Bestselling author of "The Killing Season" and veteran "Los Angeles Times" reporter Miles Corwin spent a school year with twelve high school sen... read full description
reviews
Dec 03, 2009
Jennifer
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Journalist follows the class of 1997 at Crenshaw High's Gifted Magnet program. NOT the story of a teacher coming in and saving these students, but told from the perspective of the students. The family situations, work commitments, abuse history, gang and violence experiences, etc. that these kids deal with on a daily basis - all while taking AP high school classes touched my heart and boggled my mind at the same time.
I picked this up because Crenshaw High is close to where I live - More...
I picked this up because Crenshaw High is close to where I live - More...
Jul 14, 2009
Sarah
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This book chronicles a year in the lives of some students and a couple teachers in a gifted program at a high school a few blocks away from where I work. Most of these lives are rough and scary, and yet full of hope and potential. If nothing else, this book reminded me to treat others with compassion and kindness. I think it also added a few more details to my understanding of my neighborhood and my neighbors here. And it's a story that asks for a response--my husband and I are thinking on that.
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Aug 14, 2011
Kelley
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The 2nd non-fiction book I found that connects to education and it was a good one! The story is from the perspective of a reporter who wanted to document gifted but troubled African-American students who attend Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles in 1996-1997. I found the stories of the students to be woven very well throughout the narrative and I also appreciated that he did not dwell on a teacher "saving" the black children but rather these students saving themselves. Also, since thi
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Jan 14, 2010
Lori
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I liked this book for two reasons. It was so interesting to read about the plight of gifted, highly intelligent kids living in Los Angeles and overcoming the odds. The daily horror they learn to live with is unfathomable to me. I also enjoyed reading about the teachers that teach them. One in particular reminds me so much of a few, very few, other teachers I have encountered. It was interesting to see that personality type in another place. I don't enjoy working with that type of person but know
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Dec 25, 2011
Linda
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Subtitled, “The Trials and Triumphs of Twelve Gifted Inner-City High School Students.” The author spent a year in one of the few LA high schools in low-income neighborhoods that has an honors program. He follows the students’ progress and details their lives, including all the violence and problems these kids have experienced. Still, they are truly gifted, and overcome these problems to do some amazing work, and many go on to college. Corwin is a journalist who has also written a book on
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Oct 27, 2010
Trent
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The true stories of these children and teachers in south-central Los Angeles are tragic and captivating. I especially got caught up in the story of the AP English teacher. That was definitely the most interesting one to me. The writing style was odd to me. It seemed to meander without point at times. It also seemed that the author got so caught up in the lives of these people that he would lose his objectivity at times (he even admits it). It made the story more real, but it also made it d
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Jan 15, 2012
Natalie
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Tale of gifted students at an inner-city school in South-Central LA. The book revolves around an AP Literature class taught by Toni Little and the 11th grade class of Mama Moultrie.
I had to read it for a Professional Development course. It was funny, we had several books to choose from. I was one of the last to choose and so, of course, the books left was the thickest book - over twice the size of the other books. I'm really grateful that "And Still We Rise" is the one I More...
I had to read it for a Professional Development course. It was funny, we had several books to choose from. I was one of the last to choose and so, of course, the books left was the thickest book - over twice the size of the other books. I'm really grateful that "And Still We Rise" is the one I More...
Oct 13, 2011
Crystal
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This non-fiction book opened my eyes to a whole world I am unfamiliar with - inner-city South-Central Las Angeles California with minorities (mainly black).
It was amazing! The author spent a year (1997)observing/interviewing the gifted seniors of Crenshaw High School, in South-Central LA. He highlighted 12 students in particular who had incredible stories with trials and triumps. The story is true and written so well that I was just in awe of the lives they live (and many still do). It ma More...
It was amazing! The author spent a year (1997)observing/interviewing the gifted seniors of Crenshaw High School, in South-Central LA. He highlighted 12 students in particular who had incredible stories with trials and triumps. The story is true and written so well that I was just in awe of the lives they live (and many still do). It ma More...
Sep 04, 2009
Robyn
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Wow. What a realistic view of inner-city kids and their strive to actually make something of themselves and get out of the unfortunate circumstances life has given them.
Kudos to Corwin for getting viewpoints from the students, their teachers, their administrators, etc.
And I absolutely loved how nothing about these kids or their teachers was sugar coated. The kids aren't perfect--and even the ones who 'are' have some setbacks. Their 2 biggest teachers are also huge rivals and More...
Kudos to Corwin for getting viewpoints from the students, their teachers, their administrators, etc.
And I absolutely loved how nothing about these kids or their teachers was sugar coated. The kids aren't perfect--and even the ones who 'are' have some setbacks. Their 2 biggest teachers are also huge rivals and More...
Feb 11, 2011
Lonica
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This book follows a class of senior AP students in South-Central High School in inner city Los Angelos. Many have heart-wrenching stories and manage to overcome the odds. Miles Corwin is a news reporter who sits in on their class for the entire school year. It's very interesting to get a behind-the-scenes look into their lives and the classroom. While the book could use some major editing (so repetitive!) it was worthwhile and interesting read.
May 24, 2009
Maria
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A true story of an inner city school and then "gifted" children they teach. I had to read this book for a class. There were many parts I enjoyed, but it seems like on of the teachers is Bi-polar and completely out of line in the way she handles many of the situations she faces. Because of her ill treatment, I had a hard time enjoying the book. But the students lives are interesting and I was touched by their ability to survive in all circumstances.
Feb 22, 2008
Claire
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The author of this book spent one school year with an AP English class of seniors in an inner city school in Los Angeles. This was in 1997, the last class to be admitted to college under Affirmative Action. He also spent some time with the AP Juniors because they were the first group to have to face college without Affirmative Action. Regardless of how you feel about Affirmative Action, this book will make you rethink the policy. This author was able to describe the home lives of the student
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Jan 05, 2010
Ashley
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While the author's style was a little redundant at times, the subject matter and characters in this book were fresh and uncensored. Seeing the senior year of high school in a gang and drug ridden neighborhood in east L.A. through the eyes of twelve inner city kids and their teachers was mind-blowing at times. The hurdles that these motivated, yet human kids, have to jump through is astounding. A good read..definitely recommend.
Mar 19, 2010
Nancy
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A moving and factual story about how 12 students endured their troubled childhoods and succeed in life, making it through high school and on to college although they have so much to carry upon their shoulders. I recommend this book to anyone looking for something non-fictional to read. :D go for it! You will love it, guarenteed!
Oct 09, 2009
Sarah
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"If we are going to eliminate special admissions to selective schools, we should start with those special admissions that have the weakest justification... After we have succeeded in eliminating special admissions for alumni children, athletes, Nebraskans, the wealthy, the well-connected, and friends of the dean, they will have acquired the moral standing to raise their voice against affirmative action." Also, I liked the contrasting English teachers, who demonstrated very different w
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Jan 18, 2009
Paul
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A book about 12 students in a gifted program at Crenshaw High School - a school which draws students from South Central LA and Watts.
The stories of the students were interesting (although they could be told in fewer than 400 pages)
The underlining agenda in defense of affirmative action was completely annoying.
The stories of the students were interesting (although they could be told in fewer than 400 pages)
The underlining agenda in defense of affirmative action was completely annoying.
Jan 23, 2008
Laroi
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This book actually made me cry. A couple of times, if I remember correctly. Corwin's initial motive was to make an argument for the importance of Affirmative Action by depicting the lives of kids in Crenshaw High School's Gifted Magnet Program. But this book is so much more than that. I found myself in this book, from unrealized potential to imprisoned thinking, to the everyday struggles that no one at the decision-making level can take into account without experience.
Even in a prog More...
Even in a prog More...
Dec 10, 2008
Erika
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One of the best books I have read all year. Great writing and truly inspirational stories about these young individuals who have overcome so many obstacles and endured so many hardships. I am still thinking about this book weeks after I read it and wondering what I could do to help this area of Los Angeles, which has truly been forgotten. One of my top 10 of 2008!
Mar 01, 2009
Heather
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This is an inspiring story about inner city students in Los Angeles. Despite the many horrors these students encounter throughout their young lives, they persevere and overcome by earning scholarships, attending college, and becoming successful.
It's a wonderful story.
It's a wonderful story.
Jun 15, 2011
Michelle
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I wanted to like this book, I really did. The general story itself is worth telling, really, NEEDS to be told. Unfortunately, I didn't think in this particular book it was told very well. I didn't like the writing. I thought the author maybe could have taken a few tips from the English teachers he profiled. I also felt the political overtones in the book really weren't necessary, and that kind of thing tends to put me off. Honestly, the political overtones weren't in-your-face, they were s
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Nov 10, 2008
Monika
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Breezing through this book. Went to starbucks on my way home yesterday because I couldn't stop reading and didn't want to be sucked into the world of television. along with the stories of 12 high school students at Crenshaw in South Central LA, Corwin provides a history of the area and goes into his opinions on Affirmative Action. One of his main motivators for the book was the fact that California essentially eliminated affirmative action with proposition 209. His book bolsters: "To treat
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Jul 15, 2011
Christina
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Unlike other books about inner-city students, this book does not champion the efforts of wide-eyed, naive teachers who come into the inner-city and change the lives of their students. Not to disparage those teachers, but the two teachers profiled in this book are distracted by feuds with administrators and each other, which helps put the trials and triumphs of these students on a greater pedestal. One of the conflicts between the two teachers is over the curriculum; the twelfth-grade teacher wan
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Jul 09, 2011
Giftedguru
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This book focuses on the very different techniques of two AP English teachers in an inner-city school in Los Angeles. It's readable and poignant. A must-read for high school teachers.
Mar 14, 2010
A great teacher education book. Compares and contrasts two different teaching styles, approaches and content and how well it connects and prepares gifted, urban students for college.
Jul 07, 2008
Jan
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I read this book on the recommendation of a BYU seminar program I attended throughout the 2007-2008 school year. The reporter author spent a year attending a high school gifted program in South Central LA and told the stories of 12 inner city youth enrolled in the program. It gave me a lot deeper understanding of the challenges and set-backs these kids face. The author included a lot of dialogue and really helped the reader understand the motives behind the students' actions. I thought he did a
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Sep 29, 2009
Mark
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Heart-breaking, amazing narratives of inner-city Los Angeles students trying to break out of the web of poverty.
Jan 31, 2011
Anna
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Great look into the actual lives of gifted students (and their mentors) that face much adversity while trying to make it to college; great history of LA included throughout. The author provides an epilogue so nothing is left hanging. He is very opinionated so reading a counter to his viewpoint (merit vs. affirmative action) would be interesting.
