The School for Whatnots
By Michael Berry,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Tweens question identity in clever sci-fi puzzler.
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What's the Story?
As THE SCHOOL FOR WHATNOTS opens, Max finds under his keyboard a note from his best friend, Josie. The message says, "No matter what anyone tells you, I'm real!" Confused and scared he'll never see his friend again, Max starts looking for Josie and hears about a mysterious school for kids pretending to be androids ... and vice versa. Soon the kids he meets are questioning the very nature of reality.
Is It Any Good?
Robots are popular characters in sci-fi, and this mindboggling adventure pits kids against machines. Author Margaret Peterson Haddix poses some twisty philosophical questions about humanity and identity. It's sometimes hard to distinguish one character from another, but the main characters -- Max, Josie, and Ivy -- are vibrant and memorable. The School for Whatnots is a stand-alone tale, and Haddix infuses it with a lot of tension, even if there some times when the suspense plateaus. Another solid effort by a master of the tween thriller.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The School for Whatnots and how it uses a narrator to tell its story. Why does the author use so many different perspectives?
How do you define happiness? Are you happier if you have more money?
Why are Max and Josie so devoted to each other? What characteristics define a good friendship?
Book Details
- Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Friendship , Middle School , Robots
- Character Strengths: Courage , Curiosity , Teamwork
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
- Publication date: March 1, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 304
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: May 11, 2022
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