Ehrlich, Amy (Ed.). (2001). When I Was Your Age: Original Stories About Growing Up, Vol. 2. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 160pp.

Grade Range: 6-9

Genre: short story

Summary and Critique

In this collection of short stories, edited by Amy Ehrlich, authors recount personal stories about growing up that impacted on their lives.

Paul Fleischman is an award winning author of children's books. His short story,"Interview with a Shrimp," is Fleischman's account of his physical and emotional struggles of growing up with CSD, a disorder that left him shorter and frailer than all of his classmates. Michael J. Rosen has written over thirty children's books. In his moving short story,"Pegasus for a Summer," he describes his personal experience as a young boy who finds peace and companionship in riding horses. He is devastated, though, when a horrible camp counselor tells him that Sparky, the horse who has become his best friend, is blind. The Newberry Medal-winning author Karen Hesse, in her reflection "Waiting for Midnight," discusses her experiences as a young Jewish girl growing up in a good neighborhood but in an unloving home. Her father is often away from home, and her mother seems to be suffering from depression. To worsen matters, she is also haunted by the abusive living conditions of the two children next door."How I Lost my Station in Life" is E. L. Konigsburg's heart-warming story about her life during the Great Depression. She is trying to adapt to being uprooted from her home and having to move several different times while also trying to accept that a new baby will take her place as the youngest.

This second volume of short stories is great for readers of all ages. Most every reader can relate to these stories written by acclaimed young adult and children's authors.

Themes/Topics

Families

Friends and Enemies

Generations

Challenges and Triumphs

Author/Illustrator/Editor Information

Amy Ehrlich is the author of several other children's books including Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson, Joyride, and many more. She has collaborated with other award-winning authors to create volume 2 of When I Was Your Age: Original Stories About Growing Up vol. 2 after the award-winning success of the publication of When I was Your Age: Original Stories About Growing Up vol. 1.

For more information on Amy Ehrlich:

http://www.harcourtbooks.com/authorinterviews/bookinterview_ehrlich.asp Interview with Amy Ehrlich.

Media Connections

Movies/Documentaries

Freaky Friday (2003) When Anna and her mom, Tess, find themselves switched into each other's bodies, they truly begin to appreciate what life is like for the other person and the importance of family.

Big Fish (2003) William Bloom returns home to visit his dying father and tries to learn the truth about his life instead of the elaborate fairytale stories he heard growing up. As his father lay dying, he ultimately realizes how much he loves the stories and what an important part of his life they have been.

Man Without a Face (1993) Chuck Norstadt is a young boy in the prime of adolescence who is overshadowed by his family, and desperately wants to feel like he belongs. One summer he meets Justin Mcleod, a former schoolteacher, who becomes his mentor and inspires him to succeed.

About a Boy (2003) A story about Marcus, a preteen boy growing up in London who befriends Will, a wealthy bachelor with no serious relationships. Marcus is an outcast who only wants to fit in at school and make life worth living for his mother. Will, on the other hand, has never cared about anyone but himself. As he and Marcus begin to bond, they both realize the importance of friendship and how they affect each other's lives.

Bend it like Beckham (2002) The story of Jess, an 18-year-old girl, who lives in London with her traditional Indian family. To her parents disapproval, Jess has a passion for playing football (soccer) and begins to reject her traditional Indian roles and embrace her love of football.

Mona Lisa Smile (2003) A college art professor begins a new job at an all-girls university in the 1950s. As a charismatic educator, she inspires one student to change her views about life and appreciate the endless opportunities open to her.

Television

The Wonder Years (1988) – Any episode. A series about Kevin Arnold, a teenage boy growing up in the 1960s in a middle class family. The show focuses on the trials and triumphs of adolescense and the importance of relationships.

Jack and Bobby (2004) – Any episode. A drama series about Jack and his brother, Bobby, who grows up to become president. The show flashbacks to Jack and Bobby's life, revealing the significant events that influenced Bobby and made him a great president.

Music/Audio Recordings

"Nineteen Somethin'." Lyrics by Mark Wills. From Greatest Hits. Mercury Nashville, 2002. (A man remembers what it was like growing up.)

Online Resources

http://www.allyoucanread.com/index.asp?idCat=22 An informative site with a list of magazines available for Teens to read that address current teen issues from fashion to the problems of growing up.

http://www.channelone.com/life/exchange/stories/archive/ This Web site keeps children informed about current events and has personal stories from Teens around the country.

http://dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/Arts/Creative_Writing/Teens_Only/ A Web site that features original writings and book reviews by Teens from around the world

http://www.xanga.com A site where students can create online journals and keep them updated with their personal experiences that they can share.

http://summercamp.org/index.html A site where Teens can search and find the best summer camp program for them.

http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/depression/depression.htm This Web site about the Great Depression features writings, photos, and poetry.

Related Texts

Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. New York: Putnam. 1989. Young Chinese women make their way through the quagmire of a combined Chinese and American lifestyle.

Ehrlich, Amy. When I Was Your Age: Original Stories About Growing Up Vol. 1. Boston: Candlewick, 2001. The first volume in the series of collections of short stories about growing up.

Yolen, Jane. Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast: Stories. New York: Harcourt, 2001. A collection of stories for adolescents dealing with issues from heartbreak and death to strength and courage.

Soto, Gary. Baseball in April and Other Stories. New York: Harcourt, 2000. A collection of stories about the trials faced and lessons learned during adolescence.

Rylant, Cynthia. Every Living Thing. New York: Simon and Schuster Children's, 1988. A collection of twelve stories about twelve people whose lives are forever changed when they are contacted by animals.

Little, Jean. Hey World, Here I Am! New York: Harper Collins Children's Books 1991. A collection of poetry written from the perspective of a young girl, Kate, as she journeys through adolescense.

Nye, Naomi Shihab. What Have You Lost? New York: Harper Tempest, 2001. A collection of poems, photographs, and quotations that sympathize with the dramatic teenage years.

Teaching Ideas

(1) "Lessons from Life" Students will be given small notebooks/booklets in which they will create their own list of advice and instructions of wisdom for life. Students will record quotations from short stories and personal experiences that reveal important life lessons. For quotes from personal experience, students will interview their parents and other family relatives. The booklet can be creatively designed and shared with family and friends.

[Adapted from "To Kill a Mockingbird and Lessons from Life" by Joan E. Hoffman in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. March 1998, p. 4.]

(2) "Biographical Scrapbook" Students are to imagine that it is fifty years in the future and someone is going to write a biography of their life story. Students are to create a scrapbook that includes photos, writing, letters, quotes, song lyrics, newspaper clippings, magazine clippings, etc. The items in the scrapbook should reflect who they are, what is important to them, words of wisdom, lessons they have learned, etc.

[Adapted from "Biography Scrapbook Project" by Carol J. Schowalter in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. December 1996, p.1.]

(3) "Memory Writing" The teacher will ask students to relax and think about a positive memory from childhood. It can be anything from riding a bike, to playing with a friends, or birthday party. The students will focus on that memory for several minutes until they can recall numerous detail about the moment: sounds, smells, who was there, etc. Have the students write a very descriptive paragraph about the memory. It can begin"I can remember…"

[Adapted from "House on Mango Street as a Springboard for Childhood Memory Writing" by Rochmanna Miller in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. October 1996, p. 5.]

(Review written by Rachel Danner and edited by Jennifer E. Moore)