GORDON KORMAN : Book Descriptions ​ ​ Interested in some fun and adventurous reading? Try some or all of Gordon Korman’s books. See how many you can read before he arrives at our school on March 30 & 31, 2016.

Most of his books are realistic fiction. Several of his stand­alone books are quite humorous but also have a valuable message. Many of his series are adventurous and quite suspenseful. Enjoy !

Section 1­­­ Korman’s stand-alone books; considered appropriate for grades ​ ​ 5-8.

Ungifted:

Ungifted is a new title about a young struggling student troublemaker who is ​ accidentally transferred to a school for highly­gifted genius­level students. To say he doesn't fit in would be a severe understatement. But while Donovan Curtis in no way belongs, he does find things he can contribute.

How long will it take for the school to realize he doesn't belong? How much trouble will he get in as they figure it out? And how many lives will he change in the process? These are hard questions to answer without reading the book. Thankfully, it is a fun read, so discovering these answers will be a joy. (Lexile 730) Schooled : Capricorn, 13, lives with his hippie grandmother on a farm commune. He's never been to school, never watched TV, and doesn't even own a phone. When Rain falls out of a tree whilepicking plums and is sent to rehab for several weeks, Cap stays with a social worker and is sent to the local junior high school. There he is introduced to iPods, cell phones, spit balls, and harassment. Cap, with his long frizzy hair, hemp shoes, and serene ignorance of everything most of the kids care about, is the dweebiest of the dweebs, and it's the custom at this school to elect such a kid to be eighth­grade class president (which offers extra humiliation opportunities). The story is told from multiple points of view, adding depth to even the most unsympathetic characters. Korman's humor is a mix of edgy and silly, the plot moves along at a steady pace. School Library Journal ​

Korman's novel narrated by the good, the bad and the only slightly involved is his usual smart, funny, slightly skewed realism. Tweens will definitely identify and could view their grandparents in a whole new light. Ages 9­14 Kirkus Review (Lexile 740) ​ ​

No More Dead Dogs: Eighth­grade football hero Wallace Wallace is sentenced to detention attending rehearsals of the school play where, in spite of himself, he becomes wrapped up in the production and begins to suggest changes that improve not only the play but his life as well. (Lexile 610)

th The 6 ​ Grade Nickname Game: ​ Eleven­year­old best friends Jeff and Wiley, who like to give nicknames to their classmates, try to find the right one for the new girl Cassandra, while adjusting to the football coach who has become their new teacher. (Lexile 640)

POP: When Marcus Jordan moves to a new town over the summer, he doesn’t ​ know a soul. While practicing football for impending tryouts, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with a middle­aged man. Charlie is a charismatic prankster – and also the best football player Marcus has ever seen. Marcus can’t believe his luck when he finds out that Charlie is actually Charlie Popovich, of “The King of Pop,” as he had been nicknamed during his career as an NFL linebacker. But that’s not all. There’s a secret about Charlie that his family is desperate to hide … (Lexile 740)

Maxx Comedy—The Funniest Kid in America: Eleven­year­old Max Carmody feels he has met his destiny when he sees an announcement for "The Funniest Kid in America" contest, but his quest to create a video that will get him into the running turns into a comedy of errors. (Lexile 770)

The Chicken Doesn’t Skate Milo’s science project charts the growth of a baby chick, but he’s baffled by the rest of his class. They name the chick Henrietta. They sign up to take her home on weekends. They claim she’s a good luck charm, a friend, and the hockey team’s new mascot. But when they find out that Henrietta will be cooked and eaten at the science fair, the feathers really start to fly. (Lexile 710)

he Toilet Paper Tigers: The Feather­Soft Tigers never imagined Little League could be so humiliating. Life is tough when your team sponsor is a bathroom tissue manufacturing company. Worse, the Tigers are awful! Forget about winning – they can’t even ​ ​ get a man on base. Enter Kristy Pendergast, the coach’s obnoxious granddaughter and a gigantic pain in the neck. But when Kristy takes over as coach, her crazy schemes pull the Tigers out of their slump and send them on the ultimate Cinderella­story winning streak. (Lexile 650)

Radio Fifth Grade: All Benjy Driver ever wanted was for his school’s radio show to be a success. When he finds himself stuck with a talking parrot who won’t talk, a bully who hogs the airwaves, and way too much homework, he’s sure Kidsview is doomed. Instead, the ratings soar, and he and his co­hosts have to come up with one scheme after another to keep their show on top, and themselves a step ahead of disaster. (Lexile 690)

Liar Liar Pants on Fire: Zoe, an imaginative third grader, thinks that she has to make things up to be interesting, until a good friend and an eagle convince her that she does not have to lie to be special. (This one often appeals to a slightly younger audience) (Lexile 460)

Section 2­­­Korman’s series books; considered appropriate for grades 5­8. ​

Masterminds (Book 1 of Korman’s NEWEST evolving trilogy) Eli Frieden ​ ​ lives in the most perfect town in the world: Serenity, New Mexico. Everyone has a great house, with a pool. Money problems and crime are unheard of. Honesty and integrity are valued above all else. The thirty kids who live there never lie. They know it’s a short leap from that to the awful problems of other, less fortunate places. Eli has never left Serenity … until, one day, he bikes to the edge of the city limits and something so crazy and unexpected happens that it changes everything. Eli convinces his friends to help him investigate further, and it soon becomes clear that nothing is as it seems in Serenity. The clues mount to reveal a shocking discovery, linking their ideal community to some of the greatest criminal masterminds ever known. (Lexile 730)

COMING IN FEBRUARY 2016 ­ MASTERMINDS: BOOK 2 ​ ​ Get ready for the next installment of my newest series. Follow Eli, Tori, Malik, and Amber as they try to discover the truth of their origins and carve a life for themselves in an outside world that is unfamiliar, baffling, and dangerous. But Project Osiris and its enforcers, the Purple People Eaters, are hot on their trail. They’re free for now. But for how long …?

The Hypnotist trilogy The Hypnotist (Book 1) 12­year­old Jackson Opus doesn’t know it, but he’s the ​ ​ most powerful natural hypnotist on earth. At first, Jax thinks his new talent is beyond awesome. How would you feel if you could make anybody do whatever you want them to? But the reality turns out to be a little more complicated. What will his remarkable abilities be used for? That’s the big question for Jax as his hypnotic gifts draw him into a conspiracy that has him racing against time to save his best friend, his parents, and the entire free world. (Lexile 750)

Memory Maze (Book 2): The world’s most powerful mind­bender is back! Jax ​ ​ and his family have escaped New York City, but are they really any safer in hiding? Strange things are happening, starting with an unbelievable invitation from one of the richest men on earth. Back in New York, hypnotists are mysteriously disappearing. Could it be the work of Dr. Elias Mako and his Sentia Institute? Or is something entirely different going on? (Lexile 780)

The Dragonfly Effect: (Book 3): The thrilling conclusion of THE ​ ​ HYPNOTISTS trilogy. Jax has been recruited by the U.S. Army’s Hypnotic Warfare Research Department. But Dr. Elias Mako has escaped from prison, and this time he has a plan to use mesmeric power to bring the entire world to its knees. (Lexile 760)

Swindle series­­­ (These books all have the same characters, but they actually ​ can be read and enjoyed independently of one another.) Swindle: After unscrupulous collector S. Wendell Palamino cons him out of a valuable baseball ​ card, sixth­grader Griffin Bing puts together a band of misfits to break into Palomino's heavily guarded store and steal the card back, planning to use the money to finance his father's failing invention, the Smart Pick fruit picker. (Lexile 710)

Zoobreak: After a class trip to a floating zoo where animals are mistreated and Savannah's ​ missing pet monkey is found in a cage, Long Island sixth­grader Griffin Bing and his band of misfits plan a rescue. (Lexile 700)

Framed: The Man with the Plan needs help from his friends at Cedarville Middle School to ​ ​ clear him of a crime he didn't commit. When a valuable Super Bowl ring goes missing, the principal is convinced that Griffin is involved, and the kids are convinced that Principal Egan is trying to pin the heist on them. It appears that Griffin has been framed, and each attempt to clear his name seems to get the friends in more trouble. (Lexile 730)

Showoff: When Luthor goes berserk at a mall dog show, he's accused of ​ ruining the career of the three­time best­in­show beagle. Griffin always knew that Luthor's viciousness was simmering just below the surface ­ so why does he feel bad enough to spring him from the pound? Griffin and his team have a new plan. This one involves New York City, a sinister saboteur, a reclusive dog­trainer who's quit the business, an international dog show, and a whole lot of red dye. (Lexile 740) Hideout: This is the story of Griffn and Savannah hiding Luthor at Camp ​ Ebony Lake – despite the treachery of Darren Vader, a private investigator hired by Swindle, and a legendary monster that hasn't been seen in decades. (Lexile 750) Jackpot: The latest SWINDLE caper, coming in January 2014. This time the team is on the trail ​ ​ of a lost winning lottery ticket – with a prize of $30 million! But the expiration date is fast approaching. They have to act fast, because in just a few days, that $30­million­dollar jackpot will be worth exactly zero! (Lexile 760) Unleashed: (January 2015) The ex­guard dog has a dangerous new hobby – chasing cars. And ​ ​ no amount of dog­whispering from Savannah can do anything to stop it. Meanwhile, Cedarville Middle School has joined Invent­a­Palooza, a national competition for young inventors. As the son of a real professional inventor, Griffin is expected to ace the contest. But he faces stiff competition from Darren Vader, and even from one of his own best friends. The big story becomes mutiny on the SWINDLE team – until the front­running invention mysteriously disappears. (Lexile 730)

The Dive trilogy: Book One: The Discovery (Lexile 760) ​ ​ Book Two: The Deep (Lexile 750) ​ ​ Book Three: The Danger (Lexile 700) ​ ​ Kaz, Dante, Adriana, and Star, who are interning as research divers for the summer, find ​ ​ themselves searching for a centuries­old treasure and fending off killer sharks. These four adolescents try to raise a British ship which sank in the Caribbean in 1665 with a cargo of gold on board. However, they cannot trust anyone not even themselves. And how does their story interweave with that of Samuel Higgins, a boy who died in that shipwreck?

The Island trilogy: Book One: Shipwreck (Lexile 610) ​ ​ Book Two: Survival (Lexile 600) ​ ​ Book Three: Escape (Lexile 620) ​ ​ Six children try to survive on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean after a storm destroys their boat. Having survived the shipwreck and a week with no food, they find themselves in danger of being found by a deadly group of smugglers­­and the situation grows even more dire when the smugglers stumble across an atomic bomb left there in 1945.

Everest trilogy: Book One: The Contest (Lexile 690) ​ ​ Book Two: The Climb (Lexile 710) ​ ​ Book Three: The Summit (Lexile 700) ​ ​ Four climbers, winners of an American Junior Alpine Association contest, vie to become the youngest person ever to reach the peak of Mount Everest, but their expedition turns into a life­or­death rescue mission as they deal with low supplies, extreme conditions, a storm, and possible sabotage by one of their companions. Titanic trilogy: Book One: Unsinkable (Lexile 820) ​ ​ Book Two: Collision Course (Lexile 770) ​ ​ Book Three: S.O.S. (Lexile 820) ​ ​ Four children­­Paddy, Sophie, Juliana, and Alfie­­are the only people on the Titanic who know that a killer is on the loose, and the threat becomes even bigger when the ship hits an iceberg. This is Korman’s newest series to date.

On The Run series: ​ Book One: Chasing the Falconers (Lexile 680) ​ ​ Book Two: The Fugitive Factor (Lexile 760) ​ ​ Book Three: Now You See Them, Now You Don’t (Lexile 740) ​ ​ Book Four: The Stowaway Solution (Lexile 770) ​ ​ Book Five: Public Enemies (Lexile 790) ​ ​ Book Six: Hunting the Hunter (Lexile 770) ​ ​

15­year­old Aiden and his 11­year­old sister Meg Falconer must escape from a juvenile detention center in order to prove that their parents are innocent of charges which would put them in jail for life. But when their story hits the airwaves, everyone starts looking for them.. Aiden and Meg travel across the country in pursuit of Frank Lindenauer, the man who may hold the key to freeing their parents; however, the FBI is also on his trail and they must also struggle to stay ahead of a creepy hairless killer who is on the hunt. They soon find themselves stowed away on a ship with their lives in danger.

Kidnapped series: ​ Book 1—The Abduction (Lexile 730) ​ ​ Book 2—The Search (Lexile 750) ​ ​ Book 3—The Rescue (Lexile 760) ​ ​ Aiden teams up with the FBI to track down his sister Meg who was kidnapped while they were walking home from school. Attempts to find her are hindered by Meg's efforts to save herself by running away from her captors­­­­a situation that endangers both Meg's and Aiden's lives. This series is actually a sequel to the On The Run series, but it can be read first without any ​ ​ problem.

Section 3: Korman’s contributions to other series ​ Meet the Cahills, the most powerful family of all time. For the past 500 years, this amazing clan has been influencing world events in ways large and small, and changing the course of human history. But over the centuries, the secret of their incredible success has been lost. The only way to recover it is by finding 39 clues hidden all around the globe in the most bizarre, remote, and dangerous places. The Clue Hunt is on! THE 39 CLUES is a groundbreaking multi­author project written with such incredible other writers as Rick Riordin, David Baldacci, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Peter Lerangis, Jude Watson, Patrick Carman, Roland Smith, Linda Sue Park, and more. Korman has written five books in this NY Times bestselling series that has turned into a series of series. Remember: It’s never too late to join the hunt!

39 Clues : One False Note (Book 2) (Lexile 680) The Emperor's Code (Book 8) (Lexile 730)

39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers

Vespers Rising (Book 11: Story Collection that bridges between 39 Clues series & Cahills vs. Vespers series) (Lexile 690) The Medusa Plot (Book 1) (Lexile 730)

39 Clues: Unstoppable

Flashpoint (Book 4) (Lexile 790) ​

Section 4: Korman’s stand­alone books; considered appropriate for grades 7 & up ​ ​ Born To Rock : "Every book should be this entertaining," wrote PW in a ​ ​ starred review of this novel about a teenager who discovers that his absentee father is the lead singer for a punk band. (This title will not be promoted at Greene so there are no copies of this in the Greene media center. Parents and students are welcome to find it on their own and read it for the contest) (Lexile 780)

Jake, Reinvented : ​ Rick becomes friends with the popular new boy, Jake Garrett, football player and host of superlative parties, and in the process discovers the true nature of his schoolmates and uncovers the mystery of Jake's past. (This title will not be promoted or available at Greene. Parents and students are welcome to find it on their own and read it for the contest) ) (Lexile 800)

The Juvie Three : ​ Three young teenagers are offered a shot at redemption in this unlikely but likable comedy of errors. Gecko, Arjay and Terence are all in stir until the compassionate Douglas Healy selects them to live with him in a New York group home. Gecko, jailed for helping his brother steal a car, and gifted musician Arjay are incredibly grateful for the opportunity and vow to make it work. Terence, however, is arrogant, hotheaded and careless; in an attempt to sneak out one night, he causes an accident that knocks Healy unconscious and results in his amnesia. Desperate to avoid being returned to juvie, the three hatch a scheme to cover for Healy, hoping that he will regain his memory in time to save them. The well­developed and distinct personalities of the three boys provide ample ground for Korman to build their frustrations with one another as the fantastical plot moves forward. While perhaps a bit predictable, the emotional growth of each boy is nicely constructed and believable, and the dialogue is spot­on. (This title will not be promoted or available at Greene. Parents and students are welcome to find it on their own and read it for the contest). It is possible to gather copies for certain gifted accelerated literature circles at the teachers’ request) (Lexile 730)

Losing Joe’s Place : ​ Jason and his two friends move into Jason's brother's apartment and manage to wreak havoc in it during one funny and memorable summer. (This is available in the Greene media center. The reason it is considered “grade 7 and up” is because the characters are older teens; but there doesn’t seem to be anything objectionable about the plot, etc.) (Lexile 790)

Son of the Mob (and its’ sequel Hollywood Hustle) Vince Luca is just like any other high school guy. There’s just one thing that sets him apart – his father happens to be the head of a powerful crime organization. Needless to say, his family connections can put a serious cramp in his dating life. How his he supposed to explain to a girl what his father does for a living? But when Vince finally meets a girl who seems to be worth the trouble, her father turns out to be an FBI agent – the one who wants to put Vince’s father away for good. (This title will not be promoted at Greene so ​ there are no copies of this in the Greene media center. Parents and students are welcome to find it on their own and read it for the contest) (Lexile 690)

Section 5: Hard to find books­­ Books that Korman wrote earlier in his career, some of which ​ ​ ​ are currently out­of­print, but can still be found on some library shelves and bookstore shelves.

Bruno and Boots series

1) This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall! 2) Go Jump in the Pool! 3) Beware the Fish! 4) The War with Mr. Wizzle 5) The Zucchini Warriors 6) Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood 7) Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall 1) Nose Pickers series 1) Nose Pickers from Outer Space 2) Planet of the Nose Pickers 3) Your Mummy is a Nose Pickers 4) Invasion of the Nose Pickers

Monday Night Football Club 1) Quarterback Exchange: I was John Elway 2) Running Back conversion: I was Barry Sanders 3) Super Brown Switch: I was Dan Marino 4) Heavy Artillery: I was Junior Seau 5) Ultimate Scoring Machine: I was Jerry Rice

Slapshots: When school sportswriter Clarence “Chipmunk” Adelman finds out ​ that the kids from his hometown of Mars finally get the chance to play in the Waterloo Slapshot League with a former NHL player for a coach, he knows he’s got a Cinderella story hot enough for Sports Illustrated. But when the Stars hit ​ ​ the rink, they’re in for a big surprise. They stink! If they can’t get their game together soon, they’re destined to be booted out of the league. 1 Stars from Mars, The

2 All­Mars All­Stars

3 Face­Off Phony, The 4 Cup Crazy