Secret Kindness Agents

As a public high school staff member (librarian) I found this book to be inspiring. Our school has recently implemented several programs to boost the emotional and social health of the school- I could see several of our very involved teachers and counselors implementing something similar to Secret Kindness Agents and recommended the book to them to read.

Like the previous book I read in this category, this is a fascinating account of how given the right incentive and drive you can get teenagers to do something that will benefit not just them, but those around them. Written by their teacher, who came up with most of the objectives and plans, but it’s especially intriguing when the kids come up with the ideas themselves. Wish it had been longer, but what there is here is gold

Honestly, I wish everyone could take 30 minutes out of one day and just read as much of this book as they can during that time. It's a simply written, quick read, but it packs a powerful emotional wallop! I cried through much of the first part of the book, but they were happy tears. The feelings expressed by these young students, their enthusiasm to take on the Kindness project, their working together to make it a consistent, ongoing thing, rather than just a sporadic, sometimes, volunteer thing...They had such an impact on me! I think the basic ideas expressed in the book are very true: it really doesn't take much to turn someone's day around, and the world needs more kindness. Very gentle, very small ideas...but these very gentle, very small ideas have a ton of power to make a difference both in the life of the give and in the life of the receiver. The motivation for the students came in the wake of the school shooting at Sandy Hook, and the idea that perhaps if the shooter had received more kindness in his life, he wouldn't have made the choices he did. Of course we know there are many factors in any mass shooting, but at it's core, this very basic premise is designed to put kindness and joy into the world, and maybe, just maybe there could be a ripple effect that could reduce some of the negativity and violence that is becoming all too common on the evening news. This book is full of hope and promise, and I love that teenagers--often self absorbed and wrapped up in their own drama--got involved, focused on others, and spent a few minutes every week looking for ways to help others. It sounds like the project made a giant difference in the tone and general attitude around the whole school and that many students, teachers, and administrators were positively affected. I can't think of a better way to try and effect change that is easily implemented and can so simply and quickly positively effect so many. This quick read should become a must read for anyone that works in our education, public or religious sector. Anyone working with groups...Tiny changes can and do make a big difference.

This classroom project of random acts of kindness starting in a younger school setting is brilliant. Loved the idea and how well it was received. This book definitely makes you think that if every class did this, maybe, just maybe, bullies would disappear altogether. An great introduction to an idea that I feel should be a part of every school.

ARC-Netgalley