Schooled

Korman, G. (2007). Schooled. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.

Plot Summary:
Capricorn Jackson was born and raised on a commune called Garland Farm. He remembers other people living there when he was younger, but for the last few years, it was only he and Rain, his grandma and homeschooling teacher. When Rain falls out of a tree and breaks her hip, Capricorn is placed with child services while she heads to physical therapy for a few months. His case worker happens to have also lived on Garland Farms and decides to take Cap home to live with she and her teenage daughter. Cap starts going to school at Claverage School, or C Average School as the kids like to call it. It is customary for the eighth grade class to vote the least popular student in as the class president each year. As soon as Cap shoes up with his waist length hair, tie dyed clothing, and homemade sandals, it was clear who this year’s president is going to be. The popular kids used Cap’s lack of knowledge about life outside of the commune to their advantage. They made life as difficult for him as they could. But, when Cap saves the bus driver having a heart attack to the hospital, getting himself arrested in the process, the kids in the school begin to have a whole new outlook on him. All of a sudden more and more kids are interested in doing tai chi and tie dye with Cap. As his popularity grows and Cap's lack of knowledge of the real world gets himself in some financial trouble, his grandmother gets better and takes him back to Garland Farms. But, now that Cap has had a taste of friendships and reality television, will he be content with his quiet secluded life with Rain?

Review:
This book was recommended to me as a book tween boys would be interested in reading. It was a funny book, with an original concept. The innocence and naivety of Cap as he navigates this new world he has been kept from is what makes this book funny. I enjoyed the sweet touch of Cap learning all eleven hundred of his classmates' names. Without trying, and by simply being himself, Cap captured the attention and respect of his classmates. I liked that the chapters were each narrated by different characters in the book and from their own point of view, but at times I would have to flip back to see who was narrating that particular chapter because I would forget whose perspective was being shared.

Genre:
realistic fiction, humor

Reading Level:
Ages 9 - 12

Subjects/Themes:
bullies, popularity, homeschooling

Character Names/Descriptions:
Capricorn Anderson (Cap): 13 year-old boy; grew up on a hippie commune, Garland Farm, with his grandmother; moves in with Mrs. Donnelly and her daughter; becomes eighth grade president of Claverage School
Rachel Esther Rosenblatt (Rain): Cap's grandmother; breaks her hip and is unable to take care of Cap for a few months; head of hippie commune
Floramundi Donnelly: Cap's caseworker; grew up on Garland Farm; divorced; has 16 year-old daughter; takes in Cap
Sophie Donnelly: pretty, popular girl; Cap lives with her and her mother while his Rain is recovering; thinks Cap is a freak and is mean to him at first; Cap is attracted to Sophie
Zach Powers: eighth grade captain of various sports teams; popular kid; bullies Cap by making him eighth grade president
Hugh Winkleman: Cap took his place as least popular student at Claverage School; was Cap's first friend
Naomi Erlanger: popular girl at Cap's school; at first likes Zach and helps him bully Cap; eventually falls for Cap

Annotation:
Having grown up on a commune, secluded from everything outside of his simple life shared with his grandmother, Capricorn Anderson is suddenly forced to attend a regular middle school. His lack of knowledge about the real world makes Cap an easy target for bullies, but his kindness eventually wins over the school.

Zombiekins

Bolger, K. (2010). Zombiekins. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Plot Summary:
Stanley Nudelman lives in a town no different than any other, except for the witch living on Shadow Lane, or at least that's what Stanley thinks she's a witch. He stops by her garage sale one day and finds a little stuffed animal in a box. The stuffed animal is unlike anything he's ever seen; it's part bunny, part teddy bear, and part lizard, with fangs. Mrs. Imavitch, the woman holding the garage sale, tells Stanley that he must pay attention to the instructions on the box and gives him some taffy telling him, "you never know vhen it might come in handy." Of course he doesn't read the box and he takes the stuffed animal to school. It immediately runs off and starts biting children, who then bite other children, creating an entire school of zombies. It is up to Stanley and his best friend Miranda to find the stuffed animal and reverse what's been done.

Review:
This is a very funny and quick read. Young readers will enjoy all of the jokes about the teachers in the book. It's full of clever names, such as "Mrs. Imavitch," the scary widow, or "Jacques Straap," the P.E. teacher. I think that this book would snag a lot of readers who are not typically interested in reading with its humor and horror. The illustrations are a fun addition to the book; the author using these illustrations at times to tell the story, rather than write it out. I think this would definitely be a winner among reluctant readers because of its popular subject and the fact that it is a quick read.

Genre:
Humor, horror

Reading Level:
Ages 8 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
zombies, bullies

Character Names/Descriptions:
Stanley Nudelman: young boy who finds Zombiekins at a witch's garage sale, best friends with Miranda, gets bullied by Knuckles Bruzkowski.
Miranda: Stanley's best friend, tries to get Stanley to stand up for himself, helps him with the zombie situation
Zombiekins: stuffed animal found by Stanley at garage sale; part bunny, part teddy bear, part lizard, with fangs; turns all the stuffed animals at Stanley's house and the kids at his school into zombies
Knuckles Bruzkowski: big sixth grader, bullies Stanley, gets turned into a zombie

Annotation:
Stanley finds an odd little stuffed animal at a garage sale, but when he doesn't follow the instructions on the box the stuffed animals begins turning all of Stanley's classmates into zombies. It is up to Stanley to rescue his classmates and capture the zombie toy.

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword

Deutsch, B. (2010). Hereville: How Mirka got her sword. New York, NY: Amulet Books.

Plot Summary:
Mirka is an eleven year old girl living in Hereville, an Orthodox Jewish community. Mirka has less interest in knitting and the responsibilities of a girl her age and more interest in fighting dragons. While on her way to school one day Mirka discovers a house she had never seen before, at the house is a floating woman (a witch) and a pig (pigs are strictly forbidden in Hereville). Mirka is chased down by the pig for stealing a grape from the house, but then saves the pig from bullies in her neighborhood. For this, the witch gives Mirka an award, a sword for battling dragons. Mirka must battle a troll in order to win her reward. With the wisdom of her stepmother and the guidance of her deceased mother, Mirka seeks out the troll.

Review:
Mirka is a wonderful female role model. She is witty, intelligent, and strong. Like many girls her age, she constantly has the internal battle of doing what she wants and what her family expects her to do. This book integrates Orthodox Jewish traditions and Yiddish words, providing meanings and an explanation for each. It is wonderfully educational and entertaining at the same time. The illustrations are great, especially the way in which many are oriented on the page. I have never read or seen anything like this graphic novel. I loved it.

Genre:
graphic novel, fantasy

Reading Level:
Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
Jewish, family, loss, bullies

Character Names/Descriptions:
Mirka Hirschberg: eleven year old girl, dreams about slaying dragons, likes to argue with her stepmother, strong willed, and intelligent

Fruma: Mirka's stepmother, smart woman, likes to outwit her children

Zindel: Mirka's younger brother, tries to keep Mirka in line

Annotation:
The strong willed Mirka struggles between living out her fantasies of battling dragons and trolls and living up to her role within her Orthodox Jewish community.