G.I. Joe Classified

May 15, 2022
The computerized future is a world of wonders--and danger. Eighth grader Stanislaw Migda resents moving from bustling Chicago to sleepy Springfield, but with his dad's death and mom's big promotion, what choice does he have? Stan's first glimpses of Springfield Academy are promising, but nothing can prepare him for the state-of-the-art sophistication of his new school. Mirrored walls, tech-savvy classmates, and textbooks on a portable device called a Lyre that also interacts with users' brain waves make his head spin. An aggressive duo named Anastasia and Michel take Stan under their wing, but it soon becomes apparent that they might be miscreants. A second group of kids, led by Zoro-me, Scarlett, and Julien, rescues Stan from an attack by Michel and takes him to the Arashikage Dojo for an illuminating experience led by two elderly Japanese men. Later, Stan visits the high-tech substation that monitors and controls the Academy...and maybe more? Life in Springfield is far more ominous than he realized and could prove a danger to his tech-averse mom, and Stan's dojo education comes with the responsibility to protect his new home. Skovron keeps the tech elements reader friendly, with the wide-eyed protagonist serving as a stand-in for readers who enter this wondrous new world and confront the forces of evil while learning its powerful secrets. Stan's family emigrated from Poland; students at Springfield Academy are diverse in race and nationality. A buoyant adventure combining colorful characters, a brisk pace, and cyber acumen. (Science fiction. 10-13)

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