NEW ROCHELLE, NY — More than 100 Isaac E. Young Middle School students entered the Spider-Verse recently, and returned to this realm a little wiser.
Teachers took sixth and seventh graders to see the movie “Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse” at New Roc City in downtown New Rochelle as part of an exploration of emotional growth. In the movie, they saw a more diverse take on the superhero, and a main character – Miles Morales – who deals with problems young people face, such as peer pressure.
Students also read, “Black Widow, Red Vengeance,” a 437-page novel from the Marvel Comics Universe. They were among the 12,000 books the Federation of United School Employees (FUSE) received in September to offer to community members through a partnership with the organization First Book and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Teachers Calvin Heyward and Claudia Gianserra are planning on setting up an on-line book club to discuss the novel.
For many of the students, thoughts about what it takes to be a real superhero had less to do with incredible strength or invisibility and more to do with the potential we all carry inside.
“To be a superhero you have to be brave and you have to face your problems head on,” said seventh-grader Soleene Garcia.
“Bravery, courage and selflessness,” were the traits of a superhero as listed by Oscar Ramirez, who also is in seventh grade.
“It takes bravery and resilience to be a superhero,” said sixth-grader Pedro Esquivel Lopez. “And, also a kind heart.”
The animated blockbuster movie they saw expands and twists the story of Spider-Man from the tale of Peter Parker to one filled with diverse variations on the arachnoid hero.
“It’s a coming-of-age story,” Heyward said. “Miles has to discover who he is and what his powers are.”
Some of the students said they have gained insight from the exploration, and that they see their community differently after viewing the movie.
“Yes,” seventh-grader Venessa Reyes answered, “because everyone has potential to do something great.”