Personal Picks: So Yesterday

I just finished a new book, and I wanted to share it with you all. It's called So Yesterday, by Scott Westerfeld. I saw a bunch of students reading this book last year, and I also heard that it was a hit with the book club, so I decided to see what all the fuss was about. It's great.

Ever wonder how trends get started? Who was the first person who figured it was cool to wear their hat backwards? Who was the first teen to say "sweet" or use "lol" on the internet? Who started wearing baggy jeans and wallet chains, before everyone else started to? I'm a bit older, so my sense of what is (and what isn't) cool is pretty rusty, but I'm sure that many of you are pretty aware of what's in style and what's out of style. And as fashion trends spread, more and more of us figure out what to wear, what slang to use, and how to act if we want to be respected by our peers. But who starts these things?

The story is told by a young man named Hunter, who's sort of a cool scout. He roams the streets and crowds, looking for the next big thing. His life changes when he meets Jen, an "Innovator". Innovators are those people who don't just follow the crowd; they're the ones who do their own thing and set the trends and change the world, sometimes in small ways, sometimes in big ways. They're that kid who wore ripped jeans before they were cool. They're also the sort of people who end up creating things like the internet, the cure for polio, and airplanes.

Hunter and Jen are both wonderful characters, especially Jen. Hunter may narrate the story, but it's Jen who's star, the one who drives the plot. I won't reveal much of it, but I will let you in on a few of the major highlights. Basically, it involves a kidnapping, a mysterious picture on a cellphone, the coolest pair of sneakers in the world (you'd sell your dog for these things), and a race to discover a plot by an underground group to turn American consumerism on its head.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a fast, fun read with a great sense of humor and an engaging plot. It's definitely one of those books you pick up and can't put down. I stayed after school for two hours one day reading it. There are a number of memorable parts, but one of the best is the scene where Jen bleaches Hunter's hair so they can go undercover to a huge party. The way Hunter describes the experience is great. If you've never done it, bleaching hurts like the dickens, and Hunter describes this agony in excrutiating detail. There's also a ton of inside jokes and references- Westerfeld definitely knows how to write for a younger (and hipper) crowd.

In short, I definitely recommend this book. It's funny, engaging, and has you thinking more about our lives as consumers who often follow the crowd, buying and wearing what everyone else is buying and wearing. By the end, you'll be thinking more about those Innovators, the people who move ahead of the pack and think for themselves: the ones who aren't afraid to stick out. You might even just be one of them.

Rating? Three out of four stars. Oh, and it's an Accelerated Reader title, too. Check it out.

Welcome

Greetings, all:

I'd like to welcome you both to the Frolio Middle School and to room 210, where we'll be spending much of the year together. I'm really looking forward to working with you all during the upcoming months, and getting to know you better. I'm trying to commit your names and faces to memory as quickly as possible, so please forgive me if I'm unable to address you by name at the moment.

I hope that your first weeks at the Frolio are going well. I remember very well myself how tough getting used to a new school is, especially when you have to face new things like a schedule of classes, navigating the halls, and getting your locker to work. When I was in 7th grade, I had trouble with my locker for the first month, and definitely got lost more than once. It appears that you're all doing much better than I did! Please remember that I'm here to help- if you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. And if you're feeling a little overwhelmed, don't worry. The first few months are rough, but before you know it you'll feel quite at home. And remember, your classmates are all facing the same obstacles.

I'll be posting regularly on this website throughout the year: reporting classroom news and events, honoring your achievements, and commenting on our progress in the curriculum. I'm also planning to publish student work online here, so be sure to check in regularly! I'll let you know in class when I've put something new up. I also encourage your parents to visit, so they can keep tabs on what we're up to in class. Be sure to explore some of the links that I put up, which you can find to the right, on the sidebar. They can lead to some pretty neat stuff.

Once again, welcome. You have an exciting and challenging year in store, and I look forward to working with you all.