Outside Text

Story Time by Edward Bloor
Harcourt, Inc. 2004

The story unfolds as Kate, an eighth grader, and her Uncle George, a sixth grader, experiment with George’s new flying device for Peter Pan. Both George and Kate receive an invitation to attend Whittaker Magnet School for the coming school year, the best preparatory school in the nation. George, receiving a perfect score on his entrance exam and known for his brilliance, is ecstatic for the opportunity, while Kate does everything she can to decline. Once the school year starts, Whittaker is much different than anyone expects with a nationally celebrated test based curriculum, the ruling Whittaker-Austin family, and mysterious occurrences. Kate and George seek to solve the mystery as Pogo, the librarian who speaks in rhymes, provides the necessary clues to discover the truth behind the so called demon and numerous murders.

This text is a satire of the national education system and challenges the idea of the meaning of a quality education. It explores the dangers of books and a test based achievement system so students have a greater understanding of the systems they are a part of through symbolism.

Sarah