Biography
George, Kristine O'Connell. Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems. New York:
Clarion Books, 2002.
Plot Summary
Kristine O’Connell George tells the story of a girl and the events and issues she faces during her first year in middle school. George does this through poetry. The poems allow the reader to follow the main character through her first year of middle school. Each poem addresses common middle school problems and issues. Locker troubles, notes and gossip, crushes and homework are some of the many topics covered that the reader will immediately relate to.
Critical Analysis
George uses a variety of poetic forms to fill this book and tell the unnamed main character’s story in a single voice. The poems are mostly short and as this sixth grader moves through her first year of middle school, the poems offer a positive conclusion and hope for the future. Debbie Tilley is the illustrator and while the illustrations are few and far between they do a tremendous job of bringing the poems and story to life. They almost leave the reader wanting more as they reveal these middle schoolers catching glimpses of their first crush, experiencing mishaps in band practice and eating lunch envying their friends sushi. The poems illicit feelings of nostalgia and middle school aged kids will immediately relate to the events told throughout the book.
Review Excerpts
BOOKLIST- “There’s a running thread about practicing the flute until at last she can make something like music. Sweet and on key.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL- “Students will relate to this voice navigating "upstream," while they try to find their own place in the middle-school wilderness.”
Connections
Sixth graders who are new to middle school can read this collection of poetry and begin to write their own based on their middle school experiences.
Students can try to identify the different poetic forms George uses throughout the book: rhyme, free verse, acrostic and haiku.
Friday, March 5, 2010
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