Lockers Speak: Voices from America's Youth

By Brenda Mahler

Poetry

Parenting & Families

Young Adult

Language: English Not Rated (NR)

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Overview Ratings & Reviews

Lockers Speak occurs as the students exit the school to begin summer break. They leave behind the lockers who personify their thoughts and emotions. As an administrator walks the empty halls, she reflects on the events of the school year and the many stories shared by the students.

Brenda Mahler retired from education after 35 years. As an English teacher, she asked students to write about adversities. The author reframes the students' experiences into poetry with the desire to prompt dialogue and understanding of America's youth.

This book is a compilation of students’ thoughts. The words presented through verse stand-alone but together intertwine to create a glimpse of society. Youth bring to school more than their backpacks. They carry memories, aspirations, and dreams as well as every emotion, event, and person who influenced their identities.

Public schools present a microcosm of society. The voices speaking from the pages provide snapshots of teens growing up in modern society. Collectively, they share the story of our culture. Though the individuals are fictional, the events and emotions are true. With each student, a story evolves like a puzzle, and with each voice the pieces assemble to provide a glimpse into their realities.

The Story Behind This Book

Lockers Speak occurs as the students exit the school to begin summer break. They leave behind the lockers who personify their thoughts and emotions. As an administrator walks the empty halls, she reflects on the events of the school year. The voices whispering, sometimes screaming from the lockers share stories of friendship, academic struggles, death, abuse, celebrations, and basic human experiences. This book is a compilation of students’ thoughts. The words presented through verse stand-alone but together intertwine to create a glimpse of society. Youth bring to school more than their backpacks. They hold a unique perspective because with them they carry memories, aspirations, and dreams as well as every emotion, event, and person who influenced their identities, complicated by issues that may not be new to their generation but are enhanced by the 24/7 broadcasting of news and social media. Public schools present a microcosm of society. The voices on these pages provide snapshots of teens growing up in modern society. Collectively, they share the story of our culture. Sometimes the speakers blatantly state facts without realizing the secrets they reveal; others share little directly. With each student, a story evolves like a puzzle, and with each voice the pieces assemble to provide a glimpse into their realities. Lockers Speak emerged from the voices of these students. Though the individuals are fictional, the events and emotions reflect experiences from the author’s thirty-four-year career in public education. With the desire to use writing as a tool for students to understand themselves and their world, the author prompted students in her classrooms to write about personal adversity. The students became excited to tell their stories, knowing someone was going to listen. Those essays became the catalyst for this text. Locker’s Speak provides adults: parents, educators, counselors, anyone invested in America's youth a glimpse into their minds. The words also provide a means for teens to hear from others that they are not alone as it shares the everyday, common experiences that provide life joy while challenging survival. Through students’ voices, it reveals the commonalities of life’s experiences.

Praise and Reviews

A Window into the Hearts and Minds of Today's Youth

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 21, 2021

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As adults, we tend to view and assess teens today from a time long gone in the perspective of our own youth. In " Lockers Speak" the author provides a window into the hearts and minds of contemporary youth. This is not the same world we grew up in and Mrs. Mahler provides us with a a better understanding of the struggles and challenges kids face today. This book will stimulate thoughtful compassion into anyone who cares about investing in that valuable commodity, our children.

It’s a reminder to be curious and aware that more is beneath the surface.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 19, 2021

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I loved the view into internal dialogue and the occasional connections between perspectives. It was such a great reminder that perception is real and to remember that every person has their story. It’s a reminder to be curious and aware that more is beneath the surface.

Read this book!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 26, 2021

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This book is a must read! The writer instantly engages the reader with a prologue that transports them right inside the school hallway. Each student locker exposes joy, hurt, hope or a their reflection on their life. This book gives the reader a creative window into the teenage mind. I loved getting to know the students and their stories!

Real feelings in real time.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 8, 2021

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As a middle school educator for 25 years I found "Lockers Speak" (Voices of America's Youth) a great read. It stirred memories of those students who could drive me crazy, all the while finding a special place in my heart to remain forever. The author was able to write in such a way that I often felt like I was walking the halls with her. A fun summer read.

Boise fan

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 24, 2021

What an amazing writer. She has captured the perspective Of these middle schoolers using the lockers as their voice. Great read And powerful poems That any middle school teacher, student, or all those who have ever been middle schoolers can relate to.

Perspective of an experienced educator.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 25, 2021

Excellent perspective of an experienced educator. Brenda shares stories that anyone who has spent time in education can personally relate to encountering or hearing at some point. Brenda does a nice job of connecting the student voices to remind us of the impact students have on one another. Lockers Speak is an easy enjoyable read which shares the author's insights and ideas of how to shape our most valuable commodity - students.

Excellent for parents and teens

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 20, 2021

I have been waiting a long time for this! It is an excellent book and definitely give it 5 stars
The teenage years are so difficult these days especially with all that is going on today. Brenda has written so eloquently, and I will also be sharing this with my teenage grandchildren
A must to any collection