Library of Clean Reads: Gordon Korman

Showing posts with label Gordon Korman. Show all posts

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Kid Konnection: Ungifted by Gordon Korman

Ungifted by Gordon Korman
Scholastic Canada
ISBN: 978-1443119207
Published Aug 21, 2012
Hardcover, 280 pages

I simply loved reading Gordon Korman when I was a kid. So sharing this favorite childhood author with my daughter is a real treat. We read Ungifted together and laughed, giggled, snorted and loved our time spent together among Korman's memorable and hilarious characters.

Donovan Curtis is a middle school student who acts impulsively and has a penchant for pulling pranks and getting into trouble. When one of his innocent acts causes a major disaster, Donovan is in big trouble. But a mix-up by one of the administrators lands him at the Academy for Scholastic Distinction (ASD), the school for gifted students. Donovan realizes this is the perfect hideout from Dr. Schultz, the superintendent who is to dole out his punishment. But the students and teachers at ASD quickly figure out Donovan is not gifted at all, except he seems to have the gift for helping the brainiac students in ways neither parties expected.

This book was funny, heartwarming, and filled with surprising twists and turns—classic trademarks of Korman's books. Donovan is an average kid with a good heart who is now hiding from the big superintendent who wonders where he's disappeared to. Donovan knows his days at the Academy are numbered since he can't keep up with the enriched program. The group of super smart kids he ends up befriending realize Donovan's social skills and joystick manoeuvres come in handy in their robotics class. After a few mishaps, and some humorous problem solving situations, the gifted kids and the “regular” kids rub off on each other.

My daughter loved this book. She thought it cool that Donovan who was mediocre in school starts getting better grades and the gifted kids started thinking outside the box and became more social. My daughter also liked that every chapter alternated with the point of view of different characters. This is a feel-good book that makes readers appreciate friendships, teamwork and the funny side of those momentous middle-grade years.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

Reviewed by Laura and daughter

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritokos from Scholastic Canada for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Every Saturday, Booking Mama hosts a feature called Kid Konnection—a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, visit Booking Mama.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Kid Konnection: The 39 Clues Book 11: Vespers Rising

The 39 Clues Book 11: Vespers Rising by Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordon Korman, and Jude Watson
(Rated: C)
Scholastic Inc
ISBN: 978-0545290593
Published April 5, 2011
Hardcover, 240 pages

I have read all 10 books in this series only to realize that this one--and not Book 10—is actually the last one. But wait, it gets better. Book 1 of a second series in The 39 Clues is being published on August 30, 2011. And it promises to be good! I will be posting a review of it on August 27.

So what is Book 11 about? It's an introduction to the Vespers, the organization that will stop at nothing to grab the 39 clues that led Amy and her brother Dan to the secret of great power. A secret started 500 years ago by their ancestor Gideon Cahill and coveted by the cruel and evil Damien Vesper.

The book is divided into 4 parts, each written by a different author. The first part is about Gideon Cahill (1507), the second about Madeline Cahill (1527), the third about Grace Cahill (1942) and finally the 4^th part is about Amy and Dan Cahill in the present day. I enjoyed reading all four parts immensely because it gave the history of how the 39 clues started, how the Madrigal was formed and how Grace Cahill came to have something in her possession that was to be guarded.

Filled with action and suspense, as one would expect from the 39 Clues series, the adventure and danger continues. We were given a taste of what's to come. Amy and Dan are no longer innocent teens trying to figure things out. They are now on a mission. I am really looking forward to what the second series will bring out. And I don't think I will be disappointed.

I will count this book toward the following challenges: Middle Grade Book Challenge, TwentyEleven Challenge

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Kid Konnection: This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall! by Gordon Korman

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall! by Gordon Korman
(Rated: C)
Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 978-0545289245
Publication: May 2011
Paperback, 144 pages, Ages 9 -12

When I was a kid, I read all of Gordon Korman's books. I simply loved his wacky sense of humour. So I was thrilled when Scholastic decided to reissue this 1978 classic and sent me a review copy. I couldn't wait to share it with my daughter. I told her it was funny, although she looked at me a little skeptically when I showed her the book cover. (I wasn't crazy about it either.) By page 16, we were howling with laughter.

Bruno and Boots are best friends who share a room at Macdonald Hall, a prestigious school for boys. They are troublemakers who finally get caught and are separated by their Headmaster, a.k.a. The Fish. Bruno must now room with Elmer Drimsdale, a boy who keeps ants, goldfish, and plants, and performs scientific experiments in his room. Boots, on the other hand, is now stuck with rich and preppy George Wexford-Smith III, who is a hypochondriac. Of course, Bruno and Boots are determined to do anything to get their old room back. And so the pranks begin.

What my daughter and I really liked about this story is that Bruno and Boots are not spiteful or mean, just endowed with a great sense of humour and a knack for thinking up crazy ideas. Sure, there is slapstick humour, but to see my daughter burst into gales of laughter was priceless. The Headmaster and Miss Scrimmage (the Headmistress of the all-girl's boarding school across the street) are memorable characters too.

I rediscovered a favourite author by re-reading this book, which is the first novel by Gordon Korman published when he was just fourteen! I now plan to read all the books in the Macdonald Hall series with my daughter. If you are looking for a funny, laugh-out-loud book to share with your middle-grader, this one is a fun story, especially for reluctant readers. My childhood memories of giggling late into the night came back as I snuggled with my daughter and giggled at the same antics of Bruno and Boots, only this time, thirty years later...

I will count this book toward the following challenges: Middle Grade Book Challenge

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Schoalstic Canada for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Friday, June 25, 2010

The 39 Clues Book Eight: The Emperor's Code by Gordon Korman - Review and MEGA 8-Book Giveaway

The 39 Clues Book Eight: The Emperor's Code by Gordon Korman
(Rated: C)
Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-545060486
Published April 6, 2010
Hardcover, 190 pages

And so the hunt for the 39 clues continues, culminating in another revelation at the end of this book with enough unanswered questions to leave the reader anxious to read the next book. For the first time, 11 year-old Dan Cahill gets separated from his 14 year-old sister Amy Cahill and their au pair Nellie Gomez in China, a country with a population of over one billion people. Dan inadvertently joins Jonah Wizard and we learn more about this character, the Janus branch, and his role in the search for the 39 clues.

I love the relationship between Dan and his sister. We get to see how it is tested once again at this point in the story and how much they care for one another. Two scenes in this book reveal their characters when faced with choices to beat their opponents.

The historical figures that lead us to the next clue are Puyi, China’s last emperor, and George Mallory. I really enjoyed the setting of this book, and although the last nail-biting scene was a little far-fetched, it’s what marks The 39 Clues as an adventurous roller-coaster ride filled with interesting historical and scientific tidbits. Unlike the other books, this one also contains a message within the book that is conveyed by putting together the 17 words circled throughout the book. They form three sentences.

Two more books left in this series and I am eager to find out how it will all come to a finish. For fans of The 39 Clues this book will not disappoint. It builds up expectation for what will come next … and for the climactic ending, no doubt.

And now as promised here's another mega-giveaway courtesy of Nikole from Scholastic Canada! This time enter the chance to win eight books from The 39 Clues Series. One winner will receive:

Book One: The Maze of Bones

Book Two: One False Note

Book Three: The Sword Thief

Book Four: Beyond The Grave

Book Five: The Black Circle

Book Six: In Too Deep

Book Seven: The Viper's Nest

Book Eight: The Emperor's Code

Eight books! All of which I have enjoyed. Not familiar with The 39 Clues? Then listen in as Peter Lerangis, author of Books 3 and 7, answers 5 questions about The 39 Clues. These books are the perfect gift for either boys or girls interested in action adventure and who may be reluctant readers. Historical figures are highlighted throughout the books so kids will learn some history as they embark on a roller coaster fun adventure.

Here are the giveaway rules: GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

1. Open to Canadian residents only. (As requested by the publisher.)

2. No P.O. box addresses.

3. Must be a follower of this blog, new or current.

4. Leave a comment with your email address. For example: laura (at) aol (dot) com

5. For an extra entry read any of the previous books' reviews and leave a comment for that post. See links above.

6. For an extra entry post this giveaway on your blog (on the sidebar) and leave me the link.

7. Giveaway ends July 16, 2010.

Disclosure: Thank you to Nikole from Scholastic Canada for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.