Susan Hughes

When North American kids picture a school, odds are they see rows of desks, stacks of textbooks, and linoleum-tiled hallways. They probably don't picture boats, tents, or train platforms -- but there are schools on boats, and in tents, and on train platforms. There are green schools, mobile schools, and even tree house schools. There's a whole world of unusual schools out there!

But the most amazing thing about these schools isn't their location or what they look like. It's that they provide a place for students who face some of the toughest environmental and cultural challenges, and live some of the most unique lifestyles, to learn. Education is not readily available for kids everywhere, and many communities are strapped for the resources that would make it easier for kids to go to school. In short, it's not always easy getting kids off to class -- but people around the world are finding creative ways to do it.

In Off to Class, readers will travel to India, Burkina Faso, and Brazil; to Russia, China, Uganda, and a dozen other countries, to visit some of these incredible schools, and, through personal interviews conducted by author Susan Hughes, meet the students who attend them, too. And their stories aren't just inspiring; they'll also get you to think about school and the world in a whole new way.

"Off to Class is an easy-to-read yet detailed book that should, at the very least, be in every school library, if not every classroom and home." (Quill & Quire)

"Unusual and useful." (Kirkus Reviews)