Rating: 
Summary: Great Book!!!
Review: This book is like a flashback of when I went to high school at Prior Lake HS. Everything in this book is a perfect reflection of what life was like through the eyes of the Teachers and the Students. You have the Dirtballs, Jocks, Preps, Goths, and the kids that were just there. If you went to Prior Lake HS this is a perfect book for you!! I think that the best quote in the book is that Elinor Burkett refers Ron lachelt as "GOD", Ron had to of been the best and brightest teacher at Prior Lake HS. -Mikey B
Rating: 
Summary: DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ
Review: this book is nothing but lies, I am a former student from the high school that she wrote about and she didn't write a single peice of truth in this book. most of the "facts" that she used where in-fact made up. this book has destroyed the reputation that this small town once had. for those of you that think that this was a good read I feel sorry for you. She lied to the students of Prior Lake, she lied to the staff, and she lied to the readers. DON'T (and I mean this)buy this book. you would be better off watching 'wag the dog' then to read this so call truths about high schools.
Rating:
Summary: Save your money
Review: This book was very poorly written. The writer jumps from one narrative to another even from one year to another with little warning. Many of her historic facts were wrong wrong wrong. She portrays this nations educators as being total morons who could care less about the futures of the young adult they come in contact with daily. I personally find this difficult to believe - every educator I have ever known has been truely dedicated to their profession and students. The writer focuses so much on the negative in the school system she would have you believe nothing positive could come out of a high school. Again, she is wrong. Save your money and don't buy this book. Don't waste your time reading it - instead spend the hours you would be wasting to volunteer at your local school and see first hand what is happening in our school systems. That would have a bigger impact on our society and the future of our country than anything you will find in this poorly written piece of trash.
Rating:
Summary: Save your money
Review: This was a very poorly written book. The author jumps around so much you totally lose where she is going with her ideas. The book also is slanted in such a way that all the educators are portrayed as complete idiots and as people who do not love their jobs or the young adults they teach. I fail to believe anyone would dedicate their lives to teaching if they did not truely care about the futures of those they are educating. Save your money and just go back and re-read Lord of the Flies, the main story is about the same.
Rating: 
Summary: more input from another student!
Review: Unlike the characters portrayed, the book would have to be considered "gray." it is impossible, I believe, to say much good or bad about it. My major issue with the book is through the salnted portrayals of almost every person-- they are either shown as the benevolent and saintly teacher or the plotting, stupid administrator. The portrayal of Lori Boynton is a prime example-- like everyone who breathes, she is certainly not perfect, but in many instances she was singled out for harsh verbal abuse for actions that were part of her job. As a disciplinarian, she is automatically disliked by students, and it is clear that the student perspective was used exclusively. Another distrubing issue for me was the portrayal of a confirmed liar as a primary source. Altough I prefer not to use names, anyone who attended Prior Lake should know if whom I speak. Their was no conspiracy against her; her colleagues were not jealous of her teaching abilities, and on several occasions (some of which I was a part of) made a deliberate effort to include her. However, she lied about her experiences, past and present, frequently, and apparently was able to convince only the author. I am disturbed at the numerous factual errors, ranging from simple song titles to the blatant mistruth about the communities reaction to Mark Person's "punishment" (aside from the fact that the shooting actually took place three years earlier than stated in the book, the town was horrified that he was released in a year, and state law was subsequently ammended to ensure against such blatant misjustice).
Many of the points made are true and excellent-- unoriginal, perhaps, but Burkett breathed a life into them that makes the urgency of the issues all the more obvious. If you can get aside from the facts, consider the book the work of fiction it truly is, ignore the exagerations and remember that there truly is a lot more to the story that is not reported, this is an excellent book, and a true eye-opener into the modern world of education.
Rating:
Summary: Must-read for school-board members and politicians
Review: We are all aware of the politics surrounding the educational system, but what do we know about the real-life workings within a suburban school? With amazing observation and entertaining style, this author has done a phenominal job of highlighting the many disfunctionalities that have to be dealt with within a "typical" school. The author doesn't pull punches for anyone: students, teachers, administrators, educational philosophy, and parents get even-handed critiques with the summation being a smart observation of a VERY complex situation. I was drop-jawed throughout the book, yet found myself nodding in agreement and recognition. Everyone who has ever said "the problem with our schools is..." should read this first!
Rating: 
Summary: a fresh look at old news
Review: When I finished Burkett's book, I said to my husband "Is there anyone out there who still disputes this is what high school is like"? Judging from the letters to the editor of the Prior Lake local newspaper, which inspired me to buy this book, there is. I'm 37 years old and the high school year Burkett describes could have been any one of my own, my 8 years younger husband's or my 20 year old nephew's. Burkett spoke with real people, and let her description of their actions color our judgments of those people. Any factual errors disputed by the Prior Lakers are irrelevant to the reader with no personal knowledge of the events.Prior Lake is no different than hundreds of other schools across America. Burkett has all the contradictory rules, regulations and expectations perfectly laid out for anyone to see the insanity which we've created. I have to wonder if the typos, spelling and grammatical errors of some of the previous reviewers aren't a reflection of their education in America.It's a solid book, well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: (...)
Review: While this book talked about, and delt with reaserch regarding a very serious topic, the reserch was done very atrociously. For some one that is a so called jourelist, she did not only not dig deeper to find the facts, but told bold face lies about individuals. If the book was to be a work of fiction, and called as such, than it should not include real people with in the story. There are many people with in this book who could not only have there lifes ruined by lies(or mis-interpritation, telling what Mrs. Burkett wanted to tell, not what was the truth)but who could also sue the author for libel, slander, and nemerous other "crimes". I would only hope that on the aftermath none of the individuals written with in the book, nor the writer, were to have to suffer any negative consiquenses as a result of horrible journalism. It would be best if the rest of the world, including those written in the book, would just ignore it and forget about it.
Rating:
Summary: A Compelling Look at Contemporary High School
Review: Writer, Elinor Burkett, has done a remarkable job of documenting a year in the life of a fairly typical American High School. Her interest in what was going on in high schools today was triggered by the Columbine massacre. She sought to observe a school year from the front lines. Burkett researched schools that would be quite close to Columbine in student composition, socio-economic status, enrollment, and a number of other factors. Prior Lake High School officials in Minnesota bravely accepted Burkett's proposal that she be given complete access to students, faculty and administrators at the school for a full school year. Bravely, Burkett returned to high school after a number of years had passsed since she herself had graduated. Another Planet is a remarkably written history of Burkett's keen observations.She observes and participates (and records) the official events of the year, as well as the "unofficial". An amazing chronicle of what it's like to be a kid in an American high school in this new millenium. While I was somewhat uncomfortable with some of the things Burkett had to report as having happened, I came away from this reading believing that good education does go on at Prior Lake High School and at most high schools in America. At the same time, I am reminded how incredibly complex the adolescent journey is for most kids. While the traditions may change, and the latest fashion looks different from age to age over time, the challenges, struggles, and hurdles of adolescence indeed seem to be a universal and non-chaning set of crises. The misdirection, raging hormones, moments of true learning and ultimately, for many -- if not most kids -- hope and triumph on the march into adulthood seem to be timeless themes. I am not alarmed by Burkett's book. Ultimately, I believe it is a testament to the teaching profession and an excellent documentary on the painfulness of adolescence for just about every kid in America. Kudos to the leadership at Prior Lake High School who had the courage to allow a reporter to see the school year -- warts and all! They have done an enormous service in providing an accurate chronicle of the challenges educators, kids, parents face in those difficult 'hormone-filled' years. Outstanding! Daniel J. Maloney
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Rating:
Summary: A Compelling Look at Contemporary High School
Review: Writer, Elinor Burkett, has done a remarkable job of documenting a year in the life of a fairly typical American High School. Her interested in what was going on in high schools today was triggered by the Columbine massacre. She sought to observe a school year from the front lines. Burkett researched schools that would be quite close to Columbine in student composition, socio-economic status, enrollment, and a number of other factors. Prior Lake High School officials in Minnesota bravely accepted Burkett's proposal that she be given complete access to students, faculty and administrators at the school for a full school year. Bravely, Burkett returned to high school after a number of years had passed since she herself had graduated. Another Planet is a remarkable written history of Burkett's keen observations. She observes and participates (and records) the official events of the year, as well as the "unofficial". An amazing chronicle of what it's like to be a kid in an American high school in this new millennium. While I was somewhat uncomfortable with some of the things Burkett had to report as having happened, as a teacher, I come away from this reading believing that good education does go on at Prior Lake High School and at most high schools in America. At the same time, I am reminded how incredibly complex the adolescent journey is. While the traditions may change, and the latest fashion looks different from age to age over history, the challenges, struggles, and hurdles of adolescence indeed seem to be a universal maze; one which is fraught with misdirection, raging hormones, moments of true learning and ultimately, for many -- if not most kids -- hope and triumph on the march into adulthood. I am not alarmed by Burkett's book. Ultimately, I believe it is a testament to the teaching profession and an excellent documentary on the painfulness of adolescence for just about every kid in America. Kudos to the leadership at Prior Lake High School who had the courage to allow a reporter to see the school year warts and all! They have done an enormous service to better understanding of the challenges of educators, kids, parents and leaders throughout the country. This book should be required reading by legislators, school board members, parents, teachers and kids. It is a wonderful forum for an enlarged understanding of today's educational challenges, comedies and sadnesses. Outstanding! Daniel J. Maloney
Saint Paul, Minnesota
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