Schooled

Lenny and his dad, a professor, are moving from New Jersey to Arrington University. They will live in student housing. Lenny’s mother recently died from skin cancer, and Lenny and his dad don’t talk much. Lenny will be attending an experimental school at the university with four other kids. They will be taught by a group of professors and will have a lot of freedom to choose what they study while visiting college classes. Lenny becomes friends with an elderly professor, visits his class, and is entranced. When the professor stops coming to class, Lenny needs his dad’s help to find out what happened. It’s hard for them both. Can they find a way to work together?

Author Jamie Sumner has written an interesting story that has a premise that is quite hard to believe, although maybe young readers won’t be stopped by that. In fact, the brightest students will likely love this story. The characters are well-rounded and believable, and the problems they are presented with are challenging and interesting. The writing is very good, and the dialogue reads perfectly for the ages of the characters. This should find a good audience with mature middle-graders.