What do you think?
Rate this book
The Homeschool Liberation League
After a summer at Wilderness Camp, thirteen year-old Katya decides that she absolutely cannot go back to school. At school she can’t eradicate invasive alien plants, go on foraged-food-finding missions, or just be herself. Her parents, despite being “school kind of people,” are willing to give it a try, but Katya has to stick to their (just-like-school!) assignments. This isn’t what she had in mind. So with the help of a mysterious violin-playing boy, Milo, and new friend Francesca, Katya comes up with a plan to save her homeschooling experience. The three become the founding members of the Homeschool Liberation League––but will it be enough to convince Katya’s parents that her ideas about learning might be just right for her?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2009
6 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
June 15, 2009
As a parent who (reluctantly) homeschooled a teenager I can tell you this book is spot on. As someone who loves to read novels that are gripping, have a main character you can love, I can tell you this is a book not to miss. I picked it up one Saturday morning and could not put it down until I finished it. I think the author captures beautifully the struggles of a teenager who is different, and particularly the struggles she has in a traditional school setting. I think if I had read this book when my son was struggling with the same things I would have had an easier time letting him leave school and explore the world of learning on his own. (Which he did remarkably well, by the way.) I gave the book to a friend who has homeschooled her kids from the beginning and she found it fascinating, too, especially since (spoiler alert) her daughter is now in school, too. The violin-playing Milo reminds me of my other son, and I need to get the book back from my friend so I can give it to him to read.
I really, really, really liked this book. Highly recommended for homeschooled kids, kids who are frustrated with school, and kids who just like a good read. Plus I think parents will really like it, too.
I really, really, really liked this book. Highly recommended for homeschooled kids, kids who are frustrated with school, and kids who just like a good read. Plus I think parents will really like it, too.
May 30, 2010
Lifesucking. I can't think of another way to describe this book that makes you want to sing "Born Free" and cause you to think of all the great quotes from Einstein and Churchill and Twain on true education and you marvel at the life of a teenage girl making real decisions and having real questions about life and finding real anwers from people she has networked by herself and then it sucks it all back and leaves you with the charred remains. This did a good job introducing those who haven't experienced homeschooling to what it could be, both the sit-down drill-sergeant parent-cum-teacher approach (in her life and in the life of her new, musical genius, home-schooled boyfriend) and the child asking questions of life (unschooling) approach. But, as is inevitable in many of these narratives, the child (a 16 year old) becomes too much of a burden to the expectations of society and to her parents and even though she argues and argues and is extremely depressed and does all she can to convince the powers that be that she is a person and that she has plans, she...wait for it...meets a superhuman, understanding, unbelievably perceptive teacher at a superinstitutional, unbelievably presented school and decides that, since she's being forced to go back to school, this won't be too bad, and it might even be great!
She's been e-mailing university professors about discoveries on beavers and invasive species, meeting her old, house-ridden neighbor and changing his diabetic foot bandages (whoa!) and learning from him, becoming friends with her parents, doing original research at the library, cooking edible plants, hiking like crazy, but, it's not enough NOTHING is enough), and she gets sucked back in. Pompeii. (Yes, I'm disturbed by the lifesucking).
She's been e-mailing university professors about discoveries on beavers and invasive species, meeting her old, house-ridden neighbor and changing his diabetic foot bandages (whoa!) and learning from him, becoming friends with her parents, doing original research at the library, cooking edible plants, hiking like crazy, but, it's not enough NOTHING is enough), and she gets sucked back in. Pompeii. (Yes, I'm disturbed by the lifesucking).
May 5, 2010
Thirteen-year-old Kaity has just returned from nature camp and is about to go back to school. She goes back for the first day and leaves before the first bell even rings. She's going to homeschool, she decides. Oh, and she's changing her name to Katya.
Hmm, maybe I'm getting old, but I just didn't connect with this book. First of all, the spelling and capitalization problems and abbreviations in the text messages really bothered me. And they will. Forever.
Second, I thought Kaity/Katya was whiny. I'm glad she has found what she wants to do in life, but most kids don't get to quit school to do it. I think it's true that school is not a good match for every child, but I also think it's good for kids to do what they don't want to sometimes. She's a bit overly dramatic about school being a prison and ruining her life, and all that. What kid hasn't said that at some point? I do like, however, how her parents work with her and listen to her, and try to guide her even though they're uncomfortable with everything that's happening.
The story had a bit of gratuitous bad language that I didn't really feel added to the story. I appreciate that this was an attempt to help the story feel realistic and up-to-date, as was her friend Rosie and her "moms," but these additions didn't ring true with me and mostly seemed to be added in an attempt to relate to the middle-school audience this book targets.
However, like I said, I must be getting old. I'd be curious to think what today's teens think of this book.
Hmm, maybe I'm getting old, but I just didn't connect with this book. First of all, the spelling and capitalization problems and abbreviations in the text messages really bothered me. And they will. Forever.
Second, I thought Kaity/Katya was whiny. I'm glad she has found what she wants to do in life, but most kids don't get to quit school to do it. I think it's true that school is not a good match for every child, but I also think it's good for kids to do what they don't want to sometimes. She's a bit overly dramatic about school being a prison and ruining her life, and all that. What kid hasn't said that at some point? I do like, however, how her parents work with her and listen to her, and try to guide her even though they're uncomfortable with everything that's happening.
The story had a bit of gratuitous bad language that I didn't really feel added to the story. I appreciate that this was an attempt to help the story feel realistic and up-to-date, as was her friend Rosie and her "moms," but these additions didn't ring true with me and mostly seemed to be added in an attempt to relate to the middle-school audience this book targets.
However, like I said, I must be getting old. I'd be curious to think what today's teens think of this book.
January 3, 2015
I'm usually not one to be pro-constructivist education (I'm firmly in the "you need a good solid background before you Follow Your Bliss" camp) but this book captures what's right about homeschooling.
Katya's back from summer camp, feeling very much as though she's changed from the Kaity who'd gotten into trouble the year before, the Kaity who'd not cared about school, and the Kaity who'd gone out with Tyler. After walking out before the first day of school even starts, she engages in a campaign to get her parents to allow her to home- (or un-) school. The rush of passion she feels for all things science-related is very much how I experience 8th graders: the desire might be there, but the focus and discipline aren't.
Things get off to a rocky start, resolve, get rocky again, and ultimately work out... but here again the conflict feels real. Also real to me was Francesca's trying to change, but feeling locked into her "perky/candy-colored" role. What didn't feel so real was the Milo/Preston relationship (and believe me, I know about prodigal violinists and their parents!). Still, a minor quibble in an otherwise well-written book.
Katya's back from summer camp, feeling very much as though she's changed from the Kaity who'd gotten into trouble the year before, the Kaity who'd not cared about school, and the Kaity who'd gone out with Tyler. After walking out before the first day of school even starts, she engages in a campaign to get her parents to allow her to home- (or un-) school. The rush of passion she feels for all things science-related is very much how I experience 8th graders: the desire might be there, but the focus and discipline aren't.
Things get off to a rocky start, resolve, get rocky again, and ultimately work out... but here again the conflict feels real. Also real to me was Francesca's trying to change, but feeling locked into her "perky/candy-colored" role. What didn't feel so real was the Milo/Preston relationship (and believe me, I know about prodigal violinists and their parents!). Still, a minor quibble in an otherwise well-written book.
November 19, 2012
Was looking for something good for Grace. This definitely wasn't it. Not her style, but some of the content should NOT be in a youth book. I think this should have been upstairs with the teen reads.
September 4, 2013
[Rating Clarification: 3.5 (You know, because I'm all about half ratings :P)]
For those of you who haven't known me long enough to know: I'm homeschooled. So trying to ignore my curiosity for this book was the equivalent of saying no to nutella. It just doesn't work. I can't be the only one who has had this happen: You're happily browsing your library's bookshelves, and you see a title or cover that just snags your eye. You continue on, acting like you aren't totally checking out the book as look down distractedly at another book. You're only looking at the other book to hide your intense curiosity to look at the other book. You slowly make your way over, trying not to look desperate, till you get there. Then you grab it and all bets are off. You don't even care what it's about. You just have the ridiculous urge to read it.
I can't be the only one. I just can't be.
But that was basically how I was with this book. But the problem was I was supposed to be listening to my best friend and book buddy. So of course she noticed me looking over her shoulder at a book and she joined in on my curiosity, since she's a homeschooler as well.
This book was definitely different then what I was expecting. First, Katya doesn't exactly do what I do. She wanted to do something called unschooling. I, for one, had never heard of this version before. Basically, it's when the child doesn't have a set education or textbooks, and just learns through life experiences and the world around them. They do educational stuff for fun every now and then but they never actually do school. After reading this book, I realized I'd never want to do that. Why? I know without a doubt the only experience I'd ever get would be from books and video games.
Katya, on the other hand, interested me with what she wanted to do. She had a ton of experiments lined up to learn from, and she did them herself. I thought her discipline and her drive to learn was pretty admirable. She wasn't going to flake, she was really going to work and learn.
I loved Milo too. He just made that goofy smile that only books like these can bring. He was another character I really admired too. He was forced to practice his violin 6 hours a day, but even after being made to do all this stuff he really didn't want to do (competitions, lessons, practicing, etc.) He still kept at it, and he still loved playing violin. I don't know about you but if I was ever forced to practice an instrument over and over I don't think I would love that instrument anymore.
The plot itself was sort of all over the place. Milo wanted to be in school, Katya didn't, her parents didn't want to homeschool her, blah blah blah.We had our problem, but it didn't feel like they were doing much to solve it. It felt like it was dragging on just a bit more than it should. Plus while trying to solve said problem, the arguments were practically the same over and over again. That was really the only thing that annoyed me.
When I read this book it reminded me a lot of Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots. Just because both our heroines are into nature, and it was a cute easy read. But I think I enjoyed this one a lot more than the other. Mostly because I really liked all the characters, all of them where fun and had something about them that I really admired.
If you're looking for a book with an amazing plot it does not lie in this book. However, if you want a book to just pass the time while you sip lemonade and say goodbye to summer and hello to school, this is it. I really enjoyed it even though it isn't the type that I usually like.
Liked this review? Check out more of my random reviews/news/memes over at my blog! The Read-a-Holic
For those of you who haven't known me long enough to know: I'm homeschooled. So trying to ignore my curiosity for this book was the equivalent of saying no to nutella. It just doesn't work. I can't be the only one who has had this happen: You're happily browsing your library's bookshelves, and you see a title or cover that just snags your eye. You continue on, acting like you aren't totally checking out the book as look down distractedly at another book. You're only looking at the other book to hide your intense curiosity to look at the other book. You slowly make your way over, trying not to look desperate, till you get there. Then you grab it and all bets are off. You don't even care what it's about. You just have the ridiculous urge to read it.
I can't be the only one. I just can't be.
But that was basically how I was with this book. But the problem was I was supposed to be listening to my best friend and book buddy. So of course she noticed me looking over her shoulder at a book and she joined in on my curiosity, since she's a homeschooler as well.
This book was definitely different then what I was expecting. First, Katya doesn't exactly do what I do. She wanted to do something called unschooling. I, for one, had never heard of this version before. Basically, it's when the child doesn't have a set education or textbooks, and just learns through life experiences and the world around them. They do educational stuff for fun every now and then but they never actually do school. After reading this book, I realized I'd never want to do that. Why? I know without a doubt the only experience I'd ever get would be from books and video games.
Katya, on the other hand, interested me with what she wanted to do. She had a ton of experiments lined up to learn from, and she did them herself. I thought her discipline and her drive to learn was pretty admirable. She wasn't going to flake, she was really going to work and learn.
I loved Milo too. He just made that goofy smile that only books like these can bring. He was another character I really admired too. He was forced to practice his violin 6 hours a day, but even after being made to do all this stuff he really didn't want to do (competitions, lessons, practicing, etc.) He still kept at it, and he still loved playing violin. I don't know about you but if I was ever forced to practice an instrument over and over I don't think I would love that instrument anymore.
The plot itself was sort of all over the place. Milo wanted to be in school, Katya didn't, her parents didn't want to homeschool her, blah blah blah.We had our problem, but it didn't feel like they were doing much to solve it. It felt like it was dragging on just a bit more than it should. Plus while trying to solve said problem, the arguments were practically the same over and over again. That was really the only thing that annoyed me.
When I read this book it reminded me a lot of Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots. Just because both our heroines are into nature, and it was a cute easy read. But I think I enjoyed this one a lot more than the other. Mostly because I really liked all the characters, all of them where fun and had something about them that I really admired.
If you're looking for a book with an amazing plot it does not lie in this book. However, if you want a book to just pass the time while you sip lemonade and say goodbye to summer and hello to school, this is it. I really enjoyed it even though it isn't the type that I usually like.
Liked this review? Check out more of my random reviews/news/memes over at my blog! The Read-a-Holic
April 19, 2015
While this book at times reads like an infomercial about homeschooling and alternative education choices, the characters kept my interest alive. All of the kids come across as very realistic, and each of them is quite different from the others. Katya's frustration with the boredom of her middle school was something I can still remember and relate to even as an adult. The way Milo struggled with his overbearing, pushy father was heartbreaking. The more minor characters, too -- Francesca, Tyler, the other girls at school -- all seemed like people I used to know back when I was that age.
As an adult and a parent, there were moments when some of Katya's choices made me wriggle in my chair. The way she launched into things with no plan, no clue, and no consultation with her parents made me fear a train wreck. When I take a step back, I can admire her courage and her choices, but man, I need to steel myself for when my own kids are that age!
My biggest complaint about that book is that, for all its discussion about how great homeschooling is, none of the characters actually end up as homeschoolers. Milo spends the entire book dreaming of going to public school, and eventually gets his wish granted. Katya finally gets her parents to agree to homeschooling, but only in the short term before going off the next year to a free public high school that happens to magically be tailored exactly to her academic interests. Even Rosie, Katya's long-distance inspiration for homeschooling, ends up going to school. The whole thing feels like a bait and switch, despite the very pro-homeschooling attitude expressed throughout the book.
As an adult and a parent, there were moments when some of Katya's choices made me wriggle in my chair. The way she launched into things with no plan, no clue, and no consultation with her parents made me fear a train wreck. When I take a step back, I can admire her courage and her choices, but man, I need to steel myself for when my own kids are that age!
My biggest complaint about that book is that, for all its discussion about how great homeschooling is, none of the characters actually end up as homeschoolers. Milo spends the entire book dreaming of going to public school, and eventually gets his wish granted. Katya finally gets her parents to agree to homeschooling, but only in the short term before going off the next year to a free public high school that happens to magically be tailored exactly to her academic interests. Even Rosie, Katya's long-distance inspiration for homeschooling, ends up going to school. The whole thing feels like a bait and switch, despite the very pro-homeschooling attitude expressed throughout the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2010
Kaity (who prefers the name Katya) runs away from school on the first day when she realizes that the person she is at school is not the person she wants to be. She doesn’t want to conform to middle school social pressures, and she doesn’t want to waste her time doing uninteresting busywork. What she wants to do is homeschool and spend most of her time intensively studying invasive plants.
From there, the book deals with her parents’ see-sawing views on homeschooling and her new homeschooled friend, Milo’s, quest to get himself into school. The book actually isn’t pro- or against homeschooling. It merely points out that different things work for different kids. If there is a message at all (hidden in a subversive manner — the book is NOT didactic) it’s that every kid (and his/her parent) should look at the kid’s school situation and see if it’s working. And if it’s not, for whatever reason, than a solution should be sought — even if that solution means staying at the same school.
I found this book to be an interesting fun read and not at all what I expected. I kept thinking I had gotten the feel of the book when there would be a plot twist that would surprise me again. I would recommend this book for kids 10 & up.
From there, the book deals with her parents’ see-sawing views on homeschooling and her new homeschooled friend, Milo’s, quest to get himself into school. The book actually isn’t pro- or against homeschooling. It merely points out that different things work for different kids. If there is a message at all (hidden in a subversive manner — the book is NOT didactic) it’s that every kid (and his/her parent) should look at the kid’s school situation and see if it’s working. And if it’s not, for whatever reason, than a solution should be sought — even if that solution means staying at the same school.
I found this book to be an interesting fun read and not at all what I expected. I kept thinking I had gotten the feel of the book when there would be a plot twist that would surprise me again. I would recommend this book for kids 10 & up.
August 23, 2015
I was going back and forth between giving this book two or three stars. I settled on two because, while I did like the book, it was not at all what I was expecting, which made it a little less enjoyable.
I am thankful that Rosie was a very minor character and the fact that she has two "moms" was not constantly brought up so that I didn't feel hounded, but I do want to give a heads up to people who might want to know about that type of thing in books.
Also, there was a lot of, shall we say, crass words in the book. A few "d" and "h" words, but mostly "pissed" and "crap". That was something that made it less enjoyable for me, because it seems lazy to me to use those kinds of words. They either need not be used at all, or you can use something classier.
So, it was a cute book, and I do appreciate the fact that someone was brave enough to write a book that explores other education options and broaches the subject of whether traditional school is right for everyone. I would probably give this one a 2.5 if I could.
I am thankful that Rosie was a very minor character and the fact that she has two "moms" was not constantly brought up so that I didn't feel hounded, but I do want to give a heads up to people who might want to know about that type of thing in books.
Also, there was a lot of, shall we say, crass words in the book. A few "d" and "h" words, but mostly "pissed" and "crap". That was something that made it less enjoyable for me, because it seems lazy to me to use those kinds of words. They either need not be used at all, or you can use something classier.
So, it was a cute book, and I do appreciate the fact that someone was brave enough to write a book that explores other education options and broaches the subject of whether traditional school is right for everyone. I would probably give this one a 2.5 if I could.
November 13, 2009
A fun breezy read that gets in a lot of ideas about how people can learn in different ways. Its sure to get the reader thinking about learning for fun, rather than for a grade. Oh, and it sneaks in a sweet love story too.
November 9, 2014
That was amazingly fun. A lovely depiction of the issues with middle school, whether you're in public school or homeschooled, and how to conquer your way out of it.
July 24, 2019
Katya's amazing summer camp experience awakens her to the fact that there is much more to life than her school can provide. Now she just has to convince her parents...
This book impressed me on a number of levels. Having researched homeschooling and unschooling for work and having worked with quite a few families who have done it, I thought this provided a multifaceted perspective of some of the strengths and the very real struggles from both the student and parent side. It was so convincing that I find myself switching sides a bit empathizing with both Katya and her parents.
I don't necessarily feel Katya is a sympathetic character at the start, coming off as petulant and reckless but Frank does an admirable job of unfolding her story so you really get to see how she might have reached this "last straw" moment. I also like how the resolution is complicated and not just an easy win for either side. I think that probably happens in a lot of households where parents who find themselves with a highly divergent or gifted (or both) learner and are just trying to figure things out the best they can.
This book impressed me on a number of levels. Having researched homeschooling and unschooling for work and having worked with quite a few families who have done it, I thought this provided a multifaceted perspective of some of the strengths and the very real struggles from both the student and parent side. It was so convincing that I find myself switching sides a bit empathizing with both Katya and her parents.
I don't necessarily feel Katya is a sympathetic character at the start, coming off as petulant and reckless but Frank does an admirable job of unfolding her story so you really get to see how she might have reached this "last straw" moment. I also like how the resolution is complicated and not just an easy win for either side. I think that probably happens in a lot of households where parents who find themselves with a highly divergent or gifted (or both) learner and are just trying to figure things out the best they can.
March 22, 2023
I thought it was a decent book. I have a child who wants to homeschool and much of the battle over school between Katya and her parents sounded a lot like school discussions in our family. It definitely was written from the point of view of a young teen which is really authentic.
The one thing that bugs me is that in the end no one is homeschooling. She finds a school that is unique but it’s a situation that’s rare and not realistic.
But I do appreciate the lesson of finding what’s right for you and that things like school aren’t a one size fits all.
I think it’s written in a way that 5th-9th graders might enjoy, but the romantic stuff might be for more like 9th grade and up.
The one thing that bugs me is that in the end no one is homeschooling. She finds a school that is unique but it’s a situation that’s rare and not realistic.
But I do appreciate the lesson of finding what’s right for you and that things like school aren’t a one size fits all.
I think it’s written in a way that 5th-9th graders might enjoy, but the romantic stuff might be for more like 9th grade and up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2018
This book was slow at first, but once I got into the meat of it, I enjoyed it. Being a homeschooling mama, I loved that it painted homeschooling in a good light. I also loved that it explained that doing school at home is not the same thing as homeschooling.
February 2, 2020
This book was a dream, exactly what I would’ve loved school to look like.
October 28, 2019
This is an entertaining middle grade read. Would be a great recommendation for students interested in ecology/nature.
October 17, 2016
This book was very good and also had romance in it. I was not expecting that, but it made it more interesting. This book showed good thoughts about homeschool. The main character was very persuasive with her argument towards her parents. I recommend this book to anyone who likes persuasive reads.
December 2, 2010
Katya is determined, very curious, and a liar when needed. But, her world is not as good as it seems. Katya is going through the biggest crisis of her life. In the book The Homeschool Liberation League by Lucy Frank you will go into Katya’s weird world.
This book is about a girl named Katya. Katya has a problem she cannot go back to school after what happened at Wilderness Camp over the summer. Besides, school was just not her Katya’s thing. She would rather find weird fruits in the forest to make medicine or food and eradicate invasive plants. After a lot of work Katya finally persuaded her parents but they still had worries on their minds. One day while running through a forest Katya met a boy named Milo who also is homeschooled but hates it. When Katya tries to impress her friends and starts saying lie after lie thus the home school liberation league is born. But, her mom and dad changed their minds after a week or two. They thought they were ruining their daughter’s life. Katya is now furious and fearful of what was going to happen when she goes back to school. After all the lies she told and all the things she did to prove them right, it was all going to waste. But, Milo’s dad is an expert at homeschooling will he be able to help? Or does Katya have to go on a hunt for an actual homeschooling teacher? Katya’s parents have an open mind for a proper solution.
This is a fantastic book even though it gets a little boring towards the end. I think it’s a great book because even though there is no illustration you can what’s happening through the author’s words. For example, “I came across a little stream feeding into the pond, and, growing along its edges, a small, dark green leafy plant that looked just like the water cress in stop & shop.” Another quality I like about this book is the author keeps on making you guess the solution to the problem. Whenever you think a problem is about to be solved it gets even worse. I would rate the book five stars because of its fine qualities. This book engaged me in many ways I didn’t want to put the book down. I wish there was a sequel of this book.
This book is about a girl named Katya. Katya has a problem she cannot go back to school after what happened at Wilderness Camp over the summer. Besides, school was just not her Katya’s thing. She would rather find weird fruits in the forest to make medicine or food and eradicate invasive plants. After a lot of work Katya finally persuaded her parents but they still had worries on their minds. One day while running through a forest Katya met a boy named Milo who also is homeschooled but hates it. When Katya tries to impress her friends and starts saying lie after lie thus the home school liberation league is born. But, her mom and dad changed their minds after a week or two. They thought they were ruining their daughter’s life. Katya is now furious and fearful of what was going to happen when she goes back to school. After all the lies she told and all the things she did to prove them right, it was all going to waste. But, Milo’s dad is an expert at homeschooling will he be able to help? Or does Katya have to go on a hunt for an actual homeschooling teacher? Katya’s parents have an open mind for a proper solution.
This is a fantastic book even though it gets a little boring towards the end. I think it’s a great book because even though there is no illustration you can what’s happening through the author’s words. For example, “I came across a little stream feeding into the pond, and, growing along its edges, a small, dark green leafy plant that looked just like the water cress in stop & shop.” Another quality I like about this book is the author keeps on making you guess the solution to the problem. Whenever you think a problem is about to be solved it gets even worse. I would rate the book five stars because of its fine qualities. This book engaged me in many ways I didn’t want to put the book down. I wish there was a sequel of this book.
November 24, 2009
Milo: Dreamiest freshman around. Katya: Bratty eighth grader. However, still a likeable character. I home schooled grades 4-10, and the book is fairly true to the beginning of home schooling. It was nice to take a stroll down memory lane. I agree with the user who said they'd give this 3.5.
Annoyances:
GED
Her parents disapproving of GED's, wanting "more" for Katya. You can do anything you would like in life with a GED as long as you are determined.
Education
The lack of actual accredited courses mentioned in the book. Yes, I understand this wasn't a home school instruction manual. But there seemed to be an ultimatum at times for Katya and her parents: "Un-schooling" (no textbooks, simply learning things through life and interests) or public school. Private school was not an option because of price, which makes sense. There is something called accreditation. It's not that pricey. C'mon, people.
Cosmetology
Her Mother's salon seemed like the hickest salon I'd ever heard of. She's allowing her kid to give pedicures? What? And there were far too many descriptions of feet in pedicure bowls.
Likes:
Real kids
For once home schoolers didn't look like total freaks who never left their homes. They were portrayed as normal everyday kids with problems just like every other family.
Milo
He was super adorable. I liked that he was older than Katya. I could relate to Milo far more than Katya. The book would've been nothing without their subplot. Homeschooled violinist? Yes please.
Interests
Katya did have cute interests in the book. Her fascination with plants and animals and her can-do-anything attitude was hilarious at times.
Francesca
When she FINALLY had a good role in the book! Her character had bounced around so much. By the time I got attached to her, the book was over. Still, she added a nice something.
Annoyances:
GED
Her parents disapproving of GED's, wanting "more" for Katya. You can do anything you would like in life with a GED as long as you are determined.
Education
The lack of actual accredited courses mentioned in the book. Yes, I understand this wasn't a home school instruction manual. But there seemed to be an ultimatum at times for Katya and her parents: "Un-schooling" (no textbooks, simply learning things through life and interests) or public school. Private school was not an option because of price, which makes sense. There is something called accreditation. It's not that pricey. C'mon, people.
Cosmetology
Her Mother's salon seemed like the hickest salon I'd ever heard of. She's allowing her kid to give pedicures? What? And there were far too many descriptions of feet in pedicure bowls.
Likes:
Real kids
For once home schoolers didn't look like total freaks who never left their homes. They were portrayed as normal everyday kids with problems just like every other family.
Milo
He was super adorable. I liked that he was older than Katya. I could relate to Milo far more than Katya. The book would've been nothing without their subplot. Homeschooled violinist? Yes please.
Interests
Katya did have cute interests in the book. Her fascination with plants and animals and her can-do-anything attitude was hilarious at times.
Francesca
When she FINALLY had a good role in the book! Her character had bounced around so much. By the time I got attached to her, the book was over. Still, she added a nice something.
July 22, 2012
I read this book with my son. He read a few chapters to us, but I read most of them to him instead. He's only ten and interested in homeschooling, which we will be trying next year.
We both immensely enjoyed this book together. Nearly all the characters in it are interesting and I found its diversions from predictability refreshing. There were a few things I was so sure we'd have to endure in the story and I found myself pleased it didn't go there.
Occasionally, the book came off as a thinly veiled attempt to educate the reader on homeschooling, but not too often and always made sense at that part of the story.
I got a little teary-eyed at parts, but I think that's because I was reading it aloud. Tears during high emotional moments are hard-wired to my vocal chords which means I'm way more likely to cry if I have to talk at that time.
It's a cute story to read whether you are an adult, or closer to the age group. Even if you aren't interested in homeschooling, or can't be homeschooled it contains refreshing takes on what sort of schooling certain people prefer and why.
My only true beef with the book is Katya's frequent lying, sometimes without any real consequence. However, I think she's done with lying by the end, even though that point wasn't overly emphasized, despite being said outright. If a main character is going to do a lot of lying, I'd prefer this book's resolution over a heavy-handed moral filled with predictable formulas regarding lies and consequences.
However, I particularly enjoyed the focus on certain mind-numbing and infuriating social games that go on in public schools. If this book was around while I attended them...I probably wouldn't have been able to homeschool anyway, but the fictional Homeschool Liberation League may have given me more resolve and validation for avoiding the games as much as I could.
We both immensely enjoyed this book together. Nearly all the characters in it are interesting and I found its diversions from predictability refreshing. There were a few things I was so sure we'd have to endure in the story and I found myself pleased it didn't go there.
Occasionally, the book came off as a thinly veiled attempt to educate the reader on homeschooling, but not too often and always made sense at that part of the story.
I got a little teary-eyed at parts, but I think that's because I was reading it aloud. Tears during high emotional moments are hard-wired to my vocal chords which means I'm way more likely to cry if I have to talk at that time.
It's a cute story to read whether you are an adult, or closer to the age group. Even if you aren't interested in homeschooling, or can't be homeschooled it contains refreshing takes on what sort of schooling certain people prefer and why.
My only true beef with the book is Katya's frequent lying, sometimes without any real consequence. However, I think she's done with lying by the end, even though that point wasn't overly emphasized, despite being said outright. If a main character is going to do a lot of lying, I'd prefer this book's resolution over a heavy-handed moral filled with predictable formulas regarding lies and consequences.
However, I particularly enjoyed the focus on certain mind-numbing and infuriating social games that go on in public schools. If this book was around while I attended them...I probably wouldn't have been able to homeschool anyway, but the fictional Homeschool Liberation League may have given me more resolve and validation for avoiding the games as much as I could.
September 3, 2013
As a homeschooler walking through the teen section of the library, this book caught my eye. Yay! A book about other homeschoolers! Finally, something good that I can relate to!
Not so much.
Maybe my Christian homeschooler experience is a little too narrow. But nothing in this book was at all relatable to any part of my education. It's not like the girl, oh, hmm, maybe DISCUSSED her education with her parents. She was enrolled in middle school, but she just walked out on the first day of eighth grade. Because it felt right in her little hormonal heart.
So she wanders around instead of being in school. While foraging for food she meets a boy who is playing his violin, outside, in his pajamas. And we know how it goes with thirteen-year-olds, they know everything there is to know about the world and relationships so they fall in love and start going out. Things don't stay quite as sweet as you'd like. I definitely remember the scene with hands in each other's back pockets, then hands going up the girl's shirt.
The characters are also very disrespectful. Sure, no kid is perfect, but this girl decides to stay at home when at the same time it seems like all she does is complain about how her mom is doing things. There's some swearing among adult characters. They all act stupid! Like, we could go about this like adults, thinking and planning and sharing opinions and making compromises, or we can scream at each other while our young girl goes into the woods to make out with her boyfriend.
If you like this kind of book, the useless sort of book that doesn't really teach or entertain, the kind of book that's mostly good as a time waster and as kindling, then go ahead and read it. Be aware that this isn't even close to what homeschooling is like. I would strongly recommend against reading this book.
Not so much.
Maybe my Christian homeschooler experience is a little too narrow. But nothing in this book was at all relatable to any part of my education. It's not like the girl, oh, hmm, maybe DISCUSSED her education with her parents. She was enrolled in middle school, but she just walked out on the first day of eighth grade. Because it felt right in her little hormonal heart.
So she wanders around instead of being in school. While foraging for food she meets a boy who is playing his violin, outside, in his pajamas. And we know how it goes with thirteen-year-olds, they know everything there is to know about the world and relationships so they fall in love and start going out. Things don't stay quite as sweet as you'd like. I definitely remember the scene with hands in each other's back pockets, then hands going up the girl's shirt.
The characters are also very disrespectful. Sure, no kid is perfect, but this girl decides to stay at home when at the same time it seems like all she does is complain about how her mom is doing things. There's some swearing among adult characters. They all act stupid! Like, we could go about this like adults, thinking and planning and sharing opinions and making compromises, or we can scream at each other while our young girl goes into the woods to make out with her boyfriend.
If you like this kind of book, the useless sort of book that doesn't really teach or entertain, the kind of book that's mostly good as a time waster and as kindling, then go ahead and read it. Be aware that this isn't even close to what homeschooling is like. I would strongly recommend against reading this book.
February 19, 2010
After spending a summer at nature camp, Katya hates the idea of having to start middle school. It’s boring, she isn’t allowed to learn about what she wants to learn about, and even though she’s trying to turn over a new leaf, she knows she’ll go back to causing trouble just to have something to do. Her solution? Homeschooling. She’ll be able to spend as much time outside with plants and animals as she wants.
Her parents, of course, have a slightly different plan. Once Katya has finally convinced them to give it a try, her mother goes overboard with schedules and lesson plans and the dreaded Daily Instructional Matrix. At this rate, Katya is spending as much time in her mother’s beauty salon as she was at school before.
Katya meets other homeschooled teens, including Milo the cute violin prodigy. There's a cast of supporting characters representing various possibilities on the homeschooling spectrum -- the kid who loved it but is now in school, the kid who hated it and is now in school, the overbearing parents, the unstructured parents, etc. Katya and her parents go back and forth on whether or not she should return to school and how structured her time will be, before finally working out something that works for everyone.
The argument for alternatative learning overshadows the rest of the story at times, but as a former homeschooled kid who didn't hate homeschooling, I have to like a book that doesn't paint all homeschoolers as eccentric hippie free spirits or denim-jumper wearing fundamentalists.
Her parents, of course, have a slightly different plan. Once Katya has finally convinced them to give it a try, her mother goes overboard with schedules and lesson plans and the dreaded Daily Instructional Matrix. At this rate, Katya is spending as much time in her mother’s beauty salon as she was at school before.
Katya meets other homeschooled teens, including Milo the cute violin prodigy. There's a cast of supporting characters representing various possibilities on the homeschooling spectrum -- the kid who loved it but is now in school, the kid who hated it and is now in school, the overbearing parents, the unstructured parents, etc. Katya and her parents go back and forth on whether or not she should return to school and how structured her time will be, before finally working out something that works for everyone.
The argument for alternatative learning overshadows the rest of the story at times, but as a former homeschooled kid who didn't hate homeschooling, I have to like a book that doesn't paint all homeschoolers as eccentric hippie free spirits or denim-jumper wearing fundamentalists.
November 10, 2012
Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com
After spending a great summer at Wilderness Discovery Camp, thirteen-year-old Katya doesn't want to go back to school and will do anything to avoid returning. She convinces her parents to try homeschooling for one month.
Homeschooling, she thinks, will allow her to explore what she wants to learn about. She even meets a cute boy named Milo and starts dating him. Best of all, she doesn't have to set foot in a stuffy school and learn what she's forced to study.
Her parents, however, have different ideas of what her education should entail. Instead of exploring science and nature out where it counts, she's stuck in her mom's beauty shop studying in front of the DIM (Daily Instructional Matrix).
With the help of a mysterious new friend and Milo, she forms the Homeschool Liberation League to help her parents see her idea of education. Will Katya convince her parents that she deserves to learn how she learns best? Will Katya get to stay homeschooled or will she have to go back to public school?
A funny, unique approach to seeing education through a teen's point of view. The author does a great job of creating engaging characters whose emotions and struggles seem to capture what being a teen is like. Readers will have an easy time relating to Katya and will enjoy reading this story cover to cover.
After spending a great summer at Wilderness Discovery Camp, thirteen-year-old Katya doesn't want to go back to school and will do anything to avoid returning. She convinces her parents to try homeschooling for one month.
Homeschooling, she thinks, will allow her to explore what she wants to learn about. She even meets a cute boy named Milo and starts dating him. Best of all, she doesn't have to set foot in a stuffy school and learn what she's forced to study.
Her parents, however, have different ideas of what her education should entail. Instead of exploring science and nature out where it counts, she's stuck in her mom's beauty shop studying in front of the DIM (Daily Instructional Matrix).
With the help of a mysterious new friend and Milo, she forms the Homeschool Liberation League to help her parents see her idea of education. Will Katya convince her parents that she deserves to learn how she learns best? Will Katya get to stay homeschooled or will she have to go back to public school?
A funny, unique approach to seeing education through a teen's point of view. The author does a great job of creating engaging characters whose emotions and struggles seem to capture what being a teen is like. Readers will have an easy time relating to Katya and will enjoy reading this story cover to cover.
September 1, 2009
Anyone who's ever been to middle school has, at least once, felt the dread of waking up in the morning, knowing it won't be long before you walk through the front doors of a prison-esque humiliatorium designed to stupefy and bore. Kaitlyn - now calling herself "Katya" - has had enough. This will be the year she escapes the dull classes of MVB Middle School (which have lead her to some, er, creative trouble-making). Inspired by her wilderness camp experience with homeschooled friend Rosie and mentor Dmitri (who coined her new Katya moniker), she is going to design her own coursework, à la her summer at wilderness camp. Her parents need convincing, though - school is not camp, and their idea of homeschooling is just as rigid as MVB! When Katya meets a homeschooled boy (a very cute, very talented homeschooled boy named Milo) who would give anything to live a normal life at a regular high school, she starts to reconsider her angle. With the help of her new friend Francesca and new crush Milo, Katya stumbles into the Homeschool Liberation League. This sweet, funny novel, while not terribly plot-driven, makes for great summer reading, and will surely inspire many teens to discover a Homeschool Liberation League of their own.
November 4, 2010
Kaity (who prefers the name Katya) runs away from school on the first day when she realizes that the person she is at school is not the person she wants to be. She doesn’t want to conform to middle school social pressures, and she doesn’t want to waste her time doing uninteresting busywork. What she wants to do is homeschool and spend most of her time intensively studying invasive plants.
From there, the book deals with her parents’ see-sawing views on homeschooling and her new homeschooled friend, Milo’s, quest to get himself into school. The book actually isn’t pro- or against homeschooling. It merely points out that different things work for different kids. If there is a message at all (hidden in a subversive manner — the book is NOT didactic) it’s that every kid (and his/her parent) should look at the kid’s school situation and see if it’s working. And if it’s not, for whatever reason, than a solution should be sought — even if that solution means staying at the same school.
I found this book to be an interesting fun read and not at all what I expected. I kept thinking I had gotten the feel of the book when there would be a plot twist that would surprise me again. I would recommend this book for kids 10 & up.
From there, the book deals with her parents’ see-sawing views on homeschooling and her new homeschooled friend, Milo’s, quest to get himself into school. The book actually isn’t pro- or against homeschooling. It merely points out that different things work for different kids. If there is a message at all (hidden in a subversive manner — the book is NOT didactic) it’s that every kid (and his/her parent) should look at the kid’s school situation and see if it’s working. And if it’s not, for whatever reason, than a solution should be sought — even if that solution means staying at the same school.
I found this book to be an interesting fun read and not at all what I expected. I kept thinking I had gotten the feel of the book when there would be a plot twist that would surprise me again. I would recommend this book for kids 10 & up.
November 6, 2010
Katie is sick of school. She is sick of sitting in class, listening to teachers read the answers out of the back of the book. She is sick of getting in trouble because of things she does to alleviate her boredom.
Summer at wilderness camp was different. There she was Katya. There she was encouraged to challenge the status quo. There she learned. If only school could be like wilderness camp.
Then Katie has an idea. She will be home schooled instead. Then she can learn what she wants, at the pace she wants. Now if only she can get her parents and teachers to see it is the best thing for her. Then everything would be perfect.
Author Lucy Frank has struck a good balance with this young adult novel of one girls journey to find the right school and the right place for her. Others have pointed out that in the end, everyone of the characters ends up back in school, which does weaken what could be a very good critique of modern education.
Still the story is well written, the characters well drawn, and the scrapes that Katie/Katya gets into are believable, if sometimes painful. We also see that high school is a hard place for everyone, not just the odd. Which is a good message for teenagers to hear.
Summer at wilderness camp was different. There she was Katya. There she was encouraged to challenge the status quo. There she learned. If only school could be like wilderness camp.
Then Katie has an idea. She will be home schooled instead. Then she can learn what she wants, at the pace she wants. Now if only she can get her parents and teachers to see it is the best thing for her. Then everything would be perfect.
Author Lucy Frank has struck a good balance with this young adult novel of one girls journey to find the right school and the right place for her. Others have pointed out that in the end, everyone of the characters ends up back in school, which does weaken what could be a very good critique of modern education.
Still the story is well written, the characters well drawn, and the scrapes that Katie/Katya gets into are believable, if sometimes painful. We also see that high school is a hard place for everyone, not just the odd. Which is a good message for teenagers to hear.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2014
This is a great book about an extremely intelligent girl who is bored to tears with her school and wants to homeschool. She has great ideas for science projects which she desperately wants to continue, but she keeps being pulled back by her mind numbing school. She finally gets her parents to let her try homeschool, but they make her life so regimented with lesson plans they have found that she has only transferred her place of schooling and not they type of education she needs.
In the course of the book, she meets some other kids that are homeschooled and gets her parents to meet them. Some of the kids like it an others don't. This isn't a book that particularly encourages homeschooling, but shows how it can work and how unschooling can work well for certain types of students. By the end of the book, a number of educational situations are explored and the reader is left to decide which one would be right for them.
In the course of the book, she meets some other kids that are homeschooled and gets her parents to meet them. Some of the kids like it an others don't. This isn't a book that particularly encourages homeschooling, but shows how it can work and how unschooling can work well for certain types of students. By the end of the book, a number of educational situations are explored and the reader is left to decide which one would be right for them.
January 26, 2011
This was a cute story. Homeschooling (or thinking about homeschooling) parents and tween/teens will enjoy this book. The author does a great job showing what most homeschooling parents go through: the worrying over whether or not we are doing what's best for our kids; the way parents change their homeschooling style the longer they've been at it, etc. And also both sides of the public school/homeschool coin: school not being the right place for all teens to learn/homeschooling not totally working out for them. I know it is a Young Adult read, but I think the romance storyline could have been left out. lol It really didn't add anything to the story.
December 2, 2009
After spending an amazing summer at Wilderness Camp and making a good friend who is homeschooled, Katya decides that she needs to be homeschooled as well. While her parents are reluctant, specifically because they both have their own work and do not feel capable of homeschooling, Katya convinces them to let her try. Katya forms the Homeschool Liberation League with her new friends Milo and Francesca. The book is cute and sweet but nothing special.
January 11, 2010
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this book but I really liked it and I already have a handful of kids at the library who I think would like it too. It's an interesting set-up and definitely a timely one. I also liked that Frank puts the emphasis on the importance of finding the right situation for you, whether it be homeschooling or public school or a combo of both. The romance between Milo and Katya was sweet but the cast of public school friends felt unfinished.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews