Gordon Korman's best-known bestseller! A quirky homeschooled kid must
learn how to fit in (or stand out) at public school in this heartwarming
fish-out-of-water classic.
Capricorn Anderson had never watched a television show before. He'd
never tasted a pizza. He had never even heard of a wedgie. And he had
never, in his wildest dreams, thought of living anywhere but Garland
Farm commune with his hippie caretaker, Rain.
Capricorn (Cap for short) lived every day of his life on Garland Farm
growing fruits and vegetables. He was homeschooled by Rain, the only
person he knew in the world. Life was simple for Cap. But when Rain
falls out of a tree while picking plums and is hospital-ridden, he has
to attend the local middle school and live with his new guidance
counselor and her irritable daughter. While Cap knew a lot about Zen
Buddhism, no amount of formal education could ready him for the trials
and tribulations of public middle school.
Cap doesn't exactly fit in at Claverage Middle School (dubbed C Average
by the kids). He has long, ungroomed hair, wears hemp clothes, and
practices Tai Chi out on the lawn. His weirdness basically makes him the
biggest nerd in school. This is great news for Zach Powers, big man on
campus. He can't wait to instate the age-old tradition in C-Average
School: The biggest nerd is nominated for class president -- and wins.
So when Cap becomes president, he is more puzzled than ever. But as Cap
begins to take on his duties, the joke starts to turn on Zach.
Will Cap turn out to be the greatest President in the history of
C-Average School? Or the biggest punchline?
