Schooled By Gordon Korman

What happens when you take a 13 year old who has been raised in a commune by his grandmother who has kept him sheltered from the modern conveniences of life and thrust him into middle school? This is what happens in Schooled, a novel by Gordon Kormon.

Home schooled on an isolated "alternative farm commune," which has dwindled down to two members, 13-year-old Cap is forced to find out when his grandmother is hospitalized following an accident. Smart and capable, innocent and inexperienced, Cap already knows how to drive, but has never seen a television show, watched a movie, or interacted with other kids. Add in the fact that he wears homemade clothes and shoes, has long hair, and practices tai chi on a daily basis, and his weirdness makes him the biggest nerd on campus. When the most popular kid named Zach nominates him as class president, znhonor traditionally given to the biggest loser in the school. But naive Cap has no idea it's all a joke and takes his duties seriously.

What's really interesting about this book is the chapters are told from the perspectives of different characters, so readers see Cap's story from different points of view. Moments in the story make you feel really sorry for Capricorn, like when the popular kids place a dead bird in his locker (Cap hold a funeral for it in front of the school) or give him ridiculous assignments like memorizing the name of every student in the school (Immediately Cap begins studying the yearbook). But readers also find themselves rooting for Cap as he starts to make friends and the kids begin to realize just because someone is different, does not mean he can't be cool in his own way.

This is such a great read for pre-teens. Parents of home schooled kids have criticized the book as being unrealistic because home school kids are not that isolated these days and they do have social interactions outside of the home, but this book has a really good message for all kids, whether they are in the in-crowd or taunted by it.

This is a great read for any middle school student. The book is funny and the characters are ones kids can relate to. Even kids who don't like to read this much will probably enjoy this book. I read it in just a few hours as I had a hard time putting it down once I started reading it.

Arizona Moon: A Great Book For Boys

picked up this book at the recommendation of a 12 year old who said I had to read it because it was the best book. He told me a bit about the story and I was intrigued so I headed to my local Barnes and Noble and grabbed a copy.

Looking at the cover, I was immediately intrigued by a question at the bottom of the cover, "Who says a ten year old can't survive on his own?" Apparently no one who reads about Moon Blake, the ten year old in this debut novel by writer Watt Key.

Moon and his father have been living in the woods in a shelter his dad built for as long as he can remember because he does not trust the government. His mother died when he was very young and Moon has been taught by his dad how to live off the land and are doing quite well until his dad dies. Before doing so, his dad tells him to take the money he has hidden and go to Alaska to find people like them. The only problem is Moon really has no idea what the real world is like and no idea how to get to Alaska. When a local store owner who knows Moon finds out what has happens, he believes he is doing what is best for Moon by tipping off authorities and having Moon taken off to a juvenile home. His stay is short lived though and he soon breaks out with other kids in tow, determined to set out for Alaska.

Moon's survival skills keep him and his accomplice (The others turn around fairly quickly to return to the juvenile home) a step ahead of the police trying to track him. At the same time, Moon is realizing that he likes to have the company of others around him at times and wonders if perhaps his dad was wrong to distrust the government so much.

As I read this (which I did in just a few hours), I found myself silently rooting for Moon to succeed and laughing at the ingenious things he did to keep ahead of the police chasing him.

This book is very well written and it left me wanting more. I really hope this author decides to write a sequel. This is a fantastic book for pre-teen boys, ages 10-14. Fans of Gary Paulsen'sHatchet series will especially enjoy it. It would make a great gift for a young teen boy in your life and it's a great read-aloud for teachers in grades 4-8 who want to share it with their class.