VVMBookBlog

Capricorn Anderson, “Cap” for short, is in 8th grade and in a real school for the first time in his life. He’s been living in a ’60’s-like commune with only Rain, his grandmother, as his only parent, teacher or friend. When Rain hurts herself falling out of the plum tree picking plums, Capricorn has to enter school, and real society, for the first time.

As you can guess, the reaction of the students at Claverage Middle School wasn’t good. The tradition was that the geekiest kid in 8th grade would be elected class president and then would be the subject of bullying and wedgies for the whole year, or as long as he/she could take it. The tradition held true for Cap as he quickly found himself named class president and in charge of the big Halloween party! But as naive and innocent as Cap was, the whole “tradition of mean” just wasn’t working on him. In fact, other students were starting to LIKE HIM! Now what?

This book reminded me a little of Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja, but wasn’t as violent. And since Gordon Korman is the author, it’s very funny. If you like to see the underdog come out on top, this is the book for you. The fun part is how he gets there!