Sixth graders get a taste of college life in Schooled, an insightful and absorbing coming-of-age middle-grade novel by Jamie Sumner (Roll with It).
Six months ago, 11-year-old Lenny's mom died of skin cancer. Since then, Lenny and his dad, Professor Benjamin Syms, have struggled to navigate their relationship. Now, they are moving from New Jersey to Lewis Hall on the campus of Arrington University in Tennessee, where his dad teaches. At the college Lenny attends the experimental "Copernican School," composed entirely of four other sixth graders who are the children of Arrington faculty. The classes and "hippie-dippie meetings"--which include subjects like philosophy and group visualization--are led by the kids' parents. As can be expected from a school with no chairs, tables, or desks, the teachers "aren't here to hand you the answers"--Lenny and his classmates are expected to take charge and lead their own studies. Lenny does form tentative friendships and learn about topics that interest him, but he also struggles with his grief and finding his place in a lonely world.
Schooled is a fascinating exploration of education, sorrow, and the tensions of adolescence. Lenny loves the freedom his mostly unsupervised education allows, but despite the school's lofty goals, Lenny and the other kids all still struggle. Sumner brilliantly imagines a caring alternate educational path yet highlights the universal nature of insecurity and stress; Schooled is a heartfelt reminder that growing up can be painful but, luckily, it doesn't have to be done alone. --Kyla Paterno, freelance reviewer