![]() ![]() Set in 1937 during the so-called “Roosevelt recession,” tight times compel Mary Alice, a Chicago girl, to move in with her grandmother, who lives in a tiny Illinois town so behind the times that it doesn’t “even have a picture show.” In this regard, it’s just as staged as the kids’ concert, but with just as pleasing a result. The class as a whole is the real protagonist here, though, united by love for their ponytailed teacher and a genuinely fond respect for one another. Alex, for instance, comes to life as a kid whose wounds from his parents’ separation are still raw, but Ahmet is cast as only a soccer nut. Readers will get to know some kids better than others, however, resulting in an uneven understanding of the characters. ![]() Giving the students voice in a series of free-verse poems, Herrick presents readers with a happily chaotic classroom peopled by genuine individuals. ![]() Carey can handle anything, from Billy the punk and J-man the rapper to Emily the dancer and Sophie the poet, and he knows how to channel their diverse interests and talents into one blockbuster variety concert. Under the guidance of their teacher, the students of Class 6C experience Bob Dylan, yoga and belly dancing-but not, alas, naked bunyip dancing-over the course of one daffy year. ![]()
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