Schooled, by Gordon Korman

Cap (short for Capricorn) Anderson has never been to school. Home-schooled on Garland Farm, a farm commune now populated by only Cap and grandmother Rain, he has never watched TV, never faced comptition, never seen a doctor for people. (Doc Cafferty, the local vet, stitched Cap up once.) Cap knew nothing of modern life.

When Rain broke her hip and ended up in rehab, Cap was sent to live with a social worker and attend the local middle school. There he learned about classmates, lockers, cafeteria lunches, spitballs He learned what it was like to be considered odd, for his haircut, clothes, straw sandals, and to feel ridicule from classmates.

Almost immediately Cap was nominated and elected class president. He had no idea that the most geeky student was always targeted for 8th grade class president, or that responsibilities went with the job -- planning the 8th grade dance and managing class funds. He did not realize people were laughing at him.

Suddenly powerful, with a check book and several thousand dollars, Cap wrote checks to charities and worthy people, not knowing he should pay for the DJ and refreshments. Suddenly the principal discovers that class funds are gone. . . and Cap disappears. Classmates have questions; the school is in an uproar. Read Schooled and meet a boy similar to Stargirl Caraway.

Submitted by Mrs. Stone Dec. 2007