Schooled by Gordon Korman

Characters: Cap, Rain, Mrs. Donnelly, Sofia, Daryl, Hugh, Zach

Themes:  Friendship, Family, Courage, Perseverance

Summary:

Capricorn (Cap) is lives on a commune with his grandma named Rain. She also homeschools him. Rain gets seriously injured and is forced to stay in the hospital. Mrs. Donnelly, a social workers, asks Cap to stay with her and her daughter Sofia. His first day of school, Cap meets the school’s bully, Zach. Zach decides he’s going to nominate Cap as president. This way they can manipulate him, bully him and cause him to get a mental breakdown. School is bad, finding a dead bird in his locker and home is bad too.

Cap saves the day by driving the school bus, because the driver keeled over. The school rallies for Cap and his popularity grows.  The only two people that hate him now are Zack and Hugh. Cap gets in the middle of a fight between Daryl and Zach and is taken to the hospital. Everyone thinks he is dead so they have a candlelight vigil to memorialize Cap. Cap shows up that and everyone cheers.  Rain is observing everything. She sells Garland and Cap can return to school with all his new friends.

The lesson from Schooled is that no matter your background, situation or home life. Being yourself id always best. Cap was himself and he won everyone over with his kindness. At the end of the book, he has new friends.