Although it is not often that an author gets to see scenes from his book acted out, WW-P teacher Bob Krech will see Pirate Players actors dramatizing his book in a reader’s theater event at Barnes and Noble on Wednesday, January 17, at 7 p.m. Krech is the author of “Rebound,” a story about a 17-year-old white boy trying to fit into a predominantly black world of high school basketball. Books will also be available for autographing at the event.##M:[more]##
The idea for the book began a few years ago while he was sitting with high school students discussing issues about race and diversity. He realized that things had not changes much since he was in high school in the early 1970s.
Krech was raised in Lawrence Township, graduated from Rutgers University with both undergraduate and graduate degrees in elementary education. He has worked overseas in Scotland and Saudi Arabia and in South Jersey, and since the 1980s he has taught elementary grades and been the assistant principal.
His present job is that of elementary resource teacher for all of the WW-P elementary schools. As a teacher coach, he goes into classrooms, helps with team teaching, and consults with teachers.
He lives in Lawrence with his wife Karen, an ESL teacher at Hawk School; and their children Andrew, 16, and Faith, 14, both students at Princeton Day School. While the family did not help write in the books, Krech admits that sitting down at dinner and talking about their day has fed his imagination.
“Race has been an issue in this country forever — and some issues remain the same,” he says. “I wanted to get away from the many books you read where there is a villain — and he’s a racist. People are more multi dimensional.”
The book centers around basketball in high school and includes people that we all know. “Sports is a place where people of different races come together where they may not ordinarily be together. If someone makes a joke, do you walk away or say I don’t want to hear that?” he says. “What do we do about it?” According to Krech everyone finds their own answer and there are times when you have to give up a friendship.
A few months ago he realized that scenes in the book may be a good vehicle for Pirate Players, a group of students presenting drama about issues that students can relate to. He spoke with Don Gilpin, the advisor of the High School South group and a language arts teacher at the school. They agreed there were several scenes in the book for the students to dramatize. Most of the dialogue will be the same as in the book, Krech says.
Bob Krech, Barnes & Noble, MarketFair, West Windsor, 609-716-1570. www.bn.com. Author of “Rebound,” his new book about a 17-year-old white boy trying to fit into a predominantly black world of high school basketball. Students from High School South perform skits based on the book. Wednesday, January 17, 7 p.m.
