One Stirred Up a Hornets Nest

Ben, a teenager from Mount Blanc, Quebec, wishes he were someone else. Mocked by the Poonies for his color of skin, he yearns to be accepted. Yet, as he strives to change himself for others, his relationships begin to disintegrate. Carlin, an aspiring young writer, challenges his English teacher, Ms. Belair, for banning Shakespeare in class while his favorite teacher, Mr. Singh, tries to stop bullying against those who question and challenge what seems to be an ideological takeover of their school. Meanwhile, Kdolls leads an escalating protest to ’de-claw’ the French Language and make it safe for everyone in Quebec. A powerful examination of education and politics that would have been considered satire just a decade ago, Benjamen Freeman’s hard-hitting novel asks poignant questions about feelings, imagination, and racism with humorous, realistic, and well-plotted portrayals of high school.