Book Three: Until They Bring The Streetcars Back

Until They Bring The Streetcars Back by Stanley Gordon West
Publisher: Lexington-Marshall Publishing; 1st edition (January 5, 1997)
Genre: Teen
Readability: 4th to 6th grade

This was a book about the adventure of a high school senior Cal Grant in the fifties. Cal grew up in Saint Paul Minnesota in the post world war two. One prank in study hall puts Cal right in the face of the painful reality of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse when he meets Gretchen Lutterman. Throughout the book Cal struggles to balance his attempt for his fathers approval, friends, sports, and attempts to rescue Gretchen from her miserable reality.

I thought this was a very high quality text that I personally enjoyed very much. It is a book that can relate to so many different people. The story was very well developed. I often times started to picture myself as Cal (sign of a good writer in my opinion), and I started to live the story. As a pre-service teacher often times when I read a book I think, how can I relate this to my students? This is important in high quality literature because students find a love for reading when they can relate to the plot and characters. This story could relate to so many different people. This could relate to students who are trying to find their place in school, have up and down home lives, are being abused, struggle with parent approval, and pretty much student living in the metro can relate to the setting of the story. The one knock I would have on it is that it isn't very multi-cultural, so having a group of African American, Asian, or Hispanic students read this aren't going to relate to it as well as Caucasian students. The plot of the story was very strong and well developed. There were many times when I was on the edge of my seat excited about what is going to happen next. I thought he tied in many different parts of the plot together such as Cal's home life, school, sports, friends, and time he spent trying to help Gretchen. The character development in the story was superb, and I really got a sense that I was in the story. Like I stated before there were times when I thought I was actually in Cal's position and I was trying to figure out what I was going to do next. I really got a sense of being comfortable with the characters and it seemed like I knew all of them on a personal level. This to me is a sign of a great writer.  The themes of the book were strong, but I also feel they can send a bad message. Throughout the book Cal tries to do the right thing by getting Gretchen out of her house, and often times he goes to inappropriate measures to accomplish this.  I would have a serious conversation with my students about the power of reporting instances like Gretchen's, and how not informing adults will only hurt the student more.

I think this book would be a great way to start talking about hard topics such as abuse, friends/relationships, and parent problems. I think there is a lot of room for journal reflection and strong discussion about these tough issues, but I think it is something that we as teachers need to talk about and have our students think critically about.

Like I said before I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to almost anyone, but I think in a classroom setting it is geared for 4th-7th graders because it is a lengthy text and has some strong themes that need discussing.

Thanks for reading y'all!

Gorms