Prompt: Explain some of the things the main character experiences in the book. How would you feel if you were put into the main characters shoes?
The main character in the novel, Schooled, is Capricorn Anderson. He grew up on a Commune called Garland Farm with his Hippie Grandmother, Rain. After a series of unfortunate events, beginning with Rain falling out of a tree, and then almost being arrested for driving her to a hospital at 14, to finding out his Grandmother's hip is broken, Cap (short for Capricorn) is forced to live life in the "Real World" for a couple of weeks while his Grandmother goes through rehab. He then has to move in with the Social Worker at his new school, Claverage Middle School, and her daughter. Cap then must start real school, not continue to be homeschooled, and experiences so many things that he never had before at Garland Farm. In this new environment, it's no surprise that Cap would feel a little out of place, but life becomes more than a small adjustment for him.
One of the first things that happens to Cap when he starts at Claverage Middle School is, he gets elected 8th Grade School President. He didn't run for election, it was all a scam set up by the popular girls and boys at the school to mess with him. Never going to real school, he was already quite clueless, but to have people messing with him further is absolutely disgusting. The worst part is, he didn't even realize that they were messing with him! All of the kids set up Presidential conferences and meetings, gave him suggestions, asked him questions, that were all part of a big joke to play with him! If I were Cap, and had no idea what was happening, I know I would be extremely confused and scared! Knowing you're getting taken advantage of is one of the worst feelings in the World, but I can't even begin to imagine how it would feel to be taken advantage of, and not understand or realize it whatsoever. Though Cap is so calm about all of it! He never lets stress of being the President get to him! He does Tai Chi and meditates constantly to help himself relax, and he never seems to get frustrated over the fact that he is so lost and confused he just goes with the flow, something I know if I were in his situation, that I would not be able to do. I would be freaking out, and refuse to go back to school. I would never want or be able to walk into school everyday, knowing I was just going to feel lost and confused!
Like I mentioned, Cap had multiple changes happening in his life after his Grandmother fell and broke her hip, not just attending a new school! He also moved in with the school Social Worker and her teenage daughter Sophie. I don't know how Cap managed to keep pushing through! If I had to move in with a complete stranger, and I really only had one other person in my life (in Cap's case, his Grandmother) then I would be terrified! I wouldn't feel comfortable in their home, and I would be nervous about what they would think of my quirks and habits! I wouldn't want them to judge me, and would try to be the absolute best house guest I could! Cap is an excellent house guest, as he is very courteous and wise, though, I don't think he really cares about what this new family thinks of him. He does Tai Chi on their lawn early in the morning, and he continues to express his previous ways of "Hippie Living". I would be nervous that this family would think I was weird, and try to act as normal as possible, but Cap never strays from his beliefs and proclaims them with confidence, but not arrogance. I would be a nervous wreck in this situation, though Cap is much better at composing himself, and trying to walk in his shoes, made me realize how difficult his situation truly is, as I'm not sure the book emphasizes how difficult the transition of moving in with complete strangers was!
Cap goes through so many other tough experiences as the story progresses, but those two changes I feel would be the hardest to go through! Trying to walk in his shoes, I can see how difficult it must've really been!
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