It Wasn't Me
Page 21
In closing, we respectfully inform you that this Justice Circle worked. We got to the truth, and learned that the truth isn’t as simple as we thought. There’s a lot more to each of us than meets the eye. We know you wondered if there was any point to this Justice Circle. Please look closely at this photo. Does it answer your question?
Sincerely,
The Justice Club
I always start a book alone in my head and end it with a full team of people. I count on them for everything from not letting me set my first draft on fire to fixing my horrible (mis)use of commas and ellipses. Writing books is a team sport, for sure.
Huge thanks and awkwardly long hugs for the first responders: my longtime critique partners who are there every single step of the process from “hey, I think I have an idea” to “OMG my author copies have arrived!” These patient and incredibly talented women read early drafts, help mull and brainstorm, talk me out of my tree when the writing is going badly, and celebrate all the milestones along the (very long) road from idea to book. Kate “Okay, But What If…” Boorman, Rachael “I FORGOT ABOUT SOCK PUPPETS” Allen, Alina “Read Me Bedtime Stories Forever” Klein, and Jen “This Time We’re Really Going to Write” Malone, I am so grateful. While we don’t have a holiday cookie swap or a watercooler to hang around, having you as my virtual office mates makes everything better.
Next in line is the forever MVP Marietta Zacker and the rest of the Gallt & Zacker Literary team. Marietta, you are my sister from another mister, and I am so grateful for your guidance, wisdom, and friendship. And laughter. And teenager commiseration. Thank you for getting my sense of humor, for working to make books that will change the world, and for saying to me, gently and with great kindness, “Dude, sometimes you just have to write the book.” Amen.
And of course I need a shout-out to the gang at Delacorte Press/Random House. Beverly Horowitz read a draft of what became my debut novel back in 2012 and has let me make up ridiculous stories ever since. Thanks to Krista Vitola, who bought It Wasn’t Me when it was just a synopsis, and to Kelsey Horton, who took it from an idea to a finished book. And a special thanks to the copy editors, Colleen Fellingham, Alison Kolani, and Tricia Callahan, who dealt with my writing tics (“I mean,” “I mean,” “I mean”) and made everything read better. Also big hugs to Bobby McKenna and Nicole Gastonguay, who created such a cool cover, and Josh Redlich and the publicity department, who help people know that I wrote a book.
And thanks of course to my family: Patrick, Noah, and Isabel. I write truer, braver, kinder, and better books because of you.
Finally, this book is dedicated to the educators—in my family, in my kids’ classrooms, and around the country—for a reason. The teen and tween years are never easy, and middle school is, for many of us, a time when we commit to our definitions of ourselves as jocks, brains, or, most worryingly, screwups or good kids. I am so grateful for all of you who push our kids to look past those easy definitions, to question not only their classmates but themselves and what they are capable of. Thank you for doing the work.
This book started with two very different idea sparks that have nothing to do with each other. First, there’s the seriously awesome 1980s teen movie The Breakfast Club. If you haven’t seen it, see it, because, like I said, it’s seriously awesome and has probably the best quotes of any movie ever (with the possible exception of The Princess Bride). But second, there’s a model of dealing with community conflict called restorative practice, or restorative justice, that keeps bubbling up in my life. And while It Wasn’t Me isn’t a book about restorative justice, the Justice Circle that Ms. Lewiston leads is very much influenced by it.
Most basically, restorative practice seeks to resolve conflicts or even proactively avoid conflicts by making sure everyone in a community is heard and valued. The goal is to repair the harm rather than just punish the person who inflicted it. This means that when a problem arises, instead of focusing on who’s responsible and how to punish them, restorative justice seeks ways for the person who caused the harm to make amends so everyone involved can move forward.
Versions of restorative justice are used in schools, court systems, and all kinds of communities around the world. The model that is currently used in courts and schools started around forty years ago and is partially based on indigenous and tribal justice models that go back much farther but are also still widely used today in tribal nations across Canada and the United States.
So what does this all have to do with books for kids (or The Breakfast Club)? A lot, really. One of the biggest challenges for teens and tweens is the feeling of being judged, of being only whatever your teachers or classmates see on the outside. Whether they see a nerd or a jock, an overachiever or a weirdo, a screwup or a victim, doesn’t matter. Whether we like the image we’re showing the world or hate it really doesn’t matter either. Because none of us is only one thing. All of us are more than meets the eye.
So for years, as I’ve watched my own kids’ struggles in school, and watched incredible young friends battle to redefine themselves and grow, I’ve thought about how much we still need to learn. In schools, zero-tolerance models and harsh punishments often don’t help an individual kid, or the rest of the community. Restorative justice isn’t an easy answer, but it offers everyone, no matter how they see themselves or how other people see them, the chance to change their story.
If you’re curious to learn more, there are great organizations that work in schools and communities. Just search the internet for restorative justice in schools to find case studies, training, and more. Some places to start include:
centerforrestorativeprocess.com
restorativejustice.org
Dana Alison Levy was raised by pirates but escaped at a young age and went on to earn a degree in aeronautics and puppetry. Actually, that’s not true—she just likes to make things up. That’s why she has always wanted to write books. Her books have garnered starred reviews, been named to multiple Best Of lists, and were Junior Library Guild selections. Also, her kids like them. Dana was last seen romping with her family in Massachusetts. If you need to report her for excessive romping or if you want to know more, head to danaalisonlevy.com or follow her on Twitter at @danaalisonlevy.
What’s next on
your reading list?
Discover your next
great read!
* * *
Get personalized book picks and up-to-date news about this author.
Sign up now.