One Good Year - by Laura Brodie (Paperback)

About the Book

"In a world where 'homeschooling' is so often misunderstood, discounted, and even ridiculed, Laura Brodie offers a clear-eyed view and makes a valuable contribution to the literature on the subject. This is necessary reading for anyone with an interest not just in homeschooling but in education generally." -- David Guterson

"As a parent involved in homeschooling, I highly recommend this book. It's timely, beautifully written, and must reading for anyone who has ever wondered what homeschooling is all about." -- James Grippando, author of Money to Burn

Humorous and heartfelt, this charming memoir tells of a year-long experiment in homeschooling in which the author decides to give her ten-year-old daughter a sabbatical from homework hell and the vicissitudes of one-size fits all traditional public school days.

Book Synopsis

"In a world where 'homeschooling' is so often misunderstood, discounted, and even ridiculed, Laura Brodie offers a clear-eyed view and makes a valuable contribution to the literature on the subject. This is necessary reading for anyone with an interest not just in homeschooling but in education generally."

"As a parent involved in homeschooling, I highly recommend this book. It's timely, beautifully written, and must reading for anyone who has ever wondered what homeschooling is all about."

Humorous and heartfelt, this charming memoir tells of a year-long experiment in homeschooling in which the author decides to give her ten-year-old daughter a sabbatical from homework hell and the vicissitudes of one-size fits all traditional public school days.

What happens when a mother and English professor becomes her own daughter's fifth-grade teacher for one unforgettable year?

• A Homeschooling Sabbatical: Follow a mother's decision to pull her ten-year-old from fifth grade for a temporary, one-year break from the pressures of standardized tests and homework overload.
• The Mother as Teacher: Discover the humorous and heartfelt challenges that arise when the lines blur between parent and educator, and the kitchen table becomes the classroom.
• Mother-Daughter Relationship: A candid look at how a year of one-on-one learning tests and ultimately strengthens the bond between a mother and her creative, strong-willed daughter.
• Rediscovering a Love of Learning: From disastrous violin lessons to inspiring field trips, this is an honest memoir about finding joy in education outside the traditional system.
• For Parents and Educators: A must-read for any parent who has ever wondered if there's a better way, offering valuable insights on the pros and cons of homeschooling.

From the Back Cover

After years of watching her eldest daughter, Julia, struggle in a highly regimented public school system, Laura Brodie was determined to teach her ten-year-old at home for a year. Although friends were skeptical and her husband predicted disaster, Brodie had visions of one ideal year of learning. But can one year of homeschooling make a difference? And what happens to the love between mother and daughter when fractions and spelling enter the relationship?

One Good Year is a funny and inspiring story of human foibles and human potential, in which love, anger, and hope mingle with reading, math, and American history.

Review Quotes

"The only thing worse than sending your child off on a bus each morning, might be keeping that child at home. But Laura Brodie manages the feat with wit, wisdom, and love, and some hard knocks along the way. Her story gives hope that there is more to life than long division." - Cameron Stracher, author of Dinner with Dad

"After decades of immersion in the modern homeschooling movement, I am convinced that love is vital to its successful practice, an ingredient ignored by homeschooling's critics and sometimes lost by practitioners in a search for the perfect curriculum, textbook, or field trip. Laura Brodie shines a spotlight on love as an essential ingredient, creating a well-earned space on all homeschoolers' bookshelves and, optimistically, on the bookshelves of all parents." - Linda Dobson, author of The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas

"Laura Brodie shines a spotlight on love as an essential ingredient [in homeschooling], creating a well-earned space on all homeschoolers' bookshelves and, optimistically, on the bookshelves of all parents." - Linda Dobson, author of The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas

"The only thing worse than sending your child off on a bus each morning might be keeping that child at home. But Brodie manages the feat with wit, wisdom, love, and some hard knocks along the way. Her story gives hope that there is more to life than long division." - Cameron Stracher, author of Dinner with Dad

"Brodie's fine book explores both the failures of our modern educational systems and the possibilities of new ways to teach children to learn and to love to learn. Her story is funny, heart-cracking and ultimately profoundly educational. I recommend this book to all parents and educators who have ever thought-I wish things could be different." - Mary Pipher, author of Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World

"The publication of an intelligent book on education outside of institutions is rare indeed, so I welcome this one. In a world where 'homeschooling' is so often misunderstood, discounted, and even ridiculed, Laura Brodie offers a clear-eyed view and makes a valuable contribution to the literature on the subject. This is necessary reading for anyone with an interest not just in homeschooling but in education generally." - David Guterson, author of The Other and Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense

"Engaging, unpredictable. . . . No rosy manifesto to homeschooling, nor a condemnation, but a real-life encounter, full of stormy battles, power struggles and, most of all, passion. There are moments of pedagogic beauty. . . . Graceful and charming." - Kirkus Reviews

"In a world where homeschooling is so often misunderstood, discounted, and even ridiculed, Laura Brodie offers a clear-eyed view and makes a valuable contribution to the literature on the subject. This is necessary reading for anyone with an interest not just in homeschooling but in education generally." - David Guterson, author of The Other and Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense

"Funny, heart-cracking and ultimately profoundly educational. I recommend this book to all parents and educators who have ever thought-I wish things could be different." - Mary Pipher, author of Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World

"As a parent involved in homeschooling, I highly recommend this book. It's timely, beautifully written, and must reading for anyone who has ever wondered what homeschooling is all about-and it would make a great gift for all your friends who think they know!" - James Grippando, author of Money to Burn

"Love in a Time of Homeschooling, a touching glimpse into a mother-daughter relationship, will inspire you to foster a love of learning no matter what your schooling choice may be." - Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder