Armstrong and Charlie are about to start sixth grade at Wonderland School, outside of Los Angeles, in the 1970s. It’s Armstrong’s first year there; he is one of several black students bused in through a new Opportunity Busing program. The story of their unlikely friendship is told through their engrossing first person narratives in alternating chapters. Charlie and his parents, who are Jewish, are still struggling to come to terms with Charlie’s older brother’s recent death. Charlie’s classmates call him “Rule Boy,” a striking contrast to Armstrong’s cavalier and often-belligerent attitude at school. In many ways, it’s a typical middle school year with cliques, occasional fights, pranks, bullying, personal loss, first kisses, and racism. As Armstrong and Charlie navigate their way through, they find themselves becoming first tenuous and then good friends. Strong adults, like their fathers, Armstrong’s neighbor Mr. Khalil, and school monitor Mrs. Gaines help guide the boys through moments of failure and success, sensitivity, and kindness. Occasional humor, such as Mrs. Gaines’ written reports and a Ho Ho’s escapade, lighten the heavier themes of the book. Historical details are neatly woven in. Frank’s prose reads easy; phrases like a “friendship turned cold” and the “inside of his house is like a big hug you weren’t expecting” will reach readers’ hearts. Charlie and Armstrong are memorable characters who provide readers with satisfying insight, reminding us that we are all “different and the same.” Reviewer: Peg Glisson; Ages 11 to 14.
03/01/2017
Gr 5–8—This story of an unlikely friendship alternates between the points of view of two boys from disparate backgrounds in 1970s Los Angeles. Charlie, who is Jewish, lives with his parents in a big home in the Hollywood Hills, where they are still mourning the death of his older brother. Armstrong, who is African American, lives with his parents and his sisters in an apartment building in South Central. Because of "Opportunity Busing" for Armstrong, both are starting sixth grade at Wonderland in Laurel Canyon. In spite of their differences and a rocky beginning, Charlie and Armstrong become good friends throughout the course of the school year. Together they confront racism, grief, and bullying. Strong language (including the use of racial slurs and sexist terms) and references to naked girls and French kissing make this a selection best suited for mature middle graders. VERDICT This uplifting and touching exploration of friendship, with a vivid setting, is a solid addition to most middle school libraries.—Laurie Slagenwhite Walters, Brighton District Library, Brighton, MI
★ 2017-01-17
Two sixth-grade boys from different worlds are brought together by school desegregation in 1970s Los Angeles."Opportunity Busing" brings Armstrong and nine other middle schoolers from South Central LA to integrate the previously all-white Wonderland Avenue School in the Hollywood Hills. Armstrong, a witty and sharp-witted black boy, plays fast and loose with the rules at his new school, where not everyone is welcoming. Charlie, one of Wonderland's white students, has earned the nickname "Rules Boy" and is curious about the tough-talking Armstrong. Charlie lives with his parents, who are grieving the death of Charlie's older brother. Armstrong lives with his parents and a house full of older sisters. The boys find that their many differences can be bridged and that friendship is possible, if not easy. For Armstrong, Charlie, and their classmates, this memorable school year is a time of discovery and disappointment, fistfights, and first kisses. Period details from the '70s and hilarious dialogue will draw readers in from the very first pages. Inspired by the author's own sixth-grade experience, the story perfectly captures the full spectrum of budding adolescence; Armstrong and Charlie are as sensitive as they are daring as they figure out who they want to be in the changing world around them. Unforgettable, well-drawn titular characters are the heart of this deeply moving and laugh-out-loud funny story about family, friendship, integrity, and navigating differences. (Historical fiction. 10-14)
