These are the books I completed in June.
- The Story of My Life – An Afghan Girl on the Other Side of the Sky by Farah Ahmedi
- The New Global Student: Skip the SAT, Save Thousands on Tuition and Get a Truly International Education by Maya Frost
- The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
- Bringing Up Geeks by Marybeth Hicks
Every one of these is amazing. Here's my not-so-brief rundown:
The Story of My Life - this is a memoir written by Farah Ahmedi, a 19 year old Afghan girl. After stepping on a landmine at age 10, losing her home and almost everyone in her family, and taking refuge in a Pakistani camp, she and her mother qualify for resettlement in the Chicago-area through the World Relief organization. For a complete synopsis, click on the link above. My thoughts about this book are numerous. First, it is hard to believe that we in the US are actively allowing, and even contributing, to the slaughter and suffering of innocent human beings. Contrary to what we want to believe, not all Afghan people are terrorists. Second, while I believe that organizations such as World Relief are necessary and beneficial, I wish that they could offer their humanitarian aid a little more humanely. There is too much bureaucracy involved, and too many unreasonable requirements of those people suffering most. Farah writes about standing in line all day, every day for weeks, just to get an initial interview with World Relief. After making the first cut, they had to attend 4 more interviews - all with the same woman and the same questions. This does not sound that bad at first glance, but for a girl with one leg, a mother with severe asthma, no money, no food, no transportation, no home - it was quite a hardship to get to the office. After passing the 4 interviews, they then had to make their way 100 miles to the American embassy - again with no food, money or transportation. It's almost like World Relief was testing the resettlement applicants to see if they could negotiate their own way. And while I'm all for tests and proving yourself, sometimes enough is enough. Either really help people or don't. Don't put them through exhausting hoops. Other things that I felt were unfair - World Relief assigned 5 familes to travel to the US together. Once in the US, they sent 4 familes together to California and sent Farah and her mother to Chicago on their own. Imagine being dropped alone on a Martian settlement and how scary that would be, because that is what it was like for Farah and her mother. They were settled into a suburban apartment with no phone, no furniture, and no easy access to public transportation. They were given help for 3 months and then told that they must navigate the way on their own. Nevermind that they were disabled, hardly knew English, were often cheated by cabdrivers and denied medical appointments. I guess my main point is, I wish people / companies / organizations did not have to make everything so hard. All it takes is a little extra effort and follow through to make a world of difference for people who are desperate.
The New Global Student - This was excellent on so many levels. It's a great affirmation of homeschooling. It has also inspired me to spend time looking into education abroad, either as a family sabbatical plan, or exchange program for the kids. (I like the first one better!)
My favorite review: "The New Global Student recognizes the truth of the American kindergarten through college education conveyor belt–-it is preparing children for the last century's economy. Fortunately, the Frost family has blazed a trail for crafting a 21st-century education that is personalized, global, non-traditional, relevant and affordable. Parents owe it to their children to read this book."
Bob Compton
Venture capitalist
Executive producer of the documentary, "Two Million Minutes: A Global Examination"
Some of my favorite quotes interspersed throughout the book-
- Goodbye Old School, Hello Bold School! - Maya Frost, author
- I have never let schooling interfere with my education - Mark Twain
- Not doing more then the average is what keeps the average down - William Winans
- Freedom lies in being bold - Robert Frost
- Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise - Horace
The Mysterious Benedict Society - We read this book for the Mother-Daughter book club. It was a great book. The story is suspenseful and fun for kids. As an adult reading the book, I noticed quite a lot of hidden commentary on modern-day society and a lot of symbolism. Basically, an evil genius / dictator wanna-be (named Ledroptha Curtain -Iron Curtain reference???) has started a school for gifted kids, in order to take over the government. His students are brought in by Recruiters (who look just like businessmen), and then completely brainwashed during classes. Students are encouraged to watch television constantly - secret messages are being subliminally transferred (kind of 1984-ish). Students who show high aptitide are promoted to Messengers and then Executives. The Executives are portrayed as bullying buffoons who cannot think for themselves for fear of demotion (Hmmm...) Sounds alot like my days at Arthur Andersen...
Lord of the Flies - Until now, I had never read this book, but heard about it often. A group of prep school boys is being evacuated before the World War when their plane crashes on an island and all the adults are killed. "Free from the rules and structures of civilization and society, the boys on the island descend into savagery. As the boys splinter into factions, some behave peacefully and work together to maintain order and achieve common goals, while others rebel and seek only anarchy and violence. In his portrayal of the small world of the island, Golding paints a broader portrait of the fundamental human struggle between the civilizing instinct—the impulse to obey rules, behave morally, and act lawfully—and the savage instinct—the impulse to seek brute power over others, act selfishly, scorn moral rules, and indulge in violence." (Sparknotes)
I've always heard how disturbing this book is, but I did not actually find it so. Well, at least I did not find it much more disturbing then I find what most people currently define as normal society. There are bullies everywhere and most people today think that's just how it is. I guess it's easier to live that way - it doesn't require a sense of responsibility for living a moral, civil life. I mean, if everyone's doing it, or if you're only picking on the "unpopular" people, it's okay right? (Sheesh!) Even at the end of the book, the officer who finds the kids just in time to stop a murder says ..."Fun and games."
My question is this - why does it seem that so few people have a sense of justice???? And is the lack therof why most people find this book so disturbing? They don't want to be reminded that it's a short road to the dark side???
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