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Product Description
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*Starred Review* Homeschooled on an isolated "alternate farm commune" that has dwindled since the 1960s to 2 members, 13-year-old Cap has always lived with his grandmother, Rain. When she is hospitalized, Cap is taken in by a social worker and sent—like a lamb to slaughter—to middle school. Smart and capable, innocent and inexperienced (he learned to drive on the farm, but he has never watched television), long-haired Cap soon becomes the butt of pranks. He reacts in unexpected ways and, in the end, elevates those around him to higher ground. From chapter to chapter, the first-person narrative shifts among certain characters: Cap, a social worker (who takes him into her home), her daughter (who resents his presence there), an A-list bully, a Z-list victim, a popular girl, the school principal, and a football player (who unintentionally decks Cap twice in one day). Korman capably manages the shifting points of view of characters who begin by scorning or resenting Cap and end up on his side. From the eye-catching jacket art to the scene in which Cap says good-bye to his 1,100 fellow students, individually and by name, this rewarding novel features an engaging main character and some memorable moments of comedy, tenderness, and reflection. Pair this with Jerry Spinelli's 2000 Stargirl (the sequel is reviewed in this issue) for a discussion of the stifling effects of conformity within school culture or just read it for the fun of it. Phelan, Carolyn
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Book Description
Capricorn (Cap) Anderson has never watched television. He's never tasted a pizza. Never heard of a wedgie. Since he was little, his only experience has been living on a farm commune and being home-schooled by his hippie grandmother, Rain. But when Rain falls out of a tree while picking plums and has to stay in the hospital, Cap is forced to move in with a guidance counselor and her cranky teen daughter and attend the local middle school.
While Cap knows a lot about tie-dying and Zen Buddhism, no education could prepare him for the politics of public school. Right from the beginning, Cap's weirdness makes him a moving target at Claverage Middle School (dubbed C-Average by the students). He has long, ungroomed hair; wears hemp clothes; and practises tai chi on the lawn. Once Zack Powers, big man on campus, spots Cap, he can't wait to introduce him to the age-old tradition at C-Average: the biggest nerd is nominated for class president—and wins.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put the book down,
This review is from: Schooled (Paperback)
I was recommended this book after reading Pop by Gordon Korman, and was not disappointed. This is a very light read, and I ended up finishing the entire novel in one sitting. The setting is unrealistic, and the situation is highly unlikely. All the same, Gordon Korman's wit and fantastic storytelling shine through. I very much enjoyed the plot, and the idea that an unlikely person can become a hero of sorts.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Book!!,
By Cedar Tea (Hamilton, Canada) - See all my reviews It is his unique personality and grounded values that both challenge him in the beginning and save him in the end. Would recommend this book to those homeschooled, unschooled, Waldorf or Montessori schooled as well as any one who has felt different, excluded unappreciated or has been hounded by bullies at school . It is a lovely lesson in integrity, being genuine and coming through tough situations with grace.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars (49 customer reviews) 54 of 58 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth reading! A middle school teacher's pick for summer reading.,
By Margaret Silver "teacher, parent, reader, edu... - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Schooled (Hardcover)
I came across "Schooled" at a local bookstore and picked it up. Two minutes into the novel I was hooked. With a tall glass of iced coffee, I sat down and read the entire book. The plot is simple--a 14 year old boy, Capricorn, is raised on a commune by his grandmother, a hippie he calls Rain. He is home schooled by Rain as the two of them are the only ones left on this commune/farm. Cap has little contact with the outside world, has never watched TV, handled money, or had a friend his age. When Rain falls while picking a plum, she is hospitalized. When he is temporarily placed in the home of a social worker with a teenage daughter--who hates him--and attends a local middle school, look out! Innocent and gullible child walks into the jungle of a middle school campus, creating many interesting eventsThe story is humorous, touching, and at times aggravating. Capricorn becomes the butt of all jokes, the campus geek. How he handles his exposure to the corrupt world is a wonderful story. Somehow he manages to change those around him yet retain his own values. While the ending was a bit contrived, it didn't take away from the plot. I highly recommend this one to all--but especially to middle school boys who are made to feel insecure if they don't conform to the expectations of the middle school culture. 18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Schooled,
By Serena P. Weeks "Megan Weeks" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Schooled (Hardcover)
I was under the impression that this book was about the sixties, when I read the other reviews posted here. Some people included quotes from the quintessential figures that were so effective and prominent in the 1960s, i.e. the Beatles. But, when I read "Schooled" by Gordon Korman (I got it for my thirteenth birthday) it wasn't really like that. It was about how the sixties affect us today, and how they defined a great deal of American society today, such as cynicism towards the government."Schooled" has an interesting and impossibly entertaining premise. Capricorn (Cap) Anderson is a homeschooled hippie kid living in a deadbeat 1960s eco-commune, Garland Farm, with his grandmother Rain. His grandmother has raised him and taught him all that she believes to be important, and tells him to be wary of the world that they are nearly disconnected from, save for trips into town for supplies. Rain keeps him close so the outside world will not taint him. So, as you can imagine, when Rain falls from a tree (she was picking plums) and breaks her hip and has to undergo six weeks of physical therapy, Cap is utterly and completely lost, innocent and unknowing of the normal middleschool hierarchy that exists in Claverage Middle School (dubbed C Average by students). He stays with a social worker, Mrs. Donnelly, who actually herself lived on Garland Farm at one time, running barefoot in peasant dresses and doing farm chores. Mrs. Donnelly takes Cap to live with her and her daughter, Sophie, at her home. It goes from there with Cap being terrorized by popular students, but, despite their obviously harmful intentions and downright meanness towards Cap, he never tries to get back at them, never gets angry or frustrated, only confused ("Why can't we all just get along?"), which becomes a endearing and pitiable quality to Cap. A hillarious aspect of the book is Cap fascination with Sophie Donnelly's favorite show, "Trigonometry and Tears", a tragic teen drama, and becomes involved with the fictional characters lives. Sophie could not care less for Cap: he scares away mostly everyone and disrupts her perfect, if not mundane, typical high school life. AND he won't keep his split ends on his side of the couch. "Schooled" is told in Cap's voice, and multiple students of C Average voices, as well as Mrs. Donnelly and Sophie Donnelly. The storytelling in fluid and compelling; it is very hard to put down. The story ends in a way that I had not expected and happily as well; which satisfied me. I had never read any of Gordon Korman's books until now, and I look forward to some more excellent and creative works that reflect how people effect each other. This book will appeal to both boys and girls, I think. Great book! 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Schooled by Gordan Korman,
By Theresa Collins - Published on Amazon.com
My son and I chose this as a title for our mother/son book club. It's the story of Capricorn Anderson, a boy who has been homeschooled his entire life. When his grandmother is involved in an unfortunate accident at the commune and won't be able to care for him for several weeks, he has to move in with another family and attend the local public middle school.Our sons are all tweeners; and although I don't think any of them liked the book in the beginning, they ended up liking it. All of the boys had to get the hang of how each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character. Various events in the story were great starting points for our discussion though, and they also wanted to talk about the parts of the story they each thought were funny. For me, it almost seemed like the middle school version of Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl. |
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