About This Book
Alt Ed follows Susan Calloway, an overweight tenth grader who endures daily bullying and humiliation. When her anger reaches a breaking point, she's placed in an alternative education class, a form of group therapy for students on the brink of expulsion. This class forces Susan to engage with her peers, including her cruelest tormentor, and to finally talk about her feelings and listen to others. The book explores themes of self-esteem, bullying, anger management, empathy, and finding one's voice. It's a nuanced look at adolescent struggles, highlighting how low self-esteem can manifest as cruelty in some and silence in others. This novel is ideal for teenagers aged 12-18 who are navigating complex social dynamics and personal identity.
Participating in a special after-school counseling class with other troubled students, including a sensitive gay classmate, helps Susan, an overweight tenth grader, develop a better sense of herself.
bullying
mental_health_themes
peer_pressure
Discussion Prompts
1
How does Susan's anger manifest at the beginning of the book, and how does it change by the end?
2
What role does the alternative education class play in helping Susan and the other students?
3
Discuss the different ways characters in the book cope with bullying and low self-esteem. Are some more effective than others?
4
How does listening to other people's stories help Susan understand herself better?
5
What does it mean to 'find your voice' in this story, and how does Susan achieve it?
6
How does the book portray the 'adolescent ability to use low self-esteem as a cruel weapon'?
7
What lessons can we learn about empathy and understanding from the interactions within the alt ed class?
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