It was a simple incident in the life of James Clavell—a talk with his young daughter just home from school—that inspired this chilling ...
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Aug 20, 2008
Trin
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In a conquered U.S., a classroom of young kids is given a new teacher who, in less than an hour, brainwashes them and makes them evil little communists! Or something. I know I’m supposed to find this book “chilling,” but I didn’t really buy it. Though Communism is never explicitly stated to be the Big Bad, this book has the Cold War era in which it was written stamped all over it. Clavell’s New Teacher gets the students to quickly dismiss such symbols as the Pledge of Allegiance and the American
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Jan 13, 2009
Cherilyn
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I read this when i was in high school. I was amazed on how great insight James had on children. It's a must read for ALL parents, teachers as well.
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Oct 30, 2010
Beth
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(Yikes! Somehow I accidentally typed this review under "Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel. Sorry for those of you who received that "review!)
I had completely forgotten about this book until my daughter got in a jam and needed to do a power point on an outside reading book. The assignment was due the next day and she hadn't read a book yet. Oops.
So my husband pulled this off our shelf, she read it in about an hour, and was thoroughly intrigued by it.
My daughte More...
I had completely forgotten about this book until my daughter got in a jam and needed to do a power point on an outside reading book. The assignment was due the next day and she hadn't read a book yet. Oops.
So my husband pulled this off our shelf, she read it in about an hour, and was thoroughly intrigued by it.
My daughte More...
Nov 04, 2011
Scott
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An interesting parable on the perils of ignorance, a sad commentary on the state of our civic awareness (which I'm sure is worse than it was when this was written), and--for me at least--a reminder of the strange power teacher's can have over children.
I have to admit with all the fiery rhetoric from both sides this story initially struck me as an overstated scare tactic (something Glen Beck might come up with as an accusation against myself and other public school teachers currently s More...
I have to admit with all the fiery rhetoric from both sides this story initially struck me as an overstated scare tactic (something Glen Beck might come up with as an accusation against myself and other public school teachers currently s More...
Oct 28, 2010
BoekenTrol
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http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6321...
This book was a gift of my BC friend. Knowing I like James Clavell, she thought I might like this book by him too.
And she was right. I think it is not really a book for children, I think it is more for teens. Children do not have very much insight in how 'people work', how people can manipulate and be manipulated.
For grown ups it can be an eye opener, makes very clear how easy it is to maniputale children, let them believe wha More...
This book was a gift of my BC friend. Knowing I like James Clavell, she thought I might like this book by him too.
And she was right. I think it is not really a book for children, I think it is more for teens. Children do not have very much insight in how 'people work', how people can manipulate and be manipulated.
For grown ups it can be an eye opener, makes very clear how easy it is to maniputale children, let them believe wha More...
Apr 11, 2009
Lesli
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I would put this book in the genre of Anti-communist lit, with that said it is one of of my favorite books in that genre. I thought I see the point of anti-communist lit, I don't normally like this genre, and only read it when I'm assigned. I thought this book was excellent at making me think. I would recommend this book to everyone. I like the book because it doesn't give you specifics of a closed society, it just presented a way that the apathy of our Nation could give way quickly and easily
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Jul 26, 2011
Al
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If only I could give this a -5 star rating.
It's only redemming feature is its brevity. The author has clearly never been a teacher and understands neither children nor students.
He feels putting only a single paragraph on each page lends his story depth and gravity; all it does is try to mask the paucity of his ideas and imagination. It could be excused for being of its time, the Cold War, except that this is no excuse for poor style and even worse sentiment. Tosh.
I More...
It's only redemming feature is its brevity. The author has clearly never been a teacher and understands neither children nor students.
He feels putting only a single paragraph on each page lends his story depth and gravity; all it does is try to mask the paucity of his ideas and imagination. It could be excused for being of its time, the Cold War, except that this is no excuse for poor style and even worse sentiment. Tosh.
I More...
Sep 06, 2009
Heidi
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This is a cautionary tale - a deceptively simple story about young students coming to school one day and finding their teacher gone, replaced by a young woman they don't want to like. But within half an hour she's won them over. Much to our dismay. Written during the Cold War, the story implies a communist takeover. This may not hold up with many of today's readers. I think it had more of an impact on me than it might have otherwise because I was a teacher at the time. Beyond any political d
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Jan 15, 2011
Dawn
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Wow, the very essence of why I family educate. We leave it to such happenstance, as a society, that those educating our children always have their best interests at heart. Reading this reminds me of a woman I heard at a liberty meeting that explained how faith was first removed from the curriculum, and the systematic take over of the schools by Nazi germany. Children have not developed critical thinking and are so easily led. I believe I will send a copy to all in my family with children.
Dec 07, 2011
Stephanie
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When I still lived in Mansfield, Missouri, this book sat on a dusty shelf in the very back of the room. I picked it up because I liked the title. I did not know what I was getting into. I think that it is this story, for it is, in fact, the tiniest of stories taught me to be who I am. It taught me to question and to know exactly what it going on around me. It is one of the myriad reasons I teach.
I'd forgotten all about it until one of my students' was reading it.
I'd forgotten all about it until one of my students' was reading it.
Apr 22, 2011
Vivian
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Written in sparse prose (think One-minute Manager or Who Moved My Cheese), filling 46 sides of 96 pages, Clavell manages to turn blood to the consistency of jello. The reader comes to the chilling realization that this very easily could (and no doubt has) happen.
To say more would relegate this to "spoiler" status. I read it only because it surfaced as this month's book in one of the book groups I infrequently attend.
To say more would relegate this to "spoiler" status. I read it only because it surfaced as this month's book in one of the book groups I infrequently attend.
Feb 12, 2012
Jenny
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Huge impact when I first read it in high school and the same impact today. Part of the reason I raised my children to think about their beliefs and then stick to them. Don't believe everything an adult tells you. If it looks to good to be true it probably is.
How very scary how easy it is to manipulate and indoctrinate even against everything they have been taught.
How very scary how easy it is to manipulate and indoctrinate even against everything they have been taught.
Mar 31, 2009
Sharon
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I was disappointed in this book. It made me think, but I didn't experience the cultural awakening that many other reviewers of this book had. I understand the moral (Don't trust the man ... I mean don't trust authority), but I wish the novel would have been longer so the effects of learning without thinking could have been explored.
Oct 28, 2011
Meg
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To be honest, I didn't see the Cold War references. All I saw was a person brainwashing my child in his future school. This happens now. ("We honor you Mr. President" to the tune of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. There's your proof.) It made me want to home school my child. A terrifying and chilling 25 minutes of my time.
Oct 12, 2011
Yossra
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When I first read this book I just was passing time at the library. To my amazement I found it was an eye opener to how our kids could be influenced. I borrowed it and read it to my son to show him how we can be affected by things that we might think that it would not touch us in 100 years. I strongly recommend it
Jun 27, 2011
Lani
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I read this years ago as an short story in a Sunday newspaper supplement. It made my skin crawl then as when I think about it now. Just some radom thoughts for now. I hope to reaquaint myself with the story as I have found a copy in a used bookstore. More later
Mar 26, 2010
Dave
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Short book but long on meaning. It scared me to think how tenuous our children's grip on our ideals can be. Try it, especially if you are a teacher or work with children.
Apr 05, 2010
Mr.
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Excellent short story. Reminds me of my days as a fifth-grader who remained seated in silence when everyone else stood day after day to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
May 22, 2011
It was very eye-openeing to think that a teacher, or anyone for that matter, can have such influence on the minds of others with their words and beliefs.
Feb 23, 2009
Christopher Rex
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Be prepared to be blown away. This should be mandatory reading for all teachers. Brilliance. Not just for children by a long shot.
Sep 13, 2011
Holly
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It makes you so frusterated....im not really sure WHY im frusterated though. its a really complicated book for being like 40 pages long.
May 30, 2010
Joanne
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A very short but powerful book. Anyone who works with children should read this. How easy it is to influence young minds.
May 19, 2010
Marcie
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This was a book club book. I read it in about 10 minutes. I didn't think it was all that shocking or thought provoking.
Oct 11, 2009
Ashley
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I was probably too young when I read this, but until I get a chance to re-read, my judgment for it stands as: suck.
Dec 31, 2008
Mary
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my grandfather, a retired english teacher, recomended this to me. it was awesome, and taught a lesson...
Aug 23, 2011
Montrudd
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A mesmerizing,frightening tale of how people (children) can be brainwashed within a matter of minutes (30).
May 28, 2011
Nancy Graham
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Written briefly as though a children's book, this offers a sobering lesson in the art of manipulation.
Apr 23, 2010
Brian
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As a teacher, I'm often amazed at how quickly children soak up new ideas...which isn't always a good thing.
Jul 02, 2010
Kristin
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I don't want to reiterate what everyone has written. Yes, the book was written as an anti-communist book, however it can also be read in terms of any nation that publicly educates children in the way of civic duty. Compelling and thought provoking at the least.
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Dec 16, 2009
Melaniearoberts78
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I read this book 16 years ago and still remember it vividly- will definitely makes you think!
