Around the World: Chicago - Felix's Story

Felix loves math. His classroom just told him loving it might be a problem.

Around the World: Chicago follows a middle schooler whose favorite subject gets caught up in a classroom push toward "equity" policies that reward outcomes over effort. When Felix is told his own hard work and love of math don't fit the new rules, he sets out to prove that discipline, practice, and honest effort still matter—no matter what trend is shaping the lesson plan that year.

Written for middle and high school readers, Felix's story helps kids see the difference between equity and opportunity, and why rewarding effort and achievement builds confidence rather than resentment. It's a story about sticking with what you're good at, even when the adults around you say the rules have changed.

Around the World is PragerU's flagship series for readers 6th grade and up, tackling big, complex ideas (DEI in the classroom, communism, freedom of speech) through relatable characters and honest, age-appropriate storytelling. Each book is built to spark real conversations between kids and the adults raising them.

Ideal for:

• Parents looking to talk through DEI and classroom policy in terms a middle schooler can understand
• Grandparents seeking values-driven gifts for tweens and teens
• Teachers and homeschool educators building character education or civics content

Pair with the rest of the Around the World series for a full library of age-appropriate lessons in hard work, resilience, and American values.