A novel in verse with eighteen different fifth-grade narrators, writing poems in their notebooks in Ms. Hill's class to put in a time capsule - because this is the last year before the Emerson Elementary building will be razed to make way for a supermarket. Readers get a glimpse into each student's life at home and at school - friendships shifting, grandparents dying, fathers leaving, mothers deploying, first crushes forming, and some good old-fashioned petitioning the Board of Education.

Opposite the title page, there is an illustration of all eighteen students, labeled by name; at the upper corner of each page a poem begins is the date (day and month), a title, the student's name, and a thumbnail portrait matching the illustration opposite the title page. This makes it easier to identify each character, though as the book goes on, their distinct voices become familiar.

Back matter includes more information on different types of poems (acrostic, concrete, diamante, epistolary, Fibonacci, found poem, free verse, haiku, limerick, list poem, narrative poem, ode, rap, rhyming, senryu, sonnet, tanka), prompts "from the fifth-grade prompt jar," and a glossary.

See also: Flight of the Puffin by Ann Braden

Quotes

I don't want to
think about the reasons why
tearing down our school
might be a good thing.

My mom says when one chapter ends
another one is beginning.
I don't want to think about
what might happen if I turn the page. (George, 115)

...the fifth grade
would have have to protest
if [the principal] actually
listened to us. (Rachel, 164) ( )

In this book, a teacher has her fifth grade write a series of poems over the year, and the reader gets to see how the characters transform. There are eighteen children in her class and the novel rotates between each of the students' poems. The reader gets to see into each of their lives, and the novel provides a diverse cast of characters because of this. This would be a good book to read to a class of fifth graders because they would be able to relate to the characters and many students would see themselves represented in the novel. There are no pictures in this book, so it would probably be better if upper elementary students read this when they were more familiar with poetry and not as an introduction.

The kids in Ms. Hill's class are writing poems for a time capsule. Poem by poem, the thoughts, emotions, and complications of being a fifth grader emerge. We learn that what's on the surface is often quite different than the personalities and motivations within. That's enough right there to hook me as a reader, but add to that the fact that their school is being torn down to make room for a supermarket, newfound student political voices, and learning to respect another's views even when you disagree? That seals the deal. Add Laura Shovan's novel-in-verse to your elementary or middle school classroom or library. I did! (BONUS: It includes an explanation of the poetic forms in the book, some great poetry prompts, and a glossary of terms.)

An excerpt from one of my favorite poems:

"Is It True?"

Is it true
the Board of Ed wants to turn our school
into a supermarket?

That's what my mom heard
at Mrs. Stiffler's community meeting
last night.

Shelves of cereal
and toilet paper
instead of shelves of books.

Bored cashiers at the checkout
instead of the school media specialist
saying, "I've got a great book for you!" ( )

Mrs. Emerson's class is the last fifth grade class for Emerson Elementary. The school is set to be demolished for the building of a shopping center the following year. Mrs. Emerson creates an assignment for the students to write poems throughout the year as a documenting of this year to be put in a time capsule. Each morning, this diverse group of students, writes a poem, in a variety of poetic forms, including haiku, limerick, free verse, and concrete, expressing what is going on in their lives. The students are dealing with multicultural issues, disabilities, crushes, friendships, crushes, and family conflicts.

WIth each student writing a different poem, there is a bit of confusion and disconnect in the narrative. The author includes the students names and a cartoon draw of each student next to their poem. The reader can begin to recognize the characters through their distinctive voices and experiences conveyed in the poems.

Overall, a great book to expose students to a multicultural classroom and poetic forms. Fifth graders, in particular would identify with the characters if they are in a system that moves to another school for sixth grade. ( )

This is a great book for a teacher to use on a poetry lesson. All forms of poetry styles are represented in this book. Each poem takes on the persona of one of the children in Emerson Elementary Schools Fifth Grade Class. The school is slated to be torn down after this school year and the fifth grade class is unhappy. They would like to save the school. You learn about each student and their life from their poetry style. I don't think this is a book a young reader would pick up for reading, but I truly think it is a great example of poetry forms. ( )