YA Novels About Homeschool

I just finished reading Jerry Spinelli’s Stargirl books, and, wow, were they good! He created so many lovable characters from Stargirl herself to Leo, Dootsie, Perry, Betty Lou, Alvina (well, she’s sort of lovable), and of course, Archie and his cactus friend Senor Saguaro.

As a character, Stargirl (aka Susan Julia Caraway) is ebullient, unpredictable, and relentlessly kind. She doesn’t fit in at Mica High School. Is it because she has been homeschooled?

Mystery tends to surround homeschoolers, and that’s funny. But because of this, YA novels featuring homeschoolers have blossomed as of late. And now that we’re all homeschoolers to some degree or other, we can all bond around this growing education option.

Let’s take a look at some of the fun YA reads featuring homeschoolers.

Stargirl and Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

These books aren’t new. They were published in 2000 and 2007, respectively. In Stargirl, a new girl shows up at small-town Mica High. She dresses weird, plays her ukulele to kids in the cafeteria on their birthdays, and carries around a pet rat named Cinnamon. No matter how others react to her (and the student body alternately embraces and shuns her), she remains unfailingly kind and optimistic. This book is written from Leo Borlock’s point of view. The sequel, Love, Stargirl, is written from Stargirl’s perspective. Her family has moved to Pennsylvania, and she writes the story as one long letter to Leo.

Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr

Clearly, Nim can’t go to public school. She lives on a deserted island with her scientist dad. The book really captures reasons that many people homeschool: some families love to learn experientially rather than from books. The story is full of adventure, and it might just inspire you to learn more about frigate birds, leafy sea dragons, and green sea turtles.

Schooled by Gordon Korman

Thirteen-year-old Cap can already drive, but he’s never watched television. Having grown up on an isolated “alternate farm commune,” he has a different skillset than the other kids he meets when he enrolls in middle school. Pair this book with Stargirl, and you’ll have the makings of an excellent discussion on the topic of conformity.

Alice, I Think by Alice MacLeod

Fifteen-year-old Alice has been homeschooled since she was young, but she decides it’s time to give school another try. Written in diary format, this witty novel gives voice to a very unique voice. Alice’s therapist encourages her to pursue her Life Goals, and she goes about fulfilling them in an offhand, accidental way. 

Chicken Friend by Nicola Morgan

Becca’s family is kind of embarrassing, and when she moves to the country, all she wants to do is fit in. But being homeschooled and raising chickens (and having diabetes, shhh) doesn’t help her cause. When Becca meets two cool girls, she decides she’ll do just about anything to earn their friendship.

Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass

Ally lives at the Moon Shadow Campground, an isolated place where thousands of people gather to catch a glimpse of a rare eclipse of the sun. Jack Tenpenny cringes when he thinks about facing big crowds; he fears they’ll ignore him because he’s awkward and overweight. Bree knows she’s beautiful, and she’s skeptical of the attention she receives because of her good looks. What happens when these three teens come together?

Feed by M. T. Anderson

It’s the future. People connect to the Internet via feeds implanted in their brains, and Titus and his friends clash with a crazy hacker who causes all their feeds to malfunction. He encounters Violet, a homeschooler who fights the feed and its ability to categorize all human thoughts and motivations.

The Homeschool Liberation League by Lucy Frank

After returning from Wilderness Camp, Katya refuses to return to school. She begs, pleads, and campaigns to be homeschooled, and her parents finally give in. Off to a rocky start, Katya forms the Homeschool Liberation League with her new friends Francesca and Milo. It’s a realistic view of homeschool, unschool, public school, and the need for a personalized education.

This Girl is Different by JJ Johnson

Evie has always been homeschooled by her counter-culture mother, but she decides to spend her senior year at the local public high school. Her unique mindset runs up against the social minefield she encounters at school. With new friends, Jacinda and Rajas, she puts together a blog about abuse of authority, and their revolution spins out of control.

Do you know of other books that feature homeschooled characters? Let us know!

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