The Wednesday Wars is one of those underrated books that I wish everyone loved as much as I do.
Holling Hoodhood is the only student in his class who is not Catholic or Jewish, which only becomes apparent when the other students leave for their respective religious studies, and Holling is left alone with his teacher once a week. At first she doesn't know what to do with him, but after a few weeks she decides to have him read Shakespeare. It's amazing.