Schooled by Gordon Korman

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Themes: Coming of Age, Middle School, Politics
Grade Level: 6-8
Curriculum Connections: History (1960s, Peace), Social Studies (Stereotypes), Religion (Do unto others)

Schooled could take place in my middle school, readers will think. Capricorn, raised on a commune left over from the 1960s, is suddenly thrust into suburban middle school life when his grandmother and only other resident of Garland Farm falls and breaks her hip. All the regular stereotypes of middle school are present, but the author uses numerous narrators to take the reader inside the head of each stereotypical student. Readers get to see (and understand) the motivation of each of the characters and the changes that take place within them.

Cap slowly wins over his classmates after being elected - as a joke - class president. It isn't anything he does. He simply is his normal, naive self, and his innocent behavior slowly attracts followers. This, of course, totally amazes the popular kids, who act in a way that is supposed to be popular. When they begin losing their status, they try dragging Cap down rather than building themselves up.

Classroom Suggestions:

1. Students in small groups could each study a different character, preferably a character that fits a different stereotype than themselves, and try to understand what it is like to be a person like that in school. Groups could report on the emotions inside characters and the motivation behind their actions. This would be a great Religion unit, studying "whatever you do to the least of these my brothers, that you do unto me." Students would recognize in their own beliefs what makes others lesser than themselves, learn how others feel, and relate this to how Jesus commands us to act.