Show. This makes me wonder why this book was not more heavily promoted to adult readers as being one about being a Beatles fan. Then again, I don't yet know how much the Beatles and Paul play in this story. On the other hand, music seems to be very important (based on the title and cover illustration) and people in my generation -- and in the protagonist's generation -- are in their early 50s and would love to revisit the music they listened to as young people .
One wonders if the promotio n did not happen because the protagonist was Native American. If that's the case, then it's sad but the struggle continues. I will spread the word about this book.
Debra Johnson
Early Childhood Librarian
Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:02:42 +0000 (UTC)
Because of all of our conversation about this book, I am pleased that I just received my public library copy yesterday via ILL. I am in chapter 2 and already realize that I will love this book. When I was in 7th or 8th grade (1975 -76 ) , I read Piri Thomas' autobiography "Down These Mean Streets." We actually studied it in our inner city NYC classroom. Gansworth's protagonist makes me think of Thomas in that there is the same feeling of being an outsider in the white world but feeling comfortable in his own community. In addition, I was also an outsider because I was mixed race (African American and Jewish) at a time when that was an oddity rather than something celebrated as diversity and difference . Oh, I was also fat with braces and glasses, which was a more visible way of being an outsider back then. In fact, that was more of a bigger deal than being "half and half" (the term "biracial" wasn't used then).
As a result, I can definitely see this book as relating to my own life. In fact, when I saw the words "Wacky Packages," I thought about how I used to love buying those things and sticking them on my notebooks. Before Saturday Night Live, there were Wacky Packages. And I was also a big Paul McCartney fan back then (and still am today). Before I had heard of the Beatles, I knew of McCartney. So not only is it pleasing to read about the mid 70s but also seeing representations of that time such as Wacky Packages and Paul McCartney.
So my question for Gansworth, based on just one chapter, is why did he choose to have his protagonist love the Beatles and McCartney? Usually when one speaks of the Beatles, John Lennon is the focus. So reading about McCartney is a nice change. I'm sure that I'll have other questions but even before I opened the book I had wondered about Gansworth placing Paul within the narrative .
Will this book appeal to kids today? I think anyone who feels like an outsider, anyone who has been bullied, anyone who longs for a friend and who loves music. Certainly the Beatles are still well known today and McCartney has been all over the place -- he was just on the Grammys and the Beatles themselves have been celebrated for their 50th anniversary on the Ed Sullivan Show. This makes me wonder why this book was not more heavily promoted to adult readers as being one about being a Beatles fan. Then again, I don't yet know how much the Beatles and Paul play in this story. On the other hand, music seems to be very important (based on the title and cover illustration) and people in my generation -- and in the protagonist's generation -- are in their early 50s and would love to revisit the music they listened to as young people .
One wonders if the promotio n did not happen because the protagonist was Native American. If that's the case, then it's sad but the struggle continues. I will spread the word about this book.
Debra Johnson
Early Childhood Librarian
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Received on Sun 02 Mar 2014 08:03:00 AM CST
