Have you ever been the new kid? Do you remember how hard it was to fit in? Even if you haven't, think about the first day of school? Do you stress about what to wear, if you have the right backpack/shoes/supplies, and who you would sit with at lunch?For Capricorn (Cap for short) Anderson, his first day might have been torture. But he didn't know any different. You see, even though he is an 8th grader, he has never attended public school, had a teacher other than his grandmother, watched television, or had any friends. Cap has lived his whole life on Garland Farms, a 1960s hippie compound, living off the land with Rain, his grandma. He wears cotton tie-dye clothes, has long flowing blonde hair, and wears natural corn husk shoes. He knows how to drive and can use duct tape to fix anything.
But when Rain falls out of a tree and breaks her hip, his whole world is turned upside down. Rain has to stay in rehab for 8 weeks and Cap can't stay alone. The social worker takes him in because she knows how hard it will be for him to adjust, since she lived at Garland when she was young.
When Cap shows up at Claverage (C Average) Middle School, he can't help but stand out. He doesn't know how to use a locker or even why you'd want to lock away your stuff. The unofficial rule is that the popular kids nominate the biggest nerd for 8th grade class president and spend the year torturing him. Cap immediately becomes their target. Will they break him or will Cap and his innocence loving ways turn the school around?
Why I picked up the book: I love the cover. CY is using it for their Spring One School One Book and it seemed like a good reason to finally pick it up. We will also use it for our middle school book club.
Why I finished it: It is a fast read. Makes you think about what is really useful and wasteful in our society and how we treat others. It took awhile to get used to the multiple narrators.
I'd give it to: anyone, especially middle schoolers.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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