Schooled

Gr 5-7–Lenny, an 11-year-old sixth grader with a knack for illustrating, has had a tough year. After his mom passed away from ­cancer, Lenny’s dad moved them from their home in New Jersey to his mother’s alma mater, Arrington University. Lenny’s dad is a Latin professor, and the boy is enrolled in a new experimental program called the Copernican School. Instead of a normal school day with eight class periods, Lenny and four other classmates are challenged to attend actual college classes and create a final project about a special interest. But Lenny is still struggling with his grief and doesn’t feel like he has anyone he can talk to about it. When he meets an eccentric old literature professor, the protagonist learns how to channel his creativity to help understand his grief. While Sanderlin’s narration helps distinguish among characters, including a diverse cast in supporting roles, some readers may still have trouble tracking minor players.