Schooled

Capricorn Anderson, raised in a commune, is a child of the '60s--living in the 21st century. A full-cast production recounts his madcap transition from home school to public middle school. A number of characters tell the various parts of Cap's story, including members of his foster family and his classmates. Cap himself offers precocious reflections on the problems with modern society. Cap's character comes across as youthful and suitably na•ve, but some of the other adolescent voices sound too old. None of the narrators stand out, but no weak performances mar a seamless, well-modulated production. Older children who enjoy their school stories with tons of humor and heart will warm to Cap's story. C.A. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

February 1, 2008
Gr 6-9-Capricorn (Cap) Anderson, 13, has spent his entire life on a communal farm founded by his Grandmother Rain. When Rain falls out of a tree while picking fruit and is hospitalized, Cap is taken in by the social worker and enrolled in Claverage Middle School. The boy, who has had little contact with the outside world for many years, is thrust into the harsh realities of surviving middle school. A Claverage tradition is to vote the nerdiest kid as eighth-grade class president and then ridicule the winner. The popular clique focuses on Cap as soon as he hits their radar. What ensues is a story of how an outcast can change realities in surprising ways. Gordon Kormans novel (Hyperion, 2007), narrated by a full cast, is told from alternating perspectives, including the leader of the clique, the kid in class who escaped the vote as president, the social worker and her moody daughter, and other personalities to whom listeners will relate. The vocal acting is inconsistent, with some voices falling a little flat for their characters nature. On occasion, the volume levels of transitioning segments are uneven. The well-paced narration makes up for these drawbacks. A highlight is Andy Pariss voicing of Capricorn Anderson that will endear listeners to this quirky character.Stephanie A. Squicciarini, Fairport Public Library, NY

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.