This leads up to a vicious climactic fight that sees Good and Evil repeatedly switching sides. Growing into their true natures amid revelations and marked physical changes, the two spark escalating rivalry between the wings of the school.
Gradually-too gradually, as the author strings out hundreds of pages of Hogwarts-style pranks, classroom mishaps and competitions both academic and romantic-it becomes clear that the placement wasn’t a mistake at all. When it happens to sweet, Disney princess–like Sophie and her friend Agatha, plain of features, sour of disposition and low of self-esteem, they are both horrified to discover that they’ve been dropped not where they expect but at Evil and at Good respectively. Those who survive to graduate become major or minor characters in fairy tales. Diversity is communicated mostly via naming convention Caitlyn seems to be default white.Ī book to make readers think, question, reach, laugh, and strive harder.Ĭhainani works an elaborate sea change akin to Gregory Maguire’s Wicked (1995), though he leaves the waters muddied.Įvery four years, two children, one regarded as particularly nice and the other particularly nasty, are snatched from the village of Gavaldon by the shadowy School Master to attend the divided titular school. The novel is rare for the ease with which it combines ancient Greek studies with modern-day issues such as bullying and change, helped along by a delightful multiracial cast. A story with massive heart, Benjamin’s follow-up to The Thing About Jellyfish (2015) proves this writer’s incredible wit, charm, and ability to navigate deep questions while tapping directly into the middle school mindset. But by the time the next great Paulie Fink is named, Caitlyn understands that it’s far more than one person they’re trying to save. Caitlyn, as the most objective person in the class, serves as organizer, judge, and jury. When Paulie Fink, legendary for his pranks, doesn’t return for seventh grade, his old classmates miss him so much they decide to hold a contest to name the next great Paulie Fink. Even a kid who’s no longer there stands out. Instead of trying to be cool, everyone at Mitchell stands out, and they do it on purpose. Plus, none of her new classmates appear to play by the same social rules as her old middle school. For one thing, she’s expected to help take care of the goats-and the kindergartners.
Seventh-grader Caitlyn finds it harder than she ever imagined.
Starting at a new middle school can be a horrifying experience for anyone.
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