Armstrong and Charlie

In 1970s Laurel Canyon, Charlie is starting sixth grade friendless at Wonderland Avenue School, as his former classmates' parents have deemed the school "going downhill" and have sent their kids elsewhere. Armstrong, another sixth grader, has his own feelings about a school with the silly name "Wonderland," as he and other black students are rerouted there for "opportunity busing." Charlie and Armstrong immediately clash, but are forced to interact whenever an altercation occurs, as when Armstrong steals Hostess Ho Hos out of Charlie's lunchbox because his parents can't, or won't, buy them. As the school year goes on, the boys realize that Charlie, who is Jewish, sometimes feels like an outsider just as Armstrong does as the new black kid, and their families both have emotional scars that are still healing. A somewhat conventional and well-worn plot--but Frank keeps it mainly stereotype-free. Complex, believable relationships with adults abound, from the racist teacher who humiliates Armstrong every chance he gets, to the yard teacher who writes up playground incidents for school records, to Mr. Khalil, an elderly man who mentors Armstrong. Armstrong and Charlie are endearing and layered protagonists worth cheering for. sarah hannah gomez