Two Kid's Who Have Never Been To School.

Okay I've got two characters who spent their first eight years on an isolated manor with an evil grandmother, they killed her, escaped, were found on the streets and placed in foster care. Know they're being sent to school, they don't have an education beyond reading and times tables, and have never interacted with other children before. Likely difficulties?

They won't get sarcasm.

They won't get slang.

Won't know celebrities.

Won't get the subtler points of school (for example, when I went to sixth grade public, after a year and a half of homeschooling, I was baffled by the fact I had to actually keep my notes, since I was a listen-and-absorb type of person. Ended up getting a 0 on a science test because all the questions were like "on page 6 of your notes...")

If raised with at least some respect for the rules, won't understand that some rules are "OK" to break in school.

If they know a lot about a particular subject (maybe due to interests) they might not realize other people don't know it.

Be very sensitive to cursing and insults.

Alternatively, given their abusive upbringing, they might regard all rules as arbitrary and have a problem with authority, getting themselves into trouble.

edited 3rd Jun '11 3:14:18 AM by BobbyG

Well due to the constant abuse from their Gran they probably have Reactive Attachmant Disorder.

Depends on the abuse. All types of abuse are different. Just because you hate someone, doesn't mean you are fully aware of how much they did or said was "wrong" or "right"

But yeah, I'm just going by in general things. You need to tailor them to fit your work.

Well Jack hides his emotions, is pretty introverted and shy, but cunning and adaptable. Piper is very abrasive and angry, prone to lashing out, manipulitive, stubborn.

So anything that could get them bullied?

Almost all the things AHR listed can get you bullied.

So what subjects do you think would be hardest to an eight year who'd never been taught them?

That depends largely on their individual interests and learning types.

If all they learned of mathematics previously was their times tables, they are probably innumerate, so math and math-related subjects like physics and chemistry will likely be difficult for them.

How might they react to interacting with other children for the first time? Also the kid's are part fair folk, any ways that could affect it?

edited 3rd Jun '11 5:14:12 AM by Zolnier

That depends on the kids and their personalities, really.

What are The Fair Folk like in this 'verse?

Standard mythology, a bit watered down because of human blood. Check the thread fairy human hybrids in world building.

The traditional portrayal of The Fair Folk is actually extremely variable, but their sheer otherness is a nigh universal quality. That is to say, these kids are probably going to seem extremely odd (maybe even sinister), and kids are not known for their tolerance of oddness.

Jack could probably make friends with easygoing kids, but as he's shy, then somebody will probably need to actually extend an offer of friendship to him. Alternatively, he could wind up a loner, but if so he sounds like a difficult person to provoke or wound, so he will probably be regarded positively by some of his classmates.

Piper is likely a lot more belligerant, and will probably attract bullies. This may in turn draw negative attention towards Jack as well.

Of course, if these kids are part fair folk, bullying them is probably a grave mistake.

So how might they get along with foster siblings?

How might the abuse affect their interactions?

From this site:

So think the magic might affect their situation much?

Well, that's a fantasy element, so it's up to you, isn't it? It's something to factor into the equation. I'd imagine it would affect how they see themselves, and increase their ability for destructive behaviour.

They were told by their gran that magic is normal.

So they'll unexpectedly find themselves having a substantial advantage over the other kids due to something they previously took for granted. That could be an interesting surprise. Might even go to their heads.

Any damaging lies they could have been fed about the outside world?

Also do Jack and Piper's perosnalities sound plausible for victems of abuse and isolation?

Can you answer any of these questions for yourself?