Adequate Yearly Progress

With over a decade of experience as a public school teacher and nationwide speaker on educational topics, Roxanna Elden a lot to say about the Hollywood version of the teacher story, where one self-sacrificing hero battles her terrible colleagues to save the kids. Real-life teaching raises much more complex questions, and the characters aren’t so easily cast as heroes and villains.

 

This is what inspired Elden’s debut novel, a brilliantly entertaining and moving story that switches perspectives among a diverse group of teachers and offers a humorous, panoramic inside look at our education system.

 

ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS focuses on Brae Hill Valley, a struggling high school in Houston, Texas. On top of the familiar educational challenges each school year brings, teachers face their own personal trials, which may finally spill over into their classrooms.

 

Perfect for readers who love to explore unfamiliar worlds they would never otherwise experience, fans of satirical writers like Laurie Gelman and Tom Perrotta, and seasoned educators who will relate to and chuckle at every page, ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS is an amusing and perceptive workplace comedy that captures the essence of teaching.



 My Review

 I wanted to read this book as I saw a blurb about it being compared in the same category as Class Mom. Those books are hilarious. I really enjoy reading those books. Thus, the reason that I wanted to check out this book. Sadly, It was not like Class Mom. 

 First off, I not once found myself laughing. Second, I was struggling to find any connection towards the teachers. They seemed more sad than happy or funny. What they poked fun at about the routine of the start of another school year was not that funny. Although, teachers I am sure can and will relate to the different situations that the teachers face in this book. As I stated, this book was not for me. Yet, It seems that so far I am in the minority so don't take my opinion only. Try this book out for yourself.




ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Roxanna Elden is the author of Adequate Yearly Progress: A Novel, which was previously self-published, and See Me After Class: Advice for Teachers by Teachers. She combines eleven years of experience as a public school teacher with a decade of speaking to audiences around the country about education issues. She has been featured on NPR as well as in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and more. You can learn more about her work at RoxannaElden.com.

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