Armstrong & Charlie

In 1970s U.S., with school segregation still rampant, Armstrong and Charlie meet when Armstrong is bused from his lower-class neighbourhood to Wonderland School in Hollywood Hills, which Charlie attends. Charlie’s friends have moved to new schools in opposition to the busing program and the two boys learn through a series of positive and negative situations that although they are different, they are the same. Suitable for grades 7-9, the text can be used for class read-aloud, literature circle, book club, or independent reading and its “same but different” theme can lead to rich discussion and activities centred on discrimination, stereotyping, racism, bullying, and personal choices.