Summary
Gordon Korman's Schooled follows the story of Capricorn Anderson, a young teenager who grew up on a hippie commune with his grandmother. He spent his childhood with very little time in contact with the outside world. When his grandmother breaks her hip and has to stay in a hospital and in therapy for a long time, he goes to stay with his caseworker and her daughter in a nearby town. The caseworker was raised on the commune and understands the issues Cap will have adjusting to the transition. He has to go to a public school and experiences things like bullying for the first time but is stoic throughout due to his hippie upbringing. Cap is elected 8th grade president as a joke, but takes the position seriously. He begins planning the Halloween dance and is introduced to the magic (but not the realities) of a checking account. When Cap leaves suddenly with his now-healed grandmother and the Halloween dance in cancelled due to issues with the student checking account, a rumor spreads that Cap is dead. Some of the students hold a memorial for him, which he attends and uses as an opportunity to connect with each one of the students. Shortly thereafter, Cap's grandmother sees the importance of being in contact with the outside world, sells the commune, and Cap is able to return to his middle school.
My Impressions
In general, I liked this book. The characters tell the story from first person perspective, with each speaker getting their own chapter. This structure makes for an interesting read and the students' voices seem like authentic 13ish speakers. I like how the book progresses with Cap winning over his fellow students even though some of the things he does (like tai chi on the school lawn) are kinda different. The one thing I did not like about the book was the ending. At the end, grandmother Rain sells the commune land to a developer for 17 mil, buys a fancy car and designer clothes, and has plans to move the two former hippies into a condo. Even though she says she intends to use the money for good, it seems like it is a betrayal of the hippie values she raised Cap with. It just didn't seem realistic. If students don't examine that part of the book too critically, it is a fun little book.
Reviews
Canadian Children's Book News reviewer Gillian O'Reilly didn't seem to have an issue with the ending, calling the book "vintage Korman with adept observation of the world of middle school, a well-plotted story and lots of humour" (O'Reilly, 2008). Booklist reviewer Carolyn Phelan agreed, noting that this "rewarding novel features an engaging main character and some memorable moments of comedy, tenderness, and reflection" (Phelan, 2007).
Use in a library
Because this book looks at so many different things, it could be used as part of several different library programs. It could be paired with readings, fiction or non-fiction, about the hippie movement. Crafty librarians can even engage students in the tye-dying exercise Cap uses to unite the student body. This book could also be part of a unit on bullying to get kids talking about that issue. Phelan suggests pairing it with "Jerry Spinelli's 2000 Stargirl...for a discussion of the stifling effects of conformity within school culture," which is something I am sure middle schoolers can relate to (Phelan, 2007).
References
Korman, G. (2007). Schooled. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.
O'Reilly, G. (2008). Schooled. Canadian Children's Book News:34. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center.
Phelan, C. (2007). Schooled. Booklist:71. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center.
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