7th Grade Revolution: Imagine If You Will

Liana Gardner — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 13:00:08 +0000

There are some points in 7th Grade Revolution where the story may become a little fantastical … which is as it was intended. Because it makes it a fun read. But nothing stretches the bounds of credibility as much as a single moment I wrote into the story. As I mentioned last week in my post about The Dungeon, the entire 7th Grade trooped down to the basement to have a secret ballot vote and things got a bit noisy. In this moment, they have concluded their vote and are on their way back to the breakout rooms to discuss more of the policies for running the school.

When the kids leave the Dungeon, I feel like Rod Serling should walk out and say, “Imagine if you will, a hallway full of 7th Graders who are silent … You have now entered the Twilight Zone.” There you have it … the moment stretching the bounds of credibility. The scene just prior to the quiet hallway from 7th Grade Revolution

     After they had voted on all the issues, Maddie called for a short break. They’d go back to their groups to discuss the suggestions without a clear majority. Being pushed from behind, Rhonda nearly tripped again as they left the Dungeon. She scurried up the steps and cracked open the door to the hall.
     Prickles ran up her arms. Something wasn’t right.
     Despite the noise her classmates made behind her, the school felt too quiet. She closed the door again.
     Spencer glared at her. “What’s holding you up, Snot Rag? Hafta sneeze?”
Rhonda’s face burned — a combination of suppressed fury and embarrassment because she couldn’t explain. “Um.” She cleared her throat and spoke louder. “There’s something weird out there.” She’d never hear the end of it if she was wrong.

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7th Grade Revolution: The Humiliation of Rhonda Snodgrass

Liana Gardner — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 18:15:53 +0000

Of all the characters in 7th Grade Revolution, the one my inner twelve-year-old identified the most with was Rhonda Snodgrass. Smart, funny, individual thinker, reader, and definitely not one of the “IT” crowd. And klutz.

At twelve, I was an athlete — softball and swimming — and I couldn’t figure out how I could excel in things requiring hand/eye coordination and trip over a non-existent shoelace. MUCH later in life, I finally figured out that when doing activities not requiring any concentration, like walking from the kitchen to the family room, my brain feels free to wander so the chair leg my eyes see doesn’t register until after I have tripped over it.

Rhonda is the same when it comes to her klutziness … wrapped up in another world while moving through this one. A recipe for disaster in the making.

The scene from 7th Grade Revolution:

Rhonda picked up her things and hurried to the aisle. She tripped on the chair leg at the end of the row and fell flat. Ouch. It happened so fast she didn’t have a chance to break her fall. She put her hands flat on the floor next to her side and pushed up to a sitting position. Her boobs weren’t big, but falling on them hurt. A sneaker stood about two inches from her hand. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, afraid to see who she’d taken a pratfall in front of.

Dang. She’d flopped at Spencer Jackson’s feet.

“Way to go, Grace.” His arms shot out straight and he moaned. “Oooh. Zombies are coming to get you.” He stepped over her legs with a snicker.

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7th Grade Revolution: Imagine If You Will

7th Grade Revolution: The Humiliation of Rhonda Snodgrass