| Rating: | ★★★★ |
| Category: | Books |
| Genre: | Childrens Books |
| Author: | Gordon Korman |
DS9- 2 stars- I thought it was kinda of lame because an 8th grader drives a bus.
Me- 2.5 stars- I would have enjoyed this book much more if I hadn't read the last chapter. It sells out big time! I had expected the homeschooling stereotypes, but this kid is not just homeschooled but isolated from almost all other people. Most homeschoolers we know, ourselves included, are very much out and about, socializing with all kinds of people of many different ages. The main character in this book, Capricorn Anderson, is made into a completely naive, innocent creature. He doesn't know he's being picked on.
He does become the hero of the story, but the last chapter is so terrible, it ruins the glory.
I think DS12 enjoyed it because it gave him a look into what middle school life is like. The clicks, the bullying, the stress... it was all very factual. But what happens in that last chapter is completely out of character for the main character's grandmother.
I got the feeling, even after pointing out the many disadvantages of institutionalized education, the author didn't want to offend it. After painting such a truthful picture of school, he didn't really do the same for homeschooling. Homeschooling, even though it equipped Capricorn Anderson with the skills necessary to survive a drastic change in lifestyle, the author couldn't bring himself to write a better solution for Cap in the last chapter. It doesn't make smart sense to abandon what has worked out so well, and choose an option that has proven otherwise.
2 comments:
Sounds like an interesting book, I may have to go and read it
I read this book not long ago and thought it was good but full of terrible stereotypes which is, unfortunately, what middle school is all about. I felt the same way about the ending... Total sellout!!
Fast read, though, and most middle schoolers would probably like it ;-P
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