Gordon Korman has made his name writing about funny characters doing even funnier things; and the great things that come out of it. Schooled is one of my favorite books because of its honesty and its total shattering of normal social norms and attitudes, all through the simple love of a modern hippie.

Gordon Korman’s books fall into two main categories: Humor/human greatness and adventure. This falls into the first category, and these are my favorite books that Korman writes. He is just a master at creating believable characters that change our picture of the world and stick with us forever.

Summary

Cap Anderson is a thirteen year-old boy who lives with his grandmother Rain on a hippie farm. Rain was the leader of the local hippies movement back in the day, and she and Cap are still living it even though everyone else has deserted them.

Cap doesn’t go to a normal school (and never has) because he is being homeschooled by his grandmother. Unfortunately, however, all of this changes when Rain falls out of a tree and hurts herself. Until Rain can recover, Cap is taken under foster care and goes to a regular school.

Very regular, in fact. “C Average” Middle School, as the students call it, is a complete unknown for Cap. Cap is totally entrenched in his own hippie world, and has never even turned on a TV. He knows nothing about the ravages of junior high.

He finds out before too long, however. Zach Powers, the BMOC (big man on campus) singles him out as a fun target to bully. He elects Cap the eighth grade class president (the honor always goes to the biggest nerd), and leads him to fake meetings.

Cap, however, refuses to be phased. He doesn’t get angry at Zach, and in his innocence does a lot of great actions. These range from writing huge sums of money to charities on blank school checks to saving an ailing bus driver by driving without a license.

Before long, people begin to admire Cap and he also starts becoming more in tune with them. While he doesn’t care about their world, he knows that it means a lot to them, and that’s what matters to him as well.

Cap is also helped by Mrs. Donnelly, his foster mother. She was actually brought up on Rain’s commune, so she knows exactly what Cap is going through when he tries to function in the normal world.

A series of events lead people to believe that Cap is dead, but of course he is not; he’s just going to live with Rain. Or is he? Will he settle back into hippie life on the farm, or will he and Rain branch out to the outside world?

Review

This is an awesome book. Cap is a really identifiable character just because of how good a person he is. In fact, he is so good a person that he rises to the top of his middle school and makes those who try to attack him look like idiots.

This book also switches which character narrates based on the chapter, which introduces us to a lot of different perspectives and makes us understand the characters better. All of the characters are engaging and dynamic.

This book is hilarious, with all kinds of jokes riddled throughout. It also teaches a strong lesson, however. Cap’s simple kindness and good attitude completely changes his school and inspires everyone in it. Cap is a person we can all learn from.

Some people have criticized this book because they think it stereotypes homeschoolers. I was homeschooled for a total of a couple years, however, and I can’t agree. Cap is a hippie, not just any regular homeschooled boy. This book has nothing to do with homeschooling.

If you decide this book, you’ll be in for quite an adventure. This book is funny yet suspenseful, sad yet inspiring. Kids around fifth to ninth grade will love this book.

Buy the book

 

Thanks so much for reading this review! To get more book reviews for kids, just enter your email below.

Get updates!

Name:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

Email Marketing by AWeber