Old School

In classic Korman (Slugfest) fashion, an otherwise ordinary school is thrown into upheaval by the arrival of an unexpectedly chaotic element in this endearing story. With his parents constantly moving for work, white-cued 12-year-old Dexter Foreman lives with his grandmother in the Pines retirement community. Then the county catches on to his unofficial homeschooling by his elderly neighbors and decrees that he attend public school. His classmates aren’t sure what to make of him: he dresses like a senior citizen, has the skills to fix everything from coffee makers to broken steps, and can effortlessly dodge punches from bullies. Just when he’s starting to fit in, Dexter is suspended for breaking a school rule he never knew existed. Now it’s up to his new friends to prove just how much he’s had an impact on their lives with his old-fashioned influences. The gentle absurdity of Dexter’s classmates’ newly minted obsession with shuffleboard, hot tea, and bingo, and their finding common ground with reinvigorated senior citizens resonates with good-natured humor. The underlying theme of valuing the past while looking to the future adds further charm to Dexter’s struggle to find his own place in the world. Ages 8–12. Agent: Elizabeth Harding, Curtis Brown Ltd. (Jan.)