Minnie McClary Speaks Her Mind

November 26, 2012
When a middle school teacher encourages her students to ask questions and think for themselves, the town’s parents might not like it, but Minnie McClary finds the courage to speak (and write) her mind. In this audio production, narrator Tara Sands delivers a unique and appropriate voice for Minnie. Sands also adeptly gives voice to Minnie’s new Muslim friend Amira, whose outward calm masks fears that she will be bullied because of her headscarf. The voices of other characters, however, tend to blur. Minnie’s mother sounds too much like Miss Marks, the teacher idolized by her daughter. Moreover, nearly all the male characters—both young and old—sound alike, making it difficult to determine who is speaking when and detracting from the listening experience.. Ages 8–up. A Farrar, Straus and Giroux hardcover.

A shy sixth-grader learns to speak out against prejudice when her community rushes to judge an unusual teacher. Minnie is new to the school; her family has downsized since her father lost his job after objecting to an employee's unfair treatment. Minnie's newly minted teacher, Miss Marks, whose jeans and T-shirts, multiple ear piercings, tattoo and rumored lesbianism immediately raise eyebrows, captivates her language arts class with her unique teaching style. She's thoughtful and wise, challenging the class to think objectively, especially about prejudice. Minnie observes growing bias against not just Miss Marks, but also her new Muslim friend, Amira, but she's torn between remaining safely unobtrusive or taking a stand for what's right. Her Uncle Bill, an amputee war veteran, provides just the right nudge to Minnie as he begins to take control of his life. While Minnie's character is well-developed, others are painted with a frustratingly broad brush. Astute readers may wonder why Minnie's mother makes such a rush to judgment, facilely dismissing her daughter's opinion, and why there is such a sharp, seemingly swift response against a largely effective teacher. Some side stories lack sufficient development: that of a classmate who's abruptly withdrawn from school and another about a possible breach of Miss Marks' privacy at home by older students. Ultimately, this important topic deserves a more in-depth exploration than this brief, albeit thoughtful, effort offers. (Fiction. 10-13) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2013

Gr 5-7-Minnie's family, including her uncle, who lost a leg in the Iraq War, had to move when her dad "blew the whistle" at work and lost his job. Now Minnie is the new kid at Mojave Middle School, and she's not sure where she fits in. When a new language-arts teacher arrives at Mojave, she is unlike any teacher the sixth-grader has ever had. Young, hip Miss Marks encourages her students to ask questions-and draws negative attention from parents for her unconventional wardrobe and her tattoo, and for rumors that she's a lesbian. But Minnie loves Miss Marks; she makes Minnie think about important things and encourages her students to speak up. Because of this teacher, Minnie finds the courage to stand up for her Muslim friend and against prejudice, and eventually to stand up for Miss Marks, too. Readers will cheer this protagonist on as she finds her voice-and perhaps be inspired to make their own voices heard.-Laurie Slagenwhite Walters, Peachtree Montessori International, Ann Arbor, MI

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