Schooled

Gr 5-7–A quirky exploration of grief and the unexpected ways kids work through life’s challenges. Eleven-year-old Lenny and his Latin professor father are still processing the loss of Lenny’s mother to cancer. When his father gets a new job at Arrington University, Lenny is enrolled in an unconventional educational experiment: the Copernican School. Taught by university faculty, this diverse, five-student collective meets on campus. With a weekly schedule that includes “Self-Care Mondays,” “Library Fridays,” and college class audits midweek, students are given the freedom to explore their interests and develop a year-long research project. Initially uninterested, Lenny gradually forms meaningful connections with his classmates: the kind and intuitive Hen, football-obsessed Mak, beauty-loving Allison, and quiet David. The heart of the story lies in Lenny’s developing relationship with VW, a literature professor teaching a course on fairy tales. Although Lenny doesn’t know it yet, VW is a fellow mourner. Their conversations about mythology and storytelling inspire Lenny to channel his emotions into creating a comic book featuring Anubis, the Egyptian god of the afterlife. When VW disappears, Lenny is moved to action. With nods to cartoonist Scott McCloud and themes of healing through shared stories, this is a brainy and offbeat novel. Among the numerous middle grade books that deal with grief, this one has a unique take on loss, friendship, and self-discovery. This story of Lenny's unconventional life will hold highest appeal for tweens who enjoy unique, heartfelt narratives. Lenny is cued white, with diversity implied in the secondary cast.