Schooled by Gordan Korman
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.22, 2009, under Battle of the Books 2009-2010, Bullying, Humorous, Real life, Sam's Reviews, Writing, YRCA
Who would like this book? Readers who like Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, fans of other Gordan Korman books, and people who are curious about what might happen when a sheltered, home-schooled hippie kid gets thrust into a middle school with entrenched bullying.
Why? Cap (short for Capricorn) has been raised by his free-thinking grandmother, Rain, on her defunct commune, Garland Farm. She has protected him from any taint of modern life, keeping him in innocence and steeped in her egalitarian philosophy. When Rain breaks her hip and must stay in the hospital for a lengthy convalescence, Cap is sent to live with a guidance counselor and begins attending Claverage (C average) Middle School. Zach Powers, the leading bully of the school, wastes no time in setting Cap up to be the biggest joke of the year by getting him elected as the 8th grade president. Cap, with no history of being bullied, responds to Zach’s malicious pranks in unanticipated ways. The result is vintage Korman: he makes you laugh, makes you cry, and makes you think. Also, Korman effectively shifts the narration from character to character without creating confusion. The narrative structure adds a lot to the book, allowing the reader to see the unfolding events from multiple points of view. It invites readers to consider writing other chapters from other points of view.
The details: 208 p. 2007 Review by Samrarian
YRCA nominee for 2010 and Battle of the Books selection for 2010
