Work Hard. Be Nice.

During their first teaching assignment in Houston, two freshly minted educators, unhappy with the way underperforming students were served, invented an alternative model, which they've exported to school systems across the country. This account of the KIPP teaching system they developed is less a discussion of their educational methods than the heartwarming story of their commitment, hard work, and respect for students and families. Along with a fascinating palette of tone and phrasing variations, Paul Boehmer's performance adds a fitting amount of admiration for the authors' achievements. His warmth and vocal skills keep the narrative from losing momentum when its focus blurs or the writing needs to be condensed. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

October 13, 2008
“Many people in the United States believe that low-income children can no more be expected to do well in school than ballerinas can be counted on to excel in football,” begins Washington Post
education reporter Mathews (Escalante: The Best Teacher in America
). He delves into the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) and follows the enterprise's founders, Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin, from their days as young educators in the Teach for America program to heading one of the country's most controversial education programs running today. Luckily for many low-income children, Feinberg and Levin believed that with proper mentors, student incentives and unrestrained enthusiasm on the part of the teachers, some of the country's poorest children could surpass the expectations of most inner-city public schools. Mathews emphasizes Feinberg and Levin's personal stakes in the KIPP program, as they often found themselves becoming personally involved with the families of their students (in one case Feinberg took the TV away from a student's apartment because the student's mother insisted that she could not stop her child from watching it). Mathews innate ability to be at once observer and commentator makes this an insightful and enlightening book.

Starred review from September 1, 2009
In 1994, frustrated by the widely held attitude that low-income students were incapable of academic success, teachers Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin founded the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP; www.kipp.org), which emphasizes the "joy factor" of learning and is today implemented in 82 schools nationwide. Here, "Washington" Post education reporter Mathews clearly demonstrates the enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication of the KIPP teachers and students, while Audie Award winner J. Paul Boehmer does a credible job of portraying Feinberg and Levin. Sure to inspire both educators and parents, especially those looking to make a difference in schools performing poorly and in need of change. [The Algonquin pb, published in January, was a "New York Times" best seller.Ed.]Theresa Stoner, St. Joseph Cty. P.L., South Bend, IN

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.