Teacher Sees Need For YA Book And Writes One

“Ripple Effect,” the last book that Culver School teacher Hetal Dalal shared with one of her eighth grade reading groups, won rave reviews from the students.

“The best book we read in guided reading,” said Aneta Biel, a sentiment echoed by Ashley Gusek.

“It was too short,” was the only criticism Nick Stenzel had.

That’s high praise for author – and Culver School teacher – John Petitt, who decided three years ago to try to write a book for middle school students who have more difficulty than some others when it comes to reading.

Earlier:

Much of the best YA literature – the industry term for “young adult” books, generally aimed at audiences age 12 and up – is a little too difficult for them to read, said Petitt, a special education teacher who mostly works with older children in the K-8 school. Books that have an easier reading level don’t have subject matter that will hold the interest of early adolescents.

His own experience had showed him that students who have a hard time reading seemed to prefer realistic fiction to fantasy books like the Harry Potter and Twilight series.

Teacher gets idea to write

“There really was nothing out there, and I got this brainstorm that I was going to write something,” Petitt said.

“Ripple Effect,” now in its fifth draft, deals with a boy who is struggling with his mother’s terminal illness and with being targeted by a bully just after school lets out after his ninth-grade year. The action takes place over two days, one of which is his birthday.

Although it’s aimed at middle-schoolers and deals with a high school student, it’s written at about a fifth-grade reading level.

Kids like to read about slightly older kids

Making the protagonist a high school student was a deliberate choice, Petitt said; most young people like the heroes of their books to be a year or two older than they are.

Petittsaid his first effort, which was also read by students at the school, was much less structured and much more autobiographical. “It was kind of a stream-of-consciousness mess,” he admitted.

Then he joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and shared his work with critiquing groups, as well as with other teachers at the school. He also listened to feedback from the students.

Kids wanted a fight in story

“One thing they all said they wanted was a physical fight at the end,” said Petitt, who at first was determined not to include a fight. In the end, the demand to meet the students’ expectations won, and there now is a brief fight.

But Petitt makes it clear that the protagonist, John, had no option but to fight.

“He’s kind of like a cornered animal,” Petitt said.

After he finished the most recent draft, one of his students read it chapter by chapter over lunch periods in Petitt’s room, and encouraged him to give it a wider audience. He ran the idea by Dalal, and after getting permission from the administration, she gave the book to her students and told them that with this book, part of the assignment was to give feedback to the author.

They all knew who the author was, but they said that didn’t stop them from sharing their opinions with him. Nearly all said the story was realistic, and that there was a sense of tension or suspense that kept them interested.

While Petitt has yet to find a publisher for “Ripple Effect,” all of the students – even one who said he didn’t like the book -- thought Petitt should get started on another one.

“Truth is, ‘Ripple Effect’ is a remarkable book and everyone should read it,” said student Joey LaBarbara. ‘In my opinion, Mr. Petitt should not stop with Ripple Effect and keep on writing.”  

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