Schooled

by Jamie Sumner

A bighearted, compulsively readable novel from acclaimed author Jamie Sumner about new schools, unexpected friendships, and overcoming loss.

Eleven-year-old Lenny Syms is about to start college—sort of. As part of a brand-new experimental school, Lenny and four other students are starting sixth grade on a university campus, where they’ll be taught by the most brilliant professors and given every resource imaginable. This new school is pretty weird, though. Instead of hunkering down behind a desk to study math, science, and history, Lenny finds himself meditating, participating in discussions where you don’t even have to raise your hand, and spying on the campus population in the name of anthropology.

But Lenny just lost his mom, and his Latin professor dad is better with dead languages than actual human beings. Lenny doesn’t want to be part of some learning experiment. He just wants to be left alone. Yet if Lenny is going to make it as a middle schooler on a college campus, he’s going to need help. Is a group of misfit sixth graders and one particularly quirky professor enough to pull him out of his sadness and back into the world?

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Friendship, Contemporary, Grief, Death

Unknown Binding

First published August 26, 2025

About the author

Jamie Sumner is the author of the critically-acclaimed middle-grade novels, Roll with It, Tune It Out, and One Kid's Trash. Her forth middle-grade novel The Summer of June hits shelves on May 31st, 2022 with Atheneum Books for Young Readers. She is also the author of the nonfiction parenting books, Eat, Sleep, Save the World and Unbound.

She has also written for the New York Times and the Washington Post as well as other publications. She loves stories that celebrate the grit and beauty in all kids. She and her family live in Nashville, Tennessee. Connect with her at Jamie-Sumner.com

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3.5 stars ✰

​​​​“​​Grief is weird. You think it’s gone and then, bam, it hits you all over again.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I may not have been entirely sold on the experimental middle school, eleven-year-old Lenny's father and his fellow peers set up for their kids at the college campus where they teach, but I was totally feeling Lenny's pain. 💔​ Every visceral reminder for the memory of his mother; every ache of longing for just a glimpse of her again - seeing her in the actions of others. 'It’s such a mom thing to do that my stomach turns over.' 😢 It hurt seeing how unstable his relationship with his father became, simply because they were both grieving in their own way - choosing to ignore their pain rather than trying to talk about it. Which felt so real, but still hurt to see how much Lenny hurt from his father's silence.​

“​​Guess what, Lenny,” he says without looking up. “Life’s not fair.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ And for that I was all for Lenny's self-proclaimed motto when he realizes that when the world turns its back on you, you turn your back on the world - ie the father who doesn't even want to talk about his mother, so why bother? 🥺​ It was hardcore and heartfelt - 'this is real-life stuff here.' The writing convinced me of his sadness, his anger, and his frustration of wanting not to forget - for someone to still be there to share in the memories. The voice she gave him of being annoyed with his father, but still longing for him to care & love him the way his mother did. 'Now Dad just treats me like a plant. Feed Lenny. Water Lenny.' It made me empathize wholeheartedly with Lenny on several occasions. I couldn't even fault him for acting out at times.​ 🙂‍↕️

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The writing was also fresh and engaging. I'm always grateful when a middle grade book reads like one, so I definitely felt that vibe here, even chuckling a few times at how relatable some of the dialogue and thoughts were.​ 😊 I found myself nodding along to a lot of what Lenny was feeling and thinking; it hurts when no one relates to you and you want to shut yourself off from everyone; definitely my kind of guy. But, it was heartwarming to see that even though I did not quite stand by the aim of the Copernican School - for kids to stop seeing themselves as the center of the universe - it was Lenny's friendship with one of the college's elderly professor, VW, that taught him 'happiness comes when you realize it’s not about you.' VW's classes were definitely the highlight of Lenny's school year; fun and creative. The moment when he cared for someone else, beyond his own loss and sadness that really proved what the school hoped to achieve.​ 🙏🏻

“​​But you can’t text that kind of thing. You can’t even say it. It’s a thing for the white spaces.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Lenny's fellow classmates were a unique bunch, who were trying in their own way, with their own pains and struggles to shoulder. It is a bit of a gamble having them be the only five kids being Schooled into following their parents' interesting experiment 'to get us to think big, think outside ourselves' - but I liked how they each offered Lenny comfort and support in their own different and unique way.​ ❤️‍🩹🫂 It was a friendship forged by the circumstances of their situation, but it was a believable and fun bond to read about. I ​approved of how they took full advantage of many perks offered to them at their disposal - freedom being the main culprit. However, I didn't quite feel that they were nearly as resolved as I would have liked. It also surprised me how the entire school year passed, but it didn't feel like it! So possibly a potential return for seventh grade, where we tackle other kids' concerns?​ 🤔

​*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, short, but powerful. Dealing with the loss of a parent and new school and classmates in an unconventional format. The kids move to a university although they are young for different reasons. The main character is there because his father is teaching at that college now. Not only they find a way to cope with the loss, but they also help others.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a bit of a reading slump I needed a quick win, and this really hit the mark for me. A few random thoughts:
- I loved how it referenced things I knew about, such as Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies, Scott McCloud's book Understanding Comics, and the musical Wicked.
- It made me want to go back to college and take a lit class again, specifically children's literature with Claudia Mills.
- I cried.
- I wish it was longer to go more into depth with Lenny, his classmates, grief, their projects, etc.

[Almira · Rating 5 out of 5]

The loss of a loved one is hard for all involved.
Loss of a spouse can make the remaining parent unaware of the pain that the child is experiencing from the loss of their parent.

Lenny's mom has died, his dad decides to return to the university where he and his wife had positions, before Lenny's arrival. Lenny's dad is a professor of Latin, a dead language as far as Lenny is concerned.
He is "enrolled" in an experimental 6th grade class on the university campus, with a total of 5 students. Pretty much a no rules group.

Along the way, Lenny meets a professor who teaches "fairy tales" - a university level class, that Lenny is allowed to sit in on - then all of a sudden the professor "disappears". Lenny is off on his own to find his professor.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of Gordon Korman and Elly Swartz will love this MG book.
🏫
Lenny and his dad are having a fresh start at a new school. Lenny’s dad will be teaching at a local college and Lenny, eleven-years-old, will also be matriculating there. As part of a new program where kids are taught by professors and spend more time meditating and discussing deep thoughts than taking gym or math. When Lenny meets one of the campus professors he forms a kinship with the man only to find out they both have something in common.
🏫
What a great middlegrade novel by one of my faves @jamiesumner_author This title covers several themes such as grief and loss, new school and friendships and a strained parent relationship. It’s out now!

CW: theft, vandalism, parental death (recounted), grief, death of a spouse (recounted)

I wanted more depth. I never truly connected with the characters but I felt like the relationship between Lenny and VW could have had more page time.

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Report: Schooled

At First Glance: Such a fun cover!!!

The Gist: New schools, unexpected friendships, and overcoming loss.

My Thoughts: As a longtime Jamie Sumner fan…Schooled did not disappoint! The college campus setting was such a unique twist 🎓and I couldn’t imagine being a middle schooler in that world. The characters felt so real and their journey through grief and wanting to belong hit me right in the heart 💔🤍Beautifully written…heartfelt and full of hope 🌟

My question for Jamie: Will we see any of these characters again in future books? 👀

Thank you Simon Kids & Simon Audio for the gifted ALC

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenny isn't exactly thrilled to be living on a college campus with his Latin-professor father in the wake of his mother's death. He's to attend a very self-guided school on campus and learn using the resources all around him. But this comes grinding to a halt when Lenny's dad pushes him to be more responsible because no one just tells Lenny what to do.

This book definitely is about grief and education and community. It feels a little all over the place, though, without a clear plot. I don't mind, but I'm not sure how I feel in the end.

[Sab Ay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie Sumner has regaled readers with her trilogy of books featuring a wheelchair using girl who has cerebral palsy (Roll With It, Time to Roll, Rolling On), a book with a main character struggling to handle her anxiety, and more. Schooled features Lenny, a 12 year old who is faced with more change than he thinks he can handle-the death of his mother after her battle against cancer, moving from a comfortable house to a new state and a small apartment in a college dorm, and from a public school where he had a firmly established niche to an experimental, 5 student school housed on at the college where his parents graduated and his father now teaches. Most middle grade readers will have a hard time imagining a school in a basement with beanbags littered around the room, chalkboard painted walls, no desks and the freedom to choose their own year long study project and the ability to audit the college classes of their choice. Oh, and one day a week wander campus listening in on conversations and observing college kids doing their usual stuff and another day spent meditating and getting in touch with their feelings. Really? Yup, and that’s what Lenny says, too. So he decides that since his father doesn’t seem to care what he does anyway and seldom even talks to him, he’s just going to hide out and play video games, swim in the student rec center pool and eat whatever he wants from the Munchie Mart where all he has to do is scan his student ID and all is paid for by his father’s credit card. But Lenny didn’t count on becoming friends with the other 4 kids in his class, or meeting VW who actually makes his class on fairy tales extremely interesting and thought-provoking and he certainly didn’t expect to be caught vandalizing a campus building or coming face to face with his grief.

Sumner’s book is equal parts humor, puzzlement, and typical middle grade drama among friends and family. Lenny is, at times, mad at his dad and at others, yearning for him to talk to him. He is defiantly avoiding investing any real effort into allowing this weird school teach him anything but actually does find real inspiration in VW’s class. Hen, a red-headed vegan who becomes Lenny’s confidante and number one supporter, can’t seem to get her doctor parents to take her interest in alternative medicine seriously. Football and Alabama Crimson Tide-loving Mak has to get his father to understand his passion for banging heads together. Beautiful Ally wants to make the world an even more beautiful place and one would think that her theater-directly mother would be pleased, but that is not the case. David seems to be a pleaser-personality but maybe, with the right encouragement, he will be able to voice his hopes and dreams instead of just exceeding at everyone else’s goals for him. A diverse cast in race, interests and needs, but the Copernican School will be just the right place to bring them all together and help each of them learn something about themselves. While the loss of his mother is a primary factor in Lenny’s personal struggles, there are so many other other things going on with the five students that sadness and grief do not at all overwhelm the story and resolution for all five pre-teens is positive.

No profanity, sexual content or violence in Schooled. The vandalism the group does to the campus building does not go unpunished and while there are not any specific consequences for Lenny dodging school assignments outside of one skipped class for which he is grounded, he did learn valuable lessons. Recommended for grades 4-7, especially for collections having a significant readership in realistic fiction like Sumner’s other works, Gordon Korman, Elly Swartz, and Dusti Bowling.

Thanks for the eARC, NetGalley.

[Louis (audiobookfanatic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schooled is a heartfelt middle-grade coming-of-age story about grief, belonging, and new friendships. The story follows Lenny Syms, an eleven-year-old boy still grieving his mother’s death months earlier, who relocates with his father (a Latin professor) to a university campus. There, he joins the experimental sixth grade “Copernican School,” where students attend college lectures, meditate, conduct self-directed studies, and pursue solo end-of-year projects. Resistant to change, Lenny initially rebels but then slowly connects with other classmates and befriends a spirited professor with a fairy-tale class.

Lenny Syms is an emotionally complex, intelligent, and highly sensitive protagonist. Right from the start readers will recognize his sarcasm and wit that belie his age and make him very likeable and amusing. Mourning his mother and struggling to connect with his distant (and clueless) father, Lenny becomes very cynical about his new unconventional school and its eccentric parent-teachers. He quickly becomes detached and spends his days roaming the campus aimlessly—until he develops an unexpected friendship with an older professor, VW, whose lectures fascinate him.

The bond that forms between Lenny and VW is one of the highlights of the story. Their dialogue is heartfelt and compelling as they share their stories and experiences of grief. By the end, VW becomes a mentor figure who inspires Lenny to reconnect with his creativity and grief in transformative ways. Lenny also gradually opens up to his fellow classmates and gains much-needed acceptance and support. All of the parent/student side characters have vibrant, unique personalities that make the dialogue interesting, funny, and emotionally resonant!

The quirky “Copernican School” is a really unique backdrop for the story—its diverse, tightly knit group of personalities and family dynamics brilliantly mirror Lenny’s emotional journey. The unconventional school also poses thought‑provoking ideas about creative learning and institutional flexibility—not all readers will be on board with such an independent education approach for 6th graders, but it serves this story perfectly as a metaphor for finding one’s own path!

The writing is moving, poignant, and fresh. The story has some heavy themes of loss, grief, absent fatherhood, and miscommunication—but it’s all woven into a heartfelt and accessible story that is suitable for middle grade to adult readers. The story is well-paced throughout, and readers get a good glimpse into the major happenings of Lenny’s school year. His grief and gradual transformation all unfold in a very authentic and engaging manner—a true sign of great writing! After such a moving tale, the ending feels a bit rushed—there could have been a bit more detail on Lenny and his father’s resolution and the future of the quirky learning environment.

Overall, Schooled is a thoughtful, emotionally resonant take on middle‑grade grief, identity, and belonging. It’s an emotional story that will have readers tearing up, laughing, intrigued, and feeling hopeful—all while giving an insight into complex family and friendship dynamics. Readers who enjoy character‑driven, coming-of-age stories with heart will really enjoy this book!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Lenny and his Latin professor father have moved from their home in New Jersey to Arrington University, where they will be living in student housing, since his mother passed away after battling skin cancer. His father, along with three other parents who work for the university in various capacities, have decided to work together to homeschool their children while incorporating the university resources. Fellow students include Hen, who likes to cleanse auras, Makai, who loves football and is especially interested in the Alabama team, Allison, who is interested in cosmetology, and David, who is interested in engineering. The Copernican "school" schedule is as follows: Mondays are for self care, Tuesdays are for auditing classes, Wednesdays are devoted to social integration, Thursdays to researching a project, and Fridays to visiting the library. The philosophy is that knowledge shouldn't just be handed to students, they need to find it for themselves. As the school year progresses, Lenny meets Vereen Winters (VW), a 76 year old literature professor whose wife also passed away in the past year. The two have a lot of interesting conversations about literature, including one about the Egyptian deity Anubis. VW also gives Lenny his personal copy of McCloud's Understanding Comics. This leads Lenny to make his special project a comic book involving Anubis and talking about processing grief that his father does NOT like at first. When VW doesn't show up for classes for several days, and Lenny is afraid he is being fired, Lenny and his classmates make some ill considered protests to try to save him. Will the Copernican 6th grade class graduate?
Strengths: This was an interesting premise, and I would have loved to hang out on a college campus virtually when I was in 6th grade. It's an interesting look at collaborative home schooling with children who have access to all that a college has to offer. Lenny and the other students generally get along, and Lenny's relationship with VW was charming. Since Scott McCloud and Raina Telgemeier have a new book out, The Cartoonists Club, name dropping this influential graphic novel artist will resonate with young readers. The cover is charming.
Weaknesses: I have many friends who wanted to be Latin or Classics professors, but even 30-40 years ago, there were no jobs. If Lenny's father thinks that "carpe cuppa" or "carpe syllabus" are proper Latin (both nouns should have accusative endings), I doubt very much he would get hired anywhere. Also, there are plenty of middle grade books dealing with the death of a parent.
What I really think: This might be a good choice for readers who enjoyed hanging out on college campuses in Parks' The Summer of Brave or Wang's The Summer of Squee. I don't think that I have readers for this one, although Sumner's work is usually popular.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rarely have such a mixed reaction to a well-written book. Schooled has charm, and the grief plotline is emotionally intense and logically consistent. I would give it 3.5 stars if the half star metric was an option.

I struggle with portions of the plotline and their logic. The basic premise (that college professors, doctors, white-collar professionals, many of whom seem invested in achievement and societal expectations, would enroll their 11-year-olds into a self-guided college campus unschooling experience) doesn't work very well for me as a parent. Out of the five children and their parents who make up the Copernican School, I can see Lenny's dad opting into the Copernican School because of expediency, Ally's mom because of being nonconventional, and Hen explains why her parents opted in (also expediency). The other parents mystify me. Everything about the Copernican School seems kind of ramshackle and half-assed, and I just don't see it as being a top choice for a parent. I also wonder whether college professors in general would be okay with random sixth graders auditing their classes. Additionally, I have an issue with the amount of willingness professors and college students exhibit to be involved in the semester projects--it's not believable to me. Overall, there's a suspension of disbelief issue, partially because I expect realistic fiction to be kind of realistic.

Maybe the target audience (middle grade kids) would not get hung up on the plausibility issues like I did. They might just look at Schooled and be intrigued--swapping math worksheets for self-guided studies (or opting out of studies) has an appeal!

The grief plotline, and the tension between Lenny and his dad as their differing ways of dealing with grief spark conflict, add a ton of appeal and impact to the book. It seems like the greatest value a kid could extract from the narrative of Lenny's fraught relationship with his dad is that sometimes adults are just humans doing the best job they can. Lenny's dad kind of sucks as a dad because he's hurting too much to parent effectively. By the end of the book, he is concretely resolving to do better--tackle his own grief, and be there for his kid.

Ultimately, even though I have issues with Schooled that stem from struggling to take off my parent glasses and adult perspective, I think that middle grade readers might not have those issues. And for all the parents reading reviews--maybe reading Schooled will help your kid see your humanity, even and especially when you're falling short.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenny is not happy. His mom died six months ago, and now his Latin-teacher father is moving them away from the home and city they shared with her. He's moving back to his own college, and Lenny has to go to an experimental school on the college campus. It's nothing like a traditional school, having only five students [how is it that all of the faculty children on campus are in 6th grade?], and the days are devoted to meditation, studying college students, auditing college classes, and doing research for a year-long project. Lenny is Not Interested, and his father is Not Interested in Lenny or in talking about Lenny's mom--he's removed all her possessions and stored them away from their new dorm apartment. Lenny spends his time swimming, loafing, reluctantly enjoying a fairy tale class taught by an elderly professor who has befriended him, and working on his drawing skills. But at least one person in his class, Hen, won't let him drown, and keeps trying to pull him back into the world. It's an uphill struggle, though.

I really liked this one, absent the fact that I didn't believe all the faculty kids on campus were 11-12. Perhaps the school was only open to that age? Wish that had been clarified. I was originally interested because my father went to high school on a college campus, where they were taught by professors and observed by education students, but his school was much more traditional than the "Copernican" school. I was a bit worried that the kids were getting no instruction in basic subjects like math and science and history--not sure how that was approved by whatever body approves homeschooling or whatever. But I liked the characters a lot, and really sympathized with Lenny. Even though his father was clearly suffering from abject grief, it's not an excuse for ignoring his only child and ignoring Lenny's grief and struggle. The world was well-built, and though initially I had trouble telling the kids apart, they were different enough that I eventually sorted it out. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Our Weekend Is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schooled by Jamie Sumner is a compelling middle-grade novel that explores themes of grief, friendship, and new beginnings.

The story centers on Lenny, a middle school-aged boy who is navigating the profound loss of his mother to cancer. His world shifts dramatically when he and his father, a Latin professor, move to a college campus. Lenny and a small group of other students, whose parents are also faculty members, become part of an experimental school. This learning environment is very different from traditional schooling; the students are encouraged to meditate, pursue passion projects, attend college lectures, and conduct research in the library. Amidst these unconventional surroundings, Lenny struggles to cope with his mother's death, his strained relationship with his father, and the challenges of adapting to a new school that is anything but traditional.


What I Liked: The unique school concept serves as an interesting backdrop for Lenny's journey of exploring his grief and working through his personal struggles. The small group of characters, despite their seemingly mismatched personalities, create bonds over their shared, unusual situation and offer unwavering support to one another. Jamie Sumner wonderfully captures the grief that both Lenny and his father experience, and how that was a bit different for each of them. It felt real and raw, and I found myself tearing up throughout the book. For me, the true highlight of the book was witnessing Lenny, despite missing his mom and resisting the move, make new connections and discover a sense of purpose as he processed his grief.

Schooled by Jamie Sumner is a wonderful addition to any middle-grade bookshelf, particularly for readers who appreciate stories about the complexities of friendship and family.







This review first appeared on YA Books Central and can be found here: https://yabookscentral.com/schooled-2/

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a teacher, I love the premise of a sort of experimental middle school on a college campus. It’s an interesting idea! For Lenny, though, it’s not at all what he wants. He’s dealing with some pretty big grief from his mother’s death, and his father’s distance. It doesn’t help that many of the professors on campus remember his mother—it’s where she and his father went to school.

Each of the children involved in the school is dealing with some personal issues regarding parental expectations, and they eventually grow together and help each other.

Lenny’s relationship with VW, a professor, is a sweet moment, and his concern for VW near the end of the book is very touching.

Eventually, Lenny comes to accept his new life, and he and his father are able to reconnect and, to a degree, work through their grief.

Although the story focuses on Lenny, the other students, colorful instructors, and side characters are interesting, not just cardboard cutouts filling space.

Possible objectionable material:
Mention of the “f-word”. One character is kind of new-agey, burning sage, talking about crystals, etc. Mention of a very religious family that doesn’t allow their child to read Harry Potter. Mention of witches and beheading (in the context of fairy tales). Death of a parent and spouse (before the story starts). Two middle schoolers hold hands. Skipping school.

Who might like this book:
This is a fun story with many different types of kids. Anyone who is interested in an unconventional school.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

#NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #JamieSumner #MiddleGrades #Schooled

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2...

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

It confirmed the values that will always run through my stories: kids are brave; humor can save you; support systems are everywhere if you open yourself to them. ~ Jamie Sumner (Acknowlegments)

Five sixth graders participate in a school experiment called Copernican School on a college campus. Monday is Therapy Day. Tuesday is Audit Day. Wednesday is Anthropology Day. Thursday is Practicum Day. Friday is Library Day.

My star rating reflects some things I loved about this book:

📔The cover in the palette of Autumn really makes it feel like it's Back to School time. The release date of August 26, 2025 is ideal calendar timing, too.
🧑‍🍼Our main character Lenny is dealing with the loss of his mother. His Latin professor Dad moves them to the college campus where their story began. Love the symmetry and the exploration of grief.
😋Did you know October 13 is National M&M Day? That day is also Lenny's birthday and his late mother did a fabulous job of tying the two together. I want to celebrate that way! What is your favorite M&M? Currently I am a big fan of the peanut M&M.
📚Each of the Copernican students labors over a Practicum project all school year. Their projects reflect their gifts and I loved watching them make progress.

This was a delightful read and a reminder for all of us of the need to support each other as we grieve and deal with transitions. Hey, there my books go talking to each other again. Similar lessons were learned in Good Grief.

Thank you to Atheneum Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lenny Syms misses his mom and struggles to relate to his dad. Attending an experimental school on the campus of the university his father teaches at, Lenny finds himself struggling to adapt to all the changes in his life. Everything that reminds him of his mom sits in storage where Lenny goes to grieve in private. Lenny, in frustration, avoids doing what the professors teaching the 5 students expect, but finds himself reluctantly attending the class on fairy tales taught by an older professor he met one day on campus. But avoidance only works for so long. Can his fellow students and a lesson on Anubis help him face his grief, save his relationship with his father, and make the best of his new situation? Lenny makes an appealing protagonist. His struggle to adapt to a completely changed life without his mother creates a heart-touching situation. His emotions shine through in the choices he makes in connecting with VW, the elderly professor, and his classmate, Hen, whose tender care of him helps him adjust. Ultimately, the strength of the story is in the characters and the relationships that develop between them. The students each have their own strengths and weaknesses and come across very much as 12-year-olds, part child and part teen. The way the school is depicted adds an interesting subplot as Lenny and the other kids work on projects while sitting in on university classes of interest to them. One of my favorite aspects of the story other than the relationships between the characters relates to how the professor's have to adapt to students as much as the students have to adapt to their unusual classes. A winning tale about growing up, grieving, and finding one's own path with the help of others. Highly recommended.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until six months ago Lenny's life was fine. His mom didn't die of cancer, he lived in a comfortable house and went to a school where he fit in. Now six months later, he's been uprooted from the life he knew to his father's old college living in a small apartment dorm and his school is an experiment with four other students essentially being unschooled on campus. While Lenny tries to find his footing on campus and with this new group of friends, his relationship with his dad isn't what he needs so when a professor he's grown close to goes missing Lenny will stop at nothing to figure out what happened to him.

So, I'll be the first to admit that reviewing a book like Schooled is difficult because of the sheer improbability of the circumstances. What college would allow five tweens onto their campus without any real supervision or class structure. Explained as an experiment, if you can put all of that aside and just enjoy the character development, you'll find Schooled is a book about a boy who's lost and what it takes to make him whole again.

Overall I think middle graders will enjoy the humorous parts and probably relate to the breakdown in communication between Lenny and his dad. The dynamic between the students was enjoyable to read and I felt like their backgrounds were pretty varied which added depth. The angst is fairly light and the one real part where the kids acted out was fairly minor.

This looks like the start of a new series, and having enjoyed Jamie Sumner's other series, I'm excited to see where she takes it.

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Jamie Sumner always delivers, and this newest middle grade effort is no exception.

Lenny is 11, and he is going through big changes. After his mother's death six months ago, he's faced with grief, of course, and he is also now more reliant on his father, who is a professor and who is not great at communicating his feelings. Thanks to a new job opportunity, Lenny's dad is moving them into a whole new life, making the loss of Lenny's mom even more apparent and profound. Fortunately, Lenny finds a charming community of peers and an unexpected champion (and a person whom he can champion) in this new environment. Sadness, it turns out, is not without hope.

I'm always amazed by how much emotion Sumner elicits from these quick texts, especially considering the audience. Lenny is a developed character whose pain is palpable. Readers who have experienced a loss will connect with the ways that grief hits him over and over again. He'll be an excellent mirror for those who can sadly empathize, and he'll be a vital window for folks whose loved ones are experiencing losses.

This book will make you sad, but you will enjoy it and find so much value in it despite the heartbreak. This is another winner from a proven author.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lenny is starting 6th grade at a new school. His mother has recently passed and his dad has taken a job teaching Latin at a college so they've moved from New Jersey to Tennessee. Along with 4 other children his age, all kids of college professors, Lenny is enrolled in The Copernicus school were his education is primarily self discovery, meditation, observing campus life and auditing college classes. Lenny and his dad are grieving for his mom in different ways and are not getting along. He doesn't want to be part of anything, his dad, this school, or Tennessee.

Schooled is a bit different from Sumner's usual writing. It took me a bit to get into, and it was an adult connection rather than one kids would gravitate to. Lenny meets a professor on campus who invites him to audit his Fairy Tales class (but then the content of the class is more Mythology). Lenny is stuck unable to grieve his mother's death because his dad is in denial? can't manage his own feelings? unable to see Lenny's needs? What I really think - it's sad and readers picking it may be disappointed it's not like her other books.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from the publisher.

Lenny's mom passed away last year, and now his professor father has moved them to a college campus, where Lenny will be joining a few other sixth graders in an experimental school. He isn't super excited about it, but there is one professor, VW, whose class Lenny likes to sit in on. When VW doesn't show, Lenny starts to worry.

Lenny was a likeable kid, even if there were some moments where I felt really bad for his father, too. Each of the kids in his "school" had their own things going on, although they were a bit subtle, most focusing on how the kids clashed against their parents' expectations and beliefs in different ways than Lenny clashed with his own dad. The moments when Lenny found parental energy in others was really heartwarming. For me, reading about a kid on a college campus brought me back to my own college years and that sudden freedom from parents - and also made it easy to imagine how that same freedom would feel for a much younger kid. Overall this was a solid story full of interesting characters.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bit of tearjerker. While there were fun moments, this was a more emotional read. Some parts may be obvious, but it was still good. There were two moments that I wanted to discuss. First, Mak was telling about his father's opinions on football, which was when it was mentioned Hawaiians are "...all about peace and love". If I could do a one eyebrow raise then I would, because I thought in the history of the Hawaiians they had a warring period? Which means if native-born Hawaiians in the modern era are about peace and love at what point did that change?

The second moment was also centered on Mak. Mak had a project that made me cringe, because it is about football. If you ever watched the movie Concussion then you would know that head injuries go beyond concussions and the current safety implements. It has to do with the fact humans are not design for sustained hitting, unlike Bighorn Sheep and Woodpeckers. That is all I am going to say without spoiling his project, but it is why I cringed during this part of the book.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Jamie Sumner about friendships, loss, bravery, support, and a lot of laughing. Lenny is attending Copernican School with four other students at the university where dad is a professor. The instructor, Paulo, wants the students to create their own school where they will become their best selves. They can audit classes, go to the library, go to group therapy, and journal. They have to come up with an end-of-the-year project. One day while walking Lenny meets VW, a professor of fairy tales. Lenny goes to his class and likes it, but Lenny thinks of his mom who died and decides to skip classes. He goes to the storage shed where mom’s things are which helps with his grief. When VW stops appearing in class, Lenny hears the university might want to fire VW. Is this true? Lenny comes up with a plan and asks the other students to help. They agree. What happens next?
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Julie Swearingen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old Lenny Syms is not a happy camper. After his mom passes away from skin cancer, his Latin professor dad takes a job at his alma mater university, uprooting Lenny and enrolling him in the on-campus Copernican School with other children of professors.
Lenny rebels by skipping classes, wondering off campus, and ignoring his new friends' attempts to connect.
But when a connection with an elderly professor shows him that he's needed and needs these people, Lenny steps up.
With humor, love, grief, anger, and sadness, Lenny Syms starts to heal and find the family he thought he didn't need.
This would be a great read for any middle grade reader who has lost a parent, had to move schools, towns, states, or just needs a story to let them know that nobody has all the answers and asking the hard questions is the best way to learn. A+

[Erin Buhr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, first of all, I want this school experience. The main character, Lenny, and four other middle schoolers get to study on a university campus. They can audit classes and work on their own projects and I absolutely love this idea. I’m dying to know how Jamie Sumner came up with it. Does this exist somewhere?

Beyond the creative school experience, this is a book about grief and community. Lenny and his dad recently lost his mom and how they deal, or don’t deal, with this grief plays a huge roll in their story. The community of quirky kids and professors they have surrounded themselves with through this experience helps to pull them out of their grief.

This story is full of sadness but also hope, loss but also grit, and teems with heart from cover to cover. Another excellent middle grade novel from one of my favorite MG authors.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of grief from the perspective of a sixth grader whose dad is professor on campus, Lenny is part of the new Copernicus School which will operate on the college campus-- a handful of young kids "going to school" with loose structure and even less supervision that gives them opportunity- to learn and experiment, but also to get into a little trouble. Each kid is three-dimensional enough and Lenny's grief over the death of his mother (and the lack of connection he's feeling with his father who is also grieving) leads to Lenny's taking the opportunity to rail against authority when he connects with another teacher at the school through comics and stands of up for him.

Sumner gets me with her verse, so this one didn't feel as emotionally charged because it was written as a narrative however it didn't feel as innovative. Yet still a worthy read.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenny Syms has been moved away from everything he knew and loved by his grief-stricken father. His mother, who died from skin cancer and who was the glue who kept Lenny and his dad together, is not around to have a say. Lenny's dad takes a job at a college in Tennessee and enrolls Lenny in the Copernican School, a 5-student program, with a syllabus designed mostly by the students themselves. Lenny decides to opt out, but comes to care not only about his new friends, but about a professor on campus who, he finds, is also dealing with loss. The tension that continues through the story is whether or not Lenny and his dad will come to an understanding about how different people process grief. I found this book to be filled with endearing and quirky characters and was astounded by the many ways the author found to have well-meaning actions go off the rails!

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

@JamieSumner_Author writes beautiful books for middle grade readers, covering deep topics that teach children about empathy and compassion.

In Schooled, she introduces a young boy named Lenny, who recently lost his mother and moved to a college with his dad, who is starting a new job teaching there. Children there are taught by professors, spend time together meditating, and dive deep into real issues. Life isn't easy for Lenny, but luckily he forms a kinship with one of his professors.

It is a book about grief and loss, healing, friendship and fitting in, being seen, and hope. I wished the story went a bit deeper into the story of the strain between Lenny and his dad, but know that might be too much for some children.

I recommend this one for kids between 3rd and 6th grade depending on reading level.

Thank you @simonkids for my #gifted copy!

[Megyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows Lenny, a middle schooler who recently lost his mom. His dad is a teacher who is moving to a new school that is like college but for middle schoolers. We follow Lenny as he goes to a new school and navigates grief.

This was a powerful story about grief and other issues that kids deal with. I liked all of the characters and everyone was going through something. I liked the different friendships and relationships that were explored as well. I found the writing to be engaging and well-written.

I did find the premise to be a bit unrealistic but overall, kids will enjoy it. I would recommend!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
As Lenny and his father deal with their fresh grief at losing Lenny's mom to cancer, they embark on a new adventure at a college campus. Lenny is part of an experimental school called the Copernican school - along with 4 other faculty kids. They're all trying to figure out their place in the universe while participating in this weird schooling experiment that has them complete a practicum and audit college classes. Lenny just wants to have things return to normal and this is as far from normal as it gets. When he protests by doing the bare minimum, he finds at least one class and professor that interests him, VW - but when something happens to his favorite academic, Lenny is forced to make a choice.