Skip to main content
Like
Create new Glog
previous
next
Email share
303 views | 0 likes | 0 reposts
Setting: Claverage Middle School, Fall
http://gordonkorman.com/schooled.htm http://www.taichiacademy.com/formsandmovements.htm http://www.thebeatles.com/core/music/love/
Characters: Capricorn Anderson, a 13-year-old homeschooled eighth grader. Rain- Cap's 67-year-old grandmother Sophie Donnelly, a divorced social worker who grew up on the farm where Cap and his grandmother are the sole remaining members of the commune. Hugh Winkleman- the biggest nerd on campus, and Cap's first friend at school. Zach Powers- the big football player and a dishonest, mean, sneak. Sophie Donnelly- 16-year-old daughter of Flora Donnally- NOT HAPPY with Cap's staying with them. Learns to tolerate him. Naomi Erlanger- 8th grader in love with Zach, but realizes, in the end that Zach is a fake, and Cap is the real thing.
Theme: All you need is love.
When Cap's grandmother falls from a tree, Cap is suddenly thrust into the 21st century. He has never interacted with kids his age; he has never used a phone, handled money, eaten pizza, or been to a school dance. In other words, Cap has been sheltered for 13 years. Cap trusts everyone and this creates the conflict in the story, man vs. man.
Climax: At a pep rally, Hugh and Zach talk Cap into dressing up in the opposing team's uniform. He is hurt and leaves in an ambulance. All of the students realize what Cap really was: a sincere, smart kid, and they, not Cap, were the losers. They hold a Halloween vigil, and Cap shows up with the social worker's daughter!
Naomi Erlanger is in love with Zach. So, she helps Zach with mean tricks. For example: the school elects Cap president. Cap is told that he needs to make meetings in rooms that don't exist, learn everyone's name (all 1,100 students) which he does, and be in charge of the HUGE Halloween dance. What the students don't know is while Cap is naive, he is smart, and his smarts help him, but his kindness hurts him. For example, Cap writes checks intended to cover the Halloween dance to different charities. He also makes good on a gift that Sophie's deadbeat father failed to follow through on.
