Beth Kephart's Blog, page 246

Answering the Zionsville Middle School Readers of UNDERCOVER: A VLOG

A few words to the Zionsville Sixth Graders to Miss Rachel Bing, their remarkable cadet teacher.  I have never managed to talk to a camera without making some silly mistakes.  So please forgive those as you listen.

That there is smoke between where I (and the students) lived and where the president lives

I am not a goodbye artist. I don't know the words. I get sick at the thought, and then I just plain get sick, and I was a fraction of myself today in English 135. 



I'd made the students chapbooks of their work and carried them across campus in my bag.  I'd run to the campus grocer's (for grapes and strawberries, cheese and bagel crisps, chips and salsa, carrot cake and chocolate) and then to Kelly Writers House (for platters and for the knife with which I'd eventually slice the tip of my index finger off). It was a muggy day, and my heart was heavy, and in the midst of it all, I stopped right here and took my camera out.



To the left is the building in which I taught my sweet sixteen.  To the right is where Amy Gutmann, Penn's president, lives.  The smoke in the middle is what interests me. The ephemera. The mystery. Of what gets taught, and what remembered. Of what lives, and lives.



I don't imagine that Amy Gutmann knows who I am. I can't imagine that she could imagine how much I loved her kids. These University of Pennsylvania students who were mine each Tuesday afternoon, who believed in me because (perhaps mostly) I believed in them. 



"Don't go anywhere," I told them.  Or, "Don't go far."



But does the smoke rise, or does it fall, and can it hold us?



Time will tell.

UNDERCOVER letters from Zionsville Middle School, final entries in the series

I post now the final UNDERCOVER letters from my continuing series featuring the sixth-grade students of Miss Rachel Bing's Zionsville, IN, class.  See Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 for background on this exceptional (high school, as in, Rachel is in high school) teacher and her students.  These letters are breeze and sun, indelible. These letters bring me hope.



From Peyton:


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Elisa dropped her mouth in shock, she had won! She had won first place! She ran off the ice into her father's arms, happy tears running down her cheeks. "Oh, Elisa," cried her mom, "you were wonderful!" Just then, Theo came up to Elisa, "Can I talk to you?" he whispered. He led her over to a corner. "I want you to know that I'm sorry. I'm done with Lila. When I was with her I was a jerk." Then he leaned over and kissed her. Elisa looked at him, smiled, and walked away.

Hello Mrs. Kephart! My name is Peyton, I'm twelve years old, I go to ZMS and that is my prediction of what I think would happen after the book ended. Miss Bing is my cadet teacher and she read my class your book, Undercover. When Miss Bing started reading Undercover, I was immediately drawn into it. Every day, she would read us a chapter, but that wasn't enough. We begged her to read more, so finally we were at two chapters a day. The book was great, but the words you used were amazing. The way you use words is indescribable. One line especially got my attention, "Cruelty is its own brand of hideous." That was my favorite line in the book. I was wondering you are going to write a sequel to Undercover? I know for sure that a ton of people would read it. Also, are you considering making Undercover a movie? If not, I would consider it. Can't you see it in your mind? It would be amazing! I too, like you, love to write. I could literally write you pages, and pages, but, we are only aloud to write one page, tops. When I heard that you actually responded, I almost screamed. We were all so happy! Then, Miss Bing said that you said you might feature some of your letters on your blog which made me want to write an even better letter than before. As, we were reading, I was seeing a little bit of myself in each character. Are any of the characters based off you when you were Elisa's age? I am really looking forward to reading some of your other books, because I will for sure look for them. I hope you know that you are an amazing author and that I hope you continue to write more!

From Ryan:


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My name is Ryan and I'm in sixth grade in Mrs. Plantan's class. Miss Bing, our cadet teacher, read us a great book called, Undercover.  This book really inspired me to read more and it taught me not to be mean to people. The character Lila taught me this. I really like the unpredictable plot that was in this book. I think my favorite part was at the end of the book when Elisa's dad was there and her whole family was reunited. My least favorite part was at the end when Lila cut Elisa's beautiful dress for her ice skating concert. You had a lot of great similes and metaphors. I also like the part 1 and the part 2 concepts. Part 1 was more of Elisa writing her letters and trying to be undercover.  In part 2 Elisa is out of her shell and starts to feel content. I also like the symbolism of the marble girl; it reminded me of friendship. It also reminded me to keep my friends and not treat them badly.  It was a really good book and it also was very emotional. It was very hard for me that Elisa's parents were having troubles because I never want that to happen to my parents.  I love the way that Elisa and her sister were in the book, especially when they got along.  I love your book, Undercover and I love listening to people read to me. I don't like reading to myself because there is no expression. I know you like to read in your head and you have people to edit your own books, which you're lucky for that. We only have Miss Bing and Mrs. Plantan to help us and edit our letters. Now I know you have more notes to read so that's enough from me. 

 


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From Sam:
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The profound effect that those love poems Elisa made had on the females in your book was outstanding!  I never knew a lonely girl would turn out to be an award winning figure skater!  This book showed me how families could get together even in hard times. My family is having some hard times. Now I know that I can count on myself that we will get through it.  I feel like Elisa, or I'm most like her.  I love writing and enjoy doing sports. I am very swift on my feet and don't like to be vulnerable. I have never made poems for anybody before.  Although, I give advice to people to help them with their lives. All of the elements in this book were unpredictable. (In the good way). The plot itself was so good and I was sitting on pins and needles when listening to this book.  I noticed that part one was more about the literature and part two was more about her personal life.  All of the information that I got was outstanding.  Your book enhanced my vocabulary by 1,000!!!  This happened more in part one.  Part two was more suspenseful then part one to me.  Most of the people in my class said, "NASTY!"  when Miss Bing read the part when Theo and Lila almost kissed.  I was very surprised that Theo and Elisa didn't hug at the end. We all predicted what would happen at the end of the book, or after the skating.  Some people were silly and said that Elisa would die. I didn't believe them. I truly think that Elisa's dad will stay with them and that there family will come together at the end. 

I was wondering why you wrote the book.  Was it because one of the characters in your life is like Elisa?  I have no idea.  The ending was so mysterious.  I have inspiration to do anything.  I could write a book right now and never stop.  Undercover was a very enjoyable book that took some understanding.

My favorite part of the book was when the English teacher gave her the word book and said to start putting her words of her own in the book.  This could also be at end the end about her finishing the book.  This book helped me understand the way of listening to other people and that I must love everybody in my family and to have hope.  Your book gave me hope.

From Zach:
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We recently read your book, Undercover.  I was wondering if you ever considered making the book into a movie because I think if you did that, many people who have read the book would like the movie, too. If it did become a movie, I would definitely want to see it because I really liked the book. The book was great because it is full of suspense and you never know what would happen next. I also really liked how Elisa was like an undercover agent and that few people knew that she wrote poems
 I also wanted to know if you are planning to make a squeal to the book? If you do make it into a book, I hope I get a chance to read that book. If you do, I think I would definitely want to get a chance to read it. I want to thank you for spending your time to read this letter.

Stepping Out for the Central League Writing Contest

Today may be my last semester day at Penn, but on Thursday, I'll be back walking a school's corridors.  This time, my destination will be Conestoga High School, where the annual Central League Writing Contest will bring together an estimated 100 aspiring writers from some dozen high school districts in my area.  I've planned a workshop for their teachers.  I'm at work on a talk for the students themselves. As always I am certain that I'll gain most from those moments I can't anticipate, can't foresee.

Fragment to Whole: Last Class

English 135.302, preparing for the final class

And so I make ready for a final day with the students I love.  It's an unbearable thought. 

The UNDERCOVER letters from Zionsville Middle School, Part 3

In my continuing series featuring the marvelous, heart-expanding sixth-grade students of Miss Rachel Bing's Zionsville, IN, class, I share with you now the next several letters.  See Part 1 and Part 2 for background on this exceptional teacher and her students.  Know this as you read:  Rachel is but a high school senior. She reads books like UNDERCOVER (my first young adult novel) out loud to her students, then has them, in her words, "play charades with emotions because they will soon be writing their creative stories and they need to know how to be descriptive."



The next several letters, then—candid and exhilarating:



From Jordan:


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In class we have a cadet teacher named Miss Bing. She is thinking about becoming a teacher someday and she would want to teach Literature/English. Our teacher Mrs. Plantan gave her permission to read us a book. She chose your book, Undercover. At first no one was excited, because the book didn't sound interesting. Then that day when she started to read it we all got so into it and especially the drama and poetry. Just recently we finished the book. Everyone is so curious at what would have happened after the ice skating championship. I would think that she would go to find Theo standing there no longer dating Lila, because he finally realized that cruelty is its own kind of hideous. I would hope that Elisa and Theo would get together and create their own happily ever after. I thought that because everyone loves and wishes for a happy ending. That is just what I would want to happen, but my question for you is what would you include in it if you were to write a sequel or follow-up to Undercover? Also since Undercover had such great description and detail it is easy to visualize. My class and I wanted it to become a movie, because we think it would be a great one. Have you ever thought about talking to a movie director and turning it into screenplay? 

You described all of your characters with much detail and personalities of their own. Did you base any of your characters off of you? If not, out of your characters which character reminds you most of you? I remind myself most of Jilly because she is girly, creative, and she loves clothes. Another thing that I loved about the book was all of the similes and metaphors in the book. It made it more interesting. When you heard a couple in a row it made you look up and listen that much harder. Your book for me was one of the best books I have ever heard, because of the amount of passion and creativity put into it. I loved how in the first part it was mainly about the honors English and the secret love letters. Then Part II was more about the drama with Theo and Lila and then Elisa secretly having a huge crush on Theo. I overall loved the book. I am very glad that Miss Bing picked your book, Undercover to read to our class. I am also going to look at some of your other books.

From another Jordan:


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Hi, my name is Jordan and I love reading. When I found out that we were going to read one of your books I was really excited. I have some beginning questions for you. What inspires an author to write a book? How does your life relate to any of the characters in your book Undercover? Who is your favorite character in your famous book Undercover? This is what I want to know from an incredible author just like you. You write amazing books and in our classroom Miss Bing, our cadet teacher chose your book for her to read to us every day in Literature class. Undercover in Part 1 was more about Elisa's writing and all of her love letters that she has written for other people to give to their crushes. Then the second part was more about Elisa trying to bring her family back together and she did at the very end of the book by ice skating. It made you think beyond the book in the ending. I love how Elisa had so much passion for the marble girl and ice skating. Also, each of the characters had their own different personalities, like how Elisa would always go to the pond. The relationship between everybody in the book is amazing. I was wondering if there was any relation to you and Elisa or really any of the characters in this book.

From Joseph:

Theo was like a wave in the beach, repeating to hit the black rocks on the sea shore. When the wave pulls back he is choosing between Lila and Elisa.  Your writing kept me on my toes, wondering what would happen next. I am like Theo, except, I can't find the perfect friend until the end of the year when I have to leave and almost never see them again except for when I come back to school.

My class and I all believe that this amazing book deserves to be a virtual picture and be placed in the minds of all people that know "cruelness is its own brand of hideousness" and that you can stand up to the popular one in the school and that nothing is in your way and you can chase anything. Elisa isn't average; she has to chase what she wants. Lila has everything going for her no matter what Elisa does except when Elisa is undercover. This book let me understand that whenever I chase for my dream of writing music I can do it as long as I don't stop running.

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I really loved Undercover and I think my class did too. I hope that you will write many more books and please make it into a movie.  

From Julia:

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I really enjoyed your book Undercover. I thought it was a very inspirational book. The poetry in part one of the book taught me to love poetry more and to learn it is not as boring as it seems. My life kind of did relate to the book, but I was more connected to some of the characters. I was most connected to Jilly because I always put on lip gloss, make sure my hair is perfect, and I love fashion magazines. This book was very inspirational and my whole class kept begging for Ms. Bing to read another chapter. I liked how Part 1 was more of where it was poetry and she was totally undercover. The Part 2 was more about her family and she was more revealed to the people around her. This book was funny and brought our class more together in discussions and opinions. I thought this was a great book to read and I thought it was a good book for kids to understand poetry and a day in the life of someone without a father and their struggles. Thank you for making such a good book.

 From Kate:


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My name is Kate and I am in sixth grade at Zionsville Middle School. My cadet teacher, Miss Bing has been reading our class your book, Undercover. We really enjoyed it and our cadet teacher is very nice. I personally liked the part at the end where Elisa is competing at the ice skating rink. I like how Elisa's ice skating brought her family back together. The only part I thought was a little weird was when Theo and Elisa almost kissed (I am glad they didn't).

I was wondering what the end meant because I assume that her family got back together and I hope Elisa's dad is there to stay, too. I don't know what will happen with Elisa, Theo, and Lila. Every time the story turned back towards Elisa and Theo I was afraid they were going to kiss. I am a tomboy and I am disgusted by thought of people kissing. Other than that, I thought Undercover was interesting. Although, I was worried that another "nasty" moment would come up again between Elisa and Theo. I compare to Elisa because I like nature and the outdoors. I also like to ice skate along with my family. I would never want my dad to be gone that long like Elisa's dad was. I have a really close relationship with my dad like Elisa does and I wouldn't want my mom and dad to separate for a while either.

This book really inspired me to be a better artist just like Elisa became and even better poet. I think your book is amazing and I cannot believe that I am able to write to you. You are a great model for my class and me. You showed us how important it is to love your family and not let it tear you apart.

From Lindsey:

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My name is Kate and I am in sixth grade at Zionsville Middle School. My cadet teacher, Miss Bing has been reading our class your book, Undercover. We really enjoyed it and our cadet teacher is very nice. I personally liked the part at the end where Elisa is competing at the ice skating rink. I like how Elisa's ice skating brought her family back together. The only part I thought was a little weird was when Theo and Elisa almost kissed (I am glad they didn't).

I was wondering what the end meant because I assume that her family got back together and I hope Elisa's dad is there to stay, too. I don't know what will happen with Elisa, Theo, and Lila. Every time the story turned back towards Elisa and Theo I was afraid they were going to kiss. I am a tomboy and I am disgusted by thought of people kissing. Other than that, I thought Undercover was interesting. Although, I was worried that another "nasty" moment would come up again between Elisa and Theo. I compare to Elisa because I like nature and the outdoors. I also like to ice skate along with my family. I would never want my dad to be gone that long like Elisa's dad was. I have a really close relationship with my dad like Elisa does and I wouldn't want my mom and dad to separate for a while either.

This book really inspired me to be a better artist just like Elisa became and even better poet. I think your book is amazing and I cannot believe that I am able to write to you. You are a great model for my class and me. You showed us how important it is to love your family and not let it tear you apart.

Kephart-abilia: Horace Kephart Days, The Kephart Glen

I have written, on this blog, of my great grandfather, Horace Kephart, who left a career as one of the nation's great librarians and left a family, too, to live among the private beauties of the Appalachian Mountains and people.  Horace Kephart documented Appalachian ways and campfire know-how.  He was in part responsible for the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  He has been the subject of songs (see Daniel Gore's beautiful song cycle), movies (the recent Ken Burns' documentary), novels, and myths.  He is also, thanks in large part to my cousin Libby Kephart Hargrave and the great historian George Ellison, celebrated in the annual Horace Kephart Days, held each year between April 29 and May 1st in Bryson, City, NC. 



George Kephart, my grandfather, was one of Horace Kephart's two sons.  When his father departed for his Appalachian journey, George moved, with his mother, Laura, and his five total siblings, to Ithaca, New York.  All six Kephart children ultimately attended Cornell University, while Laura took in boarders to try to make ends meet. 



Toward the end of his life, George Kephart made two important decisions:  to leave his own papers to Cornell University and to dedicate a glen in his wife's name within the Cornell Plantations. 



This weekend I saw those plantations for the first time. With my husband and son, through mist then heavy rain, I searched for the glen.  There was hardly anyone about, and no one to ask, and if I never found the glen itself, if I will have to return with a guide (and I will), I did discover the tremendous beauty of this place—even in rain, even before most any flower has had a chance to bloom.  This is peaceful, water-streaming, well-considered country.  This is ravines and slopes and green, a tumble of hellebores. My grandfather was a quiet man, a forester, a rose gardener, a lover of things alive and growing.  No wonder, I kept thinking as I walked.  No wonder this place was his eternity. 

The UNDERCOVER letters from Zionsville Middle School, Part 2

On Saturday I began to feature the first in a series of letters from the sixth-grade students of the truly passionate and creative cadet teacher Miss Rachel Bing.  Find out more about Miss Bing (a high school senior) and her remarkable, loving students here.  My father captured some of my own thoughts last night when he wrote, about these students, "The comments from the students were very mature and the writing quality much, much better than I would have imagined sixth graders could produce."



Today, I'm running the next several letters, as a celebration of what a teacher can teach and of what students can do.  I've promised to answer all the students' letters in a final blog in this series.



From Evan:


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My name is Evan, if you might have heard our sixth grade class decided to read your novel, "Undercover", because a young adult teacher named Miss Bing came in to observe our class and see what we do. Throughout the book we kept notes, learned literature, and even tried to listen intently. The plot of the book had such profound meaning and suspense. Every chapter was leading to the next and every time that we would meet our two chapter quota for the day, we would beg for one more. I have to say that everyone in our class loved your book. We all took it all in and adored it. Like my teacher Mrs. Plantan says, we have to enjoy books like these, like a sweet bar of Belgian chocolate.  I do have a few questions about the book though; do the characters have any relation with your life? Does Elisa win the skating competition, or does something else happen? Lastly, if you would make a second book for Undercover, would you?

To make a book that is as adored as Undercover, I know that you must be very busy, so all that I would like to say is, thank you for writing this book, and thank you for your time to make Elisa, Theo, Lila, and Elisa's parents sound like they could hold a conversation with us, because of their complex personalities and moods throughout the novel. I hope that everyone that has read your book has found the thought behind the nature box, the skating competition, and even the marble girl, to be part in one of the best books they have ever read. This is what I have found about this novel. It is made for everyone to enjoy.

From Hannah:




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Your book, Undercover, has some very life-like characters. I think the character I relate to most is Elisa. I may not be so creative with words, but I am creative with pencils. My poems are in art, not in words. I also am undercover (or at least I try to be). I don't like to meddle in the affairs of the popular, only in my own little world, do I actually be bold. My life is also like Elisa's. I help give advice to those who need it, and try to help people, in almost every way I can. 

My favorite part of the book is when Elisa is saying her part in the play, and can't continue because she feels like she is being uncovered. I like that part because it almost is explaining what she does and this has happened to me when we were reading an in-class book. I felt exposed as I read, embarrassed even.

Throughout the book, you learn more about this mysterious character named Elisa. At the beginning, you hardly know anything, and by the end of the book, you feel like you have known her your whole life. In the words you write the story with, it feels like I am right next to her, living each day as if I were an undercover operative, hired to watch her.

Our class enjoyed reading this book so much that we thought it would make a good movie. 

Thank you for writing this book. I have enjoyed reading your marvelous work. Your work gives me hope that someday, I might write a book that is as great as yours. Right after reading, Undercover I wanted to start writing, and never stop. Thank you.

 

From Emily:


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When my class read Undercover as a read-a-loud book, we all loved it. Who would have thought that Elisa could be an ice skater, and who would have thought that would bring her whole family together!? I think that the idea Dr. Charmin had with the book of words was great. I would like to do that, it would help me write.

I could put some words that you used in Undercover in it. The words you used helped to improve my vocabulary. They were all great descriptive words, and they made the story more interesting and helped it come alive. 

Have you thought about writing a sequel to, Undercover? I would love it if Theo broke up with Lila and got together with Elisa. They would have to get together secretly though so Lila doesn't do anything bad to Elisa. Our student teacher suggested that Jilly will get revenge on Lila for ruining the dress she made for Elisa to wear at the ice skating competition. When Jilly gets revenge, it will be embarrassing and it will ruin her reputation. I like that idea, even though revenge is not the key. 

From Emma:
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We recently got a cadet teacher named Miss Bing. She is going to be a teacher one day. We were in the school library one day and she found your book and thought we might try it out. When we first started reading it we thought it was not going to be as good as it was. I like how you put so many metaphors in your book. It just made the book even better. In your book I think that I relate to Jilly the most. I think this is because she is creative and very girly. Jilly is also my favorite character in your book. I think that you did a really good job picking your characters, and making their personalities different. I really enjoyed your book, and I think it was a great story for my age group and class. I was wondering if you ever thought about making your book into a movie. If you haven't then if I were you I would really look into it, because I think it would make a great movie. If you have, have you thought about the scenes and who the characters would be? I like how you made two parts to the book. Part one was mostly about the love letters and poetry Elisa made for Theo to give to other girls and part two was more about Elisa's family, love, and skating. I think that you made the book very realistic because Lila was the popular girl and always trying to take over and she liked Theo and always tried to steal him away from Elisa. We just finished your book a couple days ago. We all loved your book, and we were so sad when it was over. I thought that it was a great ending because it does not really matter if she won the skating contest; all that matters is that her family got back together.

From Hari:


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This year we read your book "Undercover" in our literature class. First I want to congratulate you on how good it was. I loved the end where it just leaves a cliffhanger and leaves me to think about what will happen next in the story. Just a question, in my opinion this book is one of those books that absolutely needs to be made into a movie. Why hasn't it yet? What would you put in a sequel or prequel to the book? Those are the questions that first came to mind when I read "Undercover". My suggestions for a sequel would take place right after the skating competition and in the middle of the book Theo breaks up with Lila or Lila breaks up with Theo. Then, I would put in a cliffhanger after they break up, where Theo is mad at Lila and Elisa for reasons unknown. (You choose because you are the author). That is a beginning for a sequel.My idea for a prequel is here. The book takes place before Elisa is in high school. It would show how they become best friends and then how they grow apart and become friends again. (Two parts because it might be too long for one.) That is my idea for a sequel or a prequel. Thank you again for the amazing book. Good luck Mrs. Kephart.

Easter Prayer

I could tell you the long version of this story, but it is late, and we have driven through lightning and rainbows, past accidents and frightened deer.  So I will say only that in all my many years on this earth I have never lived an Easter day without spending part of it in church.  I was raised that way, and I have tried to raise my son that way.



But there we were, earlier this morning—my husband, son, and I, in the hills of Ithaca, New York.  We were dressed for church but not certain where to go.  It had been raining on and off.  We sat together, deciding.



"I can't not go to church on Easter," I said.  But then, "What I really think I need most is Easter music." 



It happened by accident.  Or it happened another way.  We set out walking.  We opened a door.  We found our music—sweet, extraordinary.  Do you know what twelve trombones can do when united in Easter song?  When one finds them, serendipity, in the midst of a private rehearsal?  When one is allowed to stay among them?



Twelve trombones answer a prayer.