Tag Archives: Gordon Korman

Book Review: No More Dead Dogs, by Gordon Korman

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no_more_dead_dogsLet me start off by saying: best book ever!

Wallace Wallace, (not a typo- that’s his name!) the most popular kid in school who is the football star, doesn’t tell lies… He has learned that lying is horrible; from his dad who lied on everything possible to Wallace, one of the big lies was that he was in the army. LIE! So that’s where Wallace learns not to lie from, so when Mr. Fogelman gives Wallace an assignment to read and give a book review about “Old Shep, My Pal” he writes this:

“Old Shep, My Pal by Zack Paris is the most boring book I’ve read in my entire life. I did not have a favorite character. I hated everyone equally. The most interesting part came on the last page where it said “The End”; this book couldn’t be any lousier if it came with a letter bomb. I would not recommend it to my worst enemy.”

Mr. Fogelman was enraged! How dare Wallace say that?! So after confronting Wallace, which ended in an argument, Mr. Fogelman gave a detention to Wallace where he would write a “proper’’ review, which meant he couldn’t play football until he was done with detention! And as everyone knows Wallace can’t say a lie! So how will Wallace be able to join football again…..?

And with that, something horrible keeps on happening to the school play… which Mr. Fogelman is the director; all eyes are on Wallace as the prime suspect. Nothing could be worse; the Giants are on a losing streak without Wallace! The team hates him, the drama club thinks he is the person who destroys the set of the play, and most of all how can he lie in his report!? You’ll have to read the book to find out what Wallace does…..

I would recommend this book to boy or girl ages 8-14. It’s an amazing read. Enjoy!

-Satej B., 8th grade

Book Review: Ungifted, by Gordon Korman

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ungifted_coverDo you ever feel ungifted? Like everybody else has a special gift or talent except you? Then read this book! Ungifted by Gordon Korman opened my eyes to see that everybody has some sort of talent, whether you can see it or not.

When Donavan Curtis accidentally knocks the globe of an Atlas statue off, he wrecks knows he’s going to get into big trouble. After all, this isn’t the first time he accidentally messed something up. However, a mishap with the superintendent gets him sent to a gifted program instead of getting a huge punishment.

When Donavan receives the news he’s getting sent to a gifted program, he knows it’s a mistake. Still Donavan decides to stick around with the super geniuses to save his parents from paying the bill for the gym. That’s when he starts to realize that those geeks and nerds are very cool in their own way – they just need a little push in the right direction from someone who doesn’t spend all his time stressing about grades or some new science discovery. But his time here won’t last forever, and Donovan knows it’s only a matter of time before the superintendent finds him and takes him back to get an even bigger punishment.

Inside, you’ll find an ongoing experiment with a live human (sister), an unforgettably dramatic middle-school dance, and the most astonishing robot victory ever. Ongoing through all of this craziness, Donovan shows that his gifts might be exactly what the genius students never knew they needed!

I personally love this book because it’s hilarious and takes other people’s point of view. It’s just a great book overall and I highly recommend it!

-Danielle L., 6th grade

Book Review: Ungifted, by Gordan Korman

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ungifted_coverUngifted by Gordan Korman is a hilarious novel about a trouble-making boy named Donovan Curtis.

After getting caught by the school superintendent, Dr. Schultz for hitting the Atlas Statue – in front of his school – with a fallen tree branch, causing the earth to roll down the hill, and then crashed into the doors of the gym, in the middle of a basketball game, Donovan had to be sent home because Dr.Schultz had to take care of the mess in the gym. The next day, the superintendent wanted to talk to Donovan, but could not remember his name. Dr. Schultz had written his name on a piece of paper, but now he could not find it.

The same day, after school, Donovan and his parents received a letter saying that Donovan was accepted into the Academy of Scholastic Distinction. Donovan was shocked, as were his parents. Donovan soon realized that when Dr. Schultz was writing down his name last night, it must have been on the piece of paper Dr. Schultz’s secretary asked for, which had the names of the students going into the Academy of Scholastic Distinction. Donovan then figured out that was the reason he had not been caught yet. He breathed a sigh of relief and enjoyed his freedom in the Academy of Scholastic Distinction. To do that he must fool people who’s IQs are above genius level.

Will the teachers there suspect him? Will he get caught? Will he be able to fool everybody? Read the rest of the book to unveil what happens and if he gets caught or not.

The book was hilarious and the setting was great, but I would not say it was the best book ever. I had high expectations because it was by Gordon Korman, and he is a great author, but it could have been better overall. I could totally relate to all the characters. The ending was not that great as I expected, in my opinion, but otherwise it was enjoyable.

-Anmol K., 7th grade