SuitabookSecond chances and alternative education
Tessa is sent to a last-chance alternative school after being caught tagging.
Loading your next page
Book details
Monique Polak - Author
A school-set story about a reluctant student encountering boxing, a new community and a threat to her school. Tessa’s changing relationship with New Directions appears to drive the book.
"How bad can an alternative school be? Tessa McPhail has landed at New Directions, a last-chance school in Montreal's roughest neighborhood. The kids are tough and the school is far from home, but the very worst thing is the curriculum: 50 percent academics, 50 percent boxing. The other students think boxing is cool. Tessa disagrees. But when a neighbor starts a petition to have New Directions closed down, Tessa discovers something worth fighting for, both in and out of the ring"-- When Tessa gets caught tagging, she is sent to an alternative school in one of Montreal's toughest neighborhoods, where boxing is a big part of the school curriculum.
Book Brief
Sign in to see how this book fits your child and family preferences.
Sign in for personalised guidanceA school-set story about a reluctant student encountering boxing, a new community and a threat to her school. Tessa’s changing relationship with New Directions appears to drive the book.
Tessa is sent to a last-chance alternative school after being caught tagging.
A neighbour’s petition threatens New Directions, while Tessa discovers something worth fighting for in and outside the ring.
Boxing makes up half the curriculum, but Tessa initially disagrees with its place at school.
Boxing is central to the school’s curriculum, and the setting is described as a rough neighbourhood. Consider whether a child would welcome a story involving organised fighting and a troubled school context.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: the current material supports only a cautious reading; another book-specific source is still needed.
Book information
Limited information
Anything not established here remains open; it is not being treated as absent or safe.