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Gordon Korman
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Gordon Korman is a Canadian author of children's and young adult fiction books.[1] Korman's books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide over a career spanning four decades and have appeared at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.[2][3]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Korman was born in Montreal, Quebec, where he lived until 1970.[4] He grew up in Thornhill, Ontario (just north of Toronto) and attended German Mills Public School and public high school at Thornlea Secondary School.[1][5]

He moved to the United States to attend university at New York University where he studied film and film-writing.[6] Korman received a BFA from New York University in 1985;[1] with a degree in dramatic visual writing and a minor in motion picture and television.

Career

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Korman wrote his first book when he was 14 years old, as part of an English class taught by a PE teacher in 7th grade.[7] This became the manuscript for This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall, the first book in his Macdonald Hall series.[1] Korman was the Scholastic Arrow Book Club monitor for the class; after completing the assignment, he mailed his manuscript to Scholastic.[6] This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall was published by Scholastic Press in 1978 when Korman was only 14 years old.[1] Before graduating from high school in Thornhill, Ontario, Korman wrote and published five books.[5]

Korman has written 105 books,[8] with his hundredth being The Fort. His books have sold over 35 million copies[citation needed].

Works

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Standalone books

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Series

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Macdonald Hall series

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Main article: Macdonald Hall

Bugs Potter

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  • Who is Bugs Potter? (1980)
  • Bugs Potter LIVE at Nickaninny (1983)

Jeremy Bloom

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  • The D− Poems of Jeremy Bloom: A Collection of Poems About School, Homework, and Life (Sort Of) (1992)
  • The Last-Place Sports Poems of Jeremy Bloom: A Collection of Poems About Winning, Losing, and Being a Good Sport (Sometimes) (1996)[11]

Monday Night Football Club

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  • The Quarterback Exchange: I Was John Elway (1997)
  • Running Back Conversion: I Was Barry Sanders (1997)
  • Super Bowl Switch: I Was Dan Marino (1997)
  • Heavy Artillery: I Was Junior Seau (1997)
  • Ultimate Scoring Machine: I Was Jerry Rice (1998)
  • NFL Rules! Bloopers, Pranks, Upsets, and Touchdowns (1998)

Slapshots series

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  • The Stars From Mars (1999)
  • The Dream Team (formerly The All-Mars All-Stars) (1999)
  • The Face-off Phony (2000)
  • Cup Crazy (2000)
    • 4-in-1 Slapshots: The Complete Collection (2008)

Nose Pickers series

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  • Nose Pickers from Outer Space! (1999)
  • Planet of the Nose Pickers (2000)
  • Your Mummy Is a Nose Picker (2000)
  • Invasion of the Nose Pickers (2001)
    • 4-in-1 The Ultimate Nose-Picker Collection (2006)

Island series

[edit]
Main article: Island (novel series)
  • Shipwreck (2001)
  • Survival (2001)
  • Escape (2001)
    • 3-in-1 Island Trilogy Bind-Up Book (2006)

Son of the Mob

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Dive series

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  • The Discovery (2003)
  • The Deep (2003)
  • The Danger (2003)

On the Run series

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  • Chasing the Falconers (2005)
  • The Fugitive Factor (2005)
  • Now You See Them, Now You Don't (2005)
  • The Stowaway Solution (2005)
  • Public Enemies (2005)
  • Hunting the Hunter (2006)

Kidnapped series

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  • The Abduction (2006)
  • The Search (2006)
  • The Rescue (2006)

The 39 Clues

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Main article: The 39 Clues

(Series shared and all books written by different authors)

Swindle series

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Titanic series

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  • Unsinkable (2011)
  • Collision Course (2011)
  • S.O.S (2011)

Gifted series

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  • Ungifted (2012)
  • Supergifted (2018)
  • Hypergifted (2026)

Everest series

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  • The Contest (2002)
  • The Climb (2002)
  • The Summit (2002)

Hypnotists series

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  • The Hypnotists (2013)
  • Memory Maze (2014)
  • The Dragonfly Effect (2015)

Slacker series

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  • Slacker (2016)
  • Level 13: A Slacker Novel (2019)

Masterminds series

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  • Masterminds (2015)
  • Masterminds: Criminal Destiny (2016)
  • Masterminds: Payback (2017)

Adaptations

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The Monday Night Football Club series was adapted as the Disney Channel TV series The Jersey, which ran for four years between 1999 and 2004.[12]

Swindle was adapted into a movie that aired on Nickelodeon in 2013.[citation needed]

Three Macdonald Hall series books were TV adapted as the "Bruno & Boots" miniseries, with Go Jump in the Pool, This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall, and The War with Mr. Wizzle (as The Wizzle War). It starred Jonny Gray, Callan Potter and Peter Keleghan. It debuted on April 1, 2016, firstly with Go Jump In The Pool, on the Canadian network YTV.[13] The other two adaptations aired on YTV the next year on the same day.

Other optioned books include No Coins, Please, I Want to Go Home, the Island trilogy and The Twinkie Squad.[1]

Awards and recognition

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  • 1981 Air Canada Award for promising authors in Canada, at age 17[14][15]
  • 1991 Manitoba Young Reader's Choice Award (chosen by Manitoba schoolchildren), The Zucchini Warriors (1988)[16]
  • 1999 ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, The Toilet Paper Tigers (1993)[17]
  • 2001 American Library Association Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, Losing Joe's Place (1990)[18]
  • 2001 ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, The Chicken Doesn't Skate (1993)[18]
  • 2003 ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, Son of the Mob (2002)[19]
  • 2003 Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (chosen by Pacific NW schoolchildren), Intermediate Division (Grades 7–9), No More Dead Dogs (2003)[20]
  • 2004 ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Jake Reinvented (2003)[21]
  • 2005 PNLA Young Reader's Choice Award – Intermediate, Son of the Mob (2002)[20]
  • 2010 PNLA Young Reader's Choice Award – Intermediate, Schooled (2007)[20]
  • 2010–2011 Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (by a vote of Arkansas schoolchildren), Swindle (2008)[22][23]
  • 2011–2012 Charlie May Simon Award, Zoobreak (2009)[22][23]
  • 2016 Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers' Literature[24]
  • 2020 Young Hoosier Book Award (Intermediate), Restart (2017)[25]
  • 2024 Young Reader's Choice Award (Junior), Unplugged (2021)[26]

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Gordon Korman

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Gordon Korman (born October 23, 1963) is a Canadian-born author renowned for his humorous and adventurous children's and fiction, with more than 105 books published as of 2025 that have sold more than 35 million copies worldwide and been translated into 32 languages. Born in , , and raised primarily in the area, Korman began writing at age 12 during a seventh-grade assignment, leading to the publication of his , This Can't Be Happening at , by Scholastic when he was 14 years old. He later earned a degree from , majoring in dramatic writing with a minor in film and television, before settling on , New York, where he resides with his family. Korman's works often center on relatable young characters navigating school life, friendships, and mischief, with standout series including the seven-book series, the Swindle series, the Ungifted trilogy, and contributions to the multi-author series, as well as the Masterminds trilogy. His books have achieved multiple #1 spots on the New York Times bestseller list and garnered numerous accolades, such as the Ontario Youth Award and the Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award for The Zucchini Warriors. Korman remains active in the literary community, frequently visiting schools, libraries, and bookstores to engage with young readers.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family

Gordon Korman was born on October 23, 1963, in , , , into a Jewish family. As the only child of Charles Isaac Korman, an , and Bernice Korman, a homemaker during his early years, Korman grew up in a supportive household that valued imagination and storytelling. His mother's later career as a , including writing a humorous column for a local , further highlighted a family environment rich in literary pursuits. In 1970, when Korman was seven years old, his family relocated from to , a suburb north of , where he spent much of his childhood. This move marked a transition to a new community, but the family's Jewish heritage continued to shape their cultural life. As an , Korman often amused himself by creating elaborate stories in his head, fostering his early creativity and developing a strong habit of reading, particularly adventure and survival tales that captivated his imagination. His mother's encouragement was evident when she typed the manuscript of his first novel during his school years, reinforcing the creative influences of his home environment.

Schooling and Early Writing

Gordon Korman attended elementary school at German Mills Public School in Thornhill, Ontario, where he developed an early interest in storytelling through imaginative responses to class assignments. In 1976, during his seventh-grade year, Korman's English class was taught by a track and field coach who, due to scheduling issues, allowed students significant freedom in creative writing projects, assigning them to produce a book-length work over several months. At age 12, Korman completed a 160-page manuscript titled This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!, a humorous tale of mischief at a fictional boarding school, which originated as this assignment. As the class monitor for Scholastic's Arrow Book Club orders, he submitted the polished manuscript to Scholastic Canada, where an editor recognized its potential and offered him a publishing contract, marking the start of his professional writing career. Korman continued his education at in Thornhill, entering as a freshman in 1978, the same year his debut novel was published. During high school, he balanced writing additional books with typical teenage activities, though his early success provided a foundation for his future endeavors. After graduating high school, Korman moved to the to pursue higher education at , where he studied dramatic writing with a minor in film and television. He earned a (BFA) degree in 1985, honing skills that influenced his narrative style in young adult fiction.

Professional Life

Career Beginnings

Gordon Korman's publishing career began remarkably early when his , This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall, was published by Scholastic in 1978, just months after he turned 14. The book, which originated as a assignment in , introduced readers to the mischievous antics at a fictional Canadian boys' , drawing on Korman's imaginative scenarios of school life. This launch marked him as a teenage publishing sensation, with Scholastic quickly becoming his primary publisher and nurturing his early output. Throughout high school and into college, Korman continued the Macdonald Hall series, releasing sequels such as Go Jump in the Pool! in 1979 and Don't Care High in 1985, all while navigating his studies. He balanced his writing with academics, earning a BFA in dramatic writing from New York University by 1985. By age 22, Korman had produced ten books, a feat that solidified his reputation as a prolific young author in juvenile fiction. Korman's initial works received attention for their humor and relatable teen perspectives, positioning him as a prodigy in the scene during the late and . His partnership with Scholastic allowed for steady releases, with over a million copies of his early books in print by the mid-, establishing a foundation for his enduring career.

Mid-Career Expansion

During the 1990s, Korman expanded his oeuvre by venturing into sports-themed narratives, launching series that highlighted team dynamics and youthful competition. The Monday Night Football Club series, published between 1997 and 1998, featured five books centered on children using a magical to swap places with players during games, blending fantasy with football excitement. Similarly, the Slapshots series (1999–2000) followed a ragtag youth hockey team from the fictional town of Mars as they navigated league challenges, emphasizing camaraderie and perseverance in sports. These works marked Korman's diversification from his earlier school-based humor, drawing on his interest in collaborative group efforts while appealing to young readers passionate about athletics. Entering the 2000s, Korman further broadened his scope with adventure trilogies that intensified suspense and survival elements. The Island series (2001), comprising Shipwreck, Survival, and Escape, depicted six teenagers stranded after a shipwreck, forcing them to confront isolation and resourcefulness on a deserted isle. This was followed by the Dive trilogy (2003)—The Discovery, The Deep, and The Danger—which involved young divers uncovering underwater mysteries amid shark-infested waters and sunken treasures. Later, the On the Run series (2005), a six-volume saga including Chasing the Falconers and Public Enemies, chronicled siblings evading authorities to clear their parents' names, infusing high-stakes pursuit with familial bonds. These series underscored Korman's evolving focus on adrenaline-fueled plots, solidifying his reputation for middle-grade thrillers that balanced action with character growth. Korman's mid-career also saw his entry into high-profile collaborative ventures, beginning with contributions to the multimedia series in 2008. He authored One False Note, installment, which propelled the franchise's global quest narrative involving historical clues and family rivalries, and later penned additional volumes like The Emperor's Code (2010). By 2003, Korman had reached the milestone of his 50th published book. This period highlighted a pronounced shift toward middle-grade humor laced with , as seen in his genre-blending adventures that captivated a widening audience.

Recent Developments

In the , Gordon Korman expanded his portfolio with high-stakes adventure series that built on the ensemble-driven narratives of his mid-career collaborations. The Swindle series, initiated in 2008, continued to exert influence through subsequent installments like Framed (2010), Showoff (2011), and Hideout (2013), captivating young readers with tales of clever heists and group ingenuity. Similarly, the Masterminds trilogy, comprising Masterminds (2015), Criminal Destiny (2016), and Payback (2017), explored dystopian themes of and escape from a controlled , earning praise for its suspenseful plotting. The Slacker duology followed in 2016 with , delving into themes of apathy and community involvement among preteens. Korman's productivity surged in this period, with over 50 new titles published since 2010, bringing his total output to more than 100 books by 2023 and exceeding 105 as of 2025. This includes standalone novels and extensions to ongoing series, reflecting his sustained focus on middle-grade fiction that blends humor with moral dilemmas. A notable example is Restart (2017), which addresses contemporary issues such as and through the story of a boy who awakens with no of his past actions, prompting reflection on identity and redemption. Since 2023, Korman has continued his prolific output with Faker (2024), a standalone novel, and Snoop (2025), which achieved bestseller status on lists including the New York Times. He also announced Hypergifted (2025), the third book in the Ungifted series. Korman has maintained a longstanding partnership with Scholastic, his original publisher since 1978, which has handled many of his recent releases and supported adaptations like graphic novel versions of his works. Additionally, his books have increasingly embraced digital formats, including e-books and audiobooks, broadening accessibility for younger audiences in an era of serialized online reading.

Personal Life

Family

Gordon Korman married Michelle Iserson, a teacher from , in June 1996. The couple has three children: two sons and one daughter. Korman's children have pursued interests in creative fields, with one son working in communications and his daughter studying ; the family harbors writing aspirations influenced by Korman's long career as an . Since establishing his family in the late 1990s, Korman has balanced full-time authorship—a profession he has maintained since graduating from in 1985—with family responsibilities. The family's long-term residence on , New York, has supported this stability.

Residence and Interests

Gordon Korman has made his long-term home on , New York, since the 1990s, where he resides with his wife and family in a setting that integrates his personal and family life. As of 2022, he is based in Great Neck, a suburban environment outside that provides a stable backdrop for his daily life away from the demands of writing. Beyond his professional pursuits, Korman maintains diverse personal interests, including , influenced by his studies at where he earned a BFA with a minor in Film and TV. He is an avid sports enthusiast, particularly hockey—having begun playing at age seven, an experience that shaped his appreciation for the sport—and , reflecting his engagement with team-based activities that foster camaraderie and competition. He frequently travels for author events. Korman actively participates in author visits to schools, library events, and literary festivals, viewing these as extensions of his passion for connecting with young audiences on a personal level. He advocates for and youth reading programs, emphasizing the importance of accessible stories in developing and among children through targeted engagements and endorsements of reading initiatives.

Writing Style and Themes

Recurring Themes

Gordon Korman's novels frequently explore the theme of and , portraying these elements as foundational to character development and plot progression, particularly in and contexts where young protagonists rely on bonds to navigate challenges. In works like The Fort and Restart, friendships deepen through shared secrets and trials, emphasizing trust and mutual support as essential for personal growth. Loyalty often manifests in protective actions among peers and family, as seen in War Stories, where characters confront moral conflicts to uphold commitments. Korman has highlighted friendship as one of the strongest recurring motifs in his over 100 books, celebrating its power in young people's lives. A common archetype in Korman's stories is the underdog protagonist, who overcomes adversity through resilience, humor, and cleverness, often starting as outsiders in their communities. Examples include the characters in Linked and Restart, who face exclusion or personal setbacks but triumph via ingenuity and alliances. This motif appears across series like Ungifted, where misfits challenge societal expectations to succeed, and in the 2025 release Hypergifted, a sequel featuring a super-genius navigating public school challenges. Such narratives underscore themes of self-discovery and empowerment for young readers. Ethical dilemmas form a core element in many of Korman's plots, prompting characters to grapple with moral complexities such as family secrets and scientific boundaries. Similarly, the Masterminds trilogy delves into the ethics of cloning, questioning and the implications of engineered identities. In Snoop (2025), a boy uses tools to spy on others, raising issues of and . These explorations drive character arcs, highlighting the tension between personal integrity and external pressures. Korman's works often blend humor with suspense, creating engaging tales of teen rebellion against authority figures, where lighthearted antics mask deeper stakes. This combination is evident in series like Swindle and early novels such as This Can’t Be Happening at MacDonald Hall, where youths defy rules through witty schemes to achieve justice or independence. Such dynamics reflect relatable adolescent experiences, balancing levity with tension to explore autonomy and consequence.

Style and Influences

Gordon Korman's writing is characterized by fast-paced narratives designed to captivate young readers, often employing short chapters that build momentum and end in cliffhangers to maintain engagement. This structure is evident in series like Masterminds, where brisk pacing and suspenseful chapter conclusions propel the plot forward, mirroring he admired from his at NYU. Korman has noted that he writes with an imagined "bored" young reader in mind, constantly aiming to "keep that kid hooked" through dynamic progression. A hallmark of his style is the use of multi-perspective , which allows readers to experience events from various characters' viewpoints, enhancing depth without overwhelming the pace. In works like War Stories and , this technique shifts between protagonists and supporting figures, fostering a sense of immediacy and relatability for middle-grade audiences. Korman often employs ensemble casts to reflect authentic teen , drawing on collaborative interactions that highlight friendship and conflict in realistic settings, as seen in The Unteachables. His voice incorporates witty, dialogue-driven humor, relying heavily on banter and quirky character interactions to infuse levity into the narrative. This approach evolved from his early school-based comedies, such as This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall, to more intricate thrillers in series like The 39 Clues, where humor balances high-stakes adventure. Korman's influences include classic middle-grade authors like Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, and John D. Fitzgerald's The Great Brain series, which shaped his focus on audacious, funny child protagonists, as well as 1970s Disney-style comedies and Farley Mowat's adventurous tales. He also draws inspiration from Avi's genre versatility and old films, adapting their rhythmic tension into his evolving craft.

Works

Standalone Books

Gordon Korman's standalone novels represent self-contained stories that highlight individual character arcs, often featuring young protagonists navigating personal growth amid humorous or dramatic circumstances. These books, distinct from his multi-volume series, have been published steadily since the early , with a marked acceleration in output after , coinciding with a shift toward addressing contemporary social issues such as , technology's impact on youth, and . The following is a complete list of Korman's standalone novels in publication order, compiled from bibliographic records:
TitleYear
Our Man Weston1982
No Coins, Please1984
I Want to Go Home1985
Son of Interflux1986
Don't Care High1986
A Semester in the Life of a Garbage Bag1987
Radio Fifth Grade1989
Losing Joe's Place1990
1992
The Toilet Paper Tigers1993
Why Did the Underwear Cross the Road?1994
The Chicken Doesn't Skate1996
Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire1997
The 6th Grade Nickname Game1998
No More Dead Dogs2000
Maxx Comedy2003
Jake, Reinvented2003
Born to Rock2006
Schooled2007
The Juvie Three2008
Pop2009
Restart2017
Whatshisface2018
The Unteachables2019
Notorious2020
War Stories2020
Unplugged2021
Linked2021
Operation Do-Over2022
The Fort2022
The Superteacher Project2023
Mixed Up2023
Slugfest2024
Faker2024
Old School2025
Snoop2025
Among these, several stand out for their exploration of pivotal themes. Restart (2017) centers on Chase Ambrose, a boy who awakens from a fall with , erasing his memories of being a bully and offering him a chance at redemption as he rebuilds relationships at school. The novel delves into amnesia and second chances, prompting readers to consider whether past actions define a person. Similarly, The Unteachables (2019) follows a group of misfit students in a remedial class led by a disgruntled teacher nearing retirement, whose unexpected bond challenges their preconceptions about education and personal potential. Pop (2009) examines the physical and emotional toll of football through , a teen who befriends Charlie, a former player suffering from repeated concussions and early-onset , highlighting risks in . Schooled (2007) portrays Capricorn "Cap" Anderson, a homeschooled teen from a commune thrust into public after his grandmother's injury, where he inadvertently becomes class president and teaches his peers about nonconformity. Post-2010 standalones like Unplugged (2021), which critiques excessive through kids at a camp, and Linked (2021), addressing social media's role in and , reflect Korman's growing emphasis on modern societal challenges faced by adolescents. These works often feature underdogs overcoming adversity, aligning with broader motifs in Korman's oeuvre.

Book Series

Gordon Korman has authored more than 15 multi-book series throughout his career, often featuring recurring characters in serialized adventures that build across volumes. These series span genres including school-based humor, high-stakes adventure, sports fiction, and speculative elements like and mystery, allowing for extended exploration of themes such as and mischief without standalone resolution in each entry. Unlike his isolated novels, Korman's series emphasize ongoing narratives and ensemble casts, contributing to his reputation for engaging young readers in prolonged storytelling arcs. His earliest series, the books, consist of seven volumes published between 1978 and 1995, centering on the antics of students at a fictional . The titles include This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall! (1978), Go Jump in the Pool! (1979), Beware the Fish! (1980), The War with Mr. Wizzle (1982), The Zucchini Warriors (1988), MacDonald Hall Goes Hollywood (1991), and Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall (1995). This humor-driven series established Korman's style for lighthearted, school-setting escapades. In the sports genre, the Slapshots series comprises four books released from 1999 to 2000, following a young hockey player's challenges and team dynamics. The volumes are The Stars from Mars (1999), All-Mars All-Stars/The Dream Team (1999), The Face-Off Phony (2000), and Cup Crazy (2000). Similarly, the Club series includes five books from 1997 to 1998, focusing on experiences and magical jersey swaps with NFL players: Quarterback Exchange: I Was (1997), Running Back Conversion: I Was (1997), The Super Bowl Switch: I Was (1997), Heavy Artillery: I Was (1997), and Ultimate Scoring Machine: I Was (1998). Adventure trilogies became a hallmark in the early 2000s, with the Island series (three books, 2001) involving survival on a remote island: (2001), (2001), and Escape (2001). The Dive series (three books, 2002–2003) explores underwater treasure hunting: The Discovery (2002), The Deep (2003), and The Danger (2003). The Everest series (three books, 2002) depicts a teen expedition up the mountain: (2002), The Climb (2002), and The Summit (2002). These survival-themed works highlight Korman's interest in extreme environments and group resilience. The On the Run series features six books from 2005 to 2006, tracking siblings evading authorities: Chasing the Falconers (2005), The Fugitive Factor (2005), Now You See Them, Now You Don't (2005), The Stowaway Solution (2005), Public Enemies (2005), and Hunting the Hunter (2006). In science fiction territory, the two-book Bugs Potter series () includes Bugs Potter Live at Nickaninny () and All About Harvey (), blending humor with extraterrestrial elements. The Nose Pickers from Outer Space series has four volumes (1999–2001): Nose Pickers from Outer Space! (1999), Planet of the Nose Pickers (2000), Your Mummy Is a Nose Picker (2000), and Invasion of the Nose Pickers (2001). Korman's involvement in collaborative projects includes three contributions to the multimedia series (2008–2010): One False Note (2008), The Emperor's Code (2010), and a co-authored Vespers Rising (2011, anthology). His Swindle series, a heist-adventure collection, spans seven books from 2008 to 2015: Swindle (2008), Zoobreak (2009), Framed (2010), Showoff (2012), Hideout (2013), Jackpot (2014), and Unleashed (2015). The Masterminds series (three books, 2013–2016) delves into dystopian cloning: Masterminds (2013), Outlaws (2015), and Payback (2016). The Hypnotists series (three books, 2014–2015) examines mind control: The Hypnotists (2014), Memory Maze (2014), and The Dragonfly Effect (2015). More recent series include the Slacker duology (two books, 2016–2019): (2016) and Level 13 (2019). The Titanic series, a collaborative historical trilogy (three books, 2017): Unsinkable (2017), Undefeated (2017), and Unstoppable (2017). Additionally, the Kidnapped series (three books, 2006–2007): The Search (2006), The Rescue (2006), and The Trap (2007), and the Son of the Mob duology (two books, 2002–2004): Son of the Mob (2002) and Hollywood Hustle (2004). These later works often blend genres, with over 15 series in total showcasing Korman's versatility in serialized formats.

Adaptations

Film and Television

Gordon Korman's works have been adapted into several television productions, primarily targeting family audiences with themes of adventure, humor, and youthful mischief. The first major adaptation was the series The Jersey, which aired from 1999 to 2004 and was based on his Monday Night Football Club book series. The show follows a group of kids who discover a magical football jersey that allows them to swap places with professional athletes, blending sports fantasy with coming-of-age stories over 65 episodes. This series marked an early success in translating Korman's lighthearted ensemble narratives to the screen, running for four seasons and inspiring books. In 2013, produced the TV movie Swindle, an adaptation of Korman's 2008 novel of the same name, directed by Jonathan Judge and starring , , and a young . The film centers on a group of teens plotting to recover a valuable swindled from their friend, echoing the book's heist-like plot with added visual and action sequences. It premiered on August 24, 2013, to positive family viewing reception for its energetic pace and relatable young characters, though critics noted its formulaic tween adventure tropes. Korman's Macdonald Hall series, featuring the irrepressible duo Bruno and Boots, inspired three Canadian TV movies produced by Aircraft Pictures between 2016 and 2017. The first, Bruno & Boots: Go Jump in the Pool! (2016), directed by Vivieno Caldinelli, adapts the 1979 novel and follows the boys' scheme to fund a swimming pool at their , starring and Callan Potter. Subsequent films, Bruno & Boots: This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall! (2017) and Bruno & Boots: The Wizzle War (2017), continue the antics with school rivalries and pranks, maintaining the series' witty banter and loyalty themes. These adaptations received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Limited Series or Program in 2018 for the second film, praised for capturing the books' nostalgic charm and ensemble dynamics. Korman has been actively involved in adaptation processes to ensure fidelity to his source material, providing script notes and consulting with producers and casts, as he did for the Bruno & Boots films. Several other titles remain in development as of 2025, including Restart (2017 novel), for which film rights were acquired but no production has materialized. Similarly, Ungifted (2012) was optioned for a series announced in 2021 but was ultimately cancelled without advancing to production. These efforts highlight ongoing interest in Korman's humorous, character-driven stories for visual media.

Other Media Adaptations

Korman's contributions to the multimedia landscape extend beyond print through interactive and audio formats, particularly with his involvement in the collaborative The 39 Clues series. Launched in 2008 by Scholastic, the series incorporated a trading card game featuring 355 cards that readers could collect to uncover clues, enhancing the narrative with physical collectibles tied to the books' global adventure plot. Online missions were available via the official website, where users could sign up to play interactive challenges, gather virtual clues, and access character backstories, fostering community engagement. Mobile apps further expanded accessibility, including The 39 Clues: Madrigal Maze (2009), a puzzle-based iPhone game involving labyrinth navigation and clue-solving, and The 39 Clues: Vesper Hunt (2012), an action-oriented app integrating series lore. Audiobook adaptations have brought Korman's fast-paced stories to audio listeners, with professional narrators capturing the humor and tension of his protagonists. The 2008 audiobook of Swindle, the first in Korman's heist series, was narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross, whose energetic performance highlights the schemes of young con artists outwitting a swindler. Similarly, the 2015 audiobook of Masterminds, the opening volume of Korman's dystopian thriller series, featured a ensemble narration by Ramon de Ocampo, Kelly Jean Badgley, and Tarah Consoli, who voiced multiple perspectives to convey the kids' discovery of their cloned origins. Graphic novel adaptations have visually reinterpreted select works, appealing to younger audiences with illustrated storytelling. In 2024, Scholastic released One False Note: A Graphic Novel, adapting Korman's second book in The 39 Clues series, with artwork by Hannah Templer that maintains the high-stakes chase across while emphasizing visual clues and family rivalries. This format builds on the series' foundation, transforming prose into dynamic panels that echo the interactive elements of the original cards and apps. These adaptations underscore broader interest in Korman's adaptable narratives.

Awards and Recognition

Major Awards

Gordon Korman received the Award for Most Promising Writer Under 35 from the Canadian Authors' Association in 1981, at the age of 17, highlighting his exceptional early talent in . Several of Korman's novels have been honored by the Young Readers' Choice Awards, voted on by schoolchildren in the province, including The Zucchini Warriors as the overall winner in 1991 and Schooled as a Sundogs category honoree in 2009. Korman's books have earned multiple Junior Library Guild selections between 2018 and 2025, recognizing their appeal and quality for young readers in school and library settings, with titles such as The Unteachables and Linked among the honorees. In 2020, Korman was awarded the Upstanders Lifetime Achievement Award for The Unteachables, which celebrates works that promote themes of empathy, , and personal growth in . In 2024, Korman won the Red Maple Award from the Forest of Reading for The Fort. He also received the 2024 Young Reader's Choice Award in the Junior Division for Unplugged. Korman's frequent status has further amplified the recognition from these major awards within the children's book community.

Bestseller Achievements

Gordon Korman's books have achieved significant commercial success, with over 35 million copies sold worldwide across more than 100 titles, translated into 32 languages. This enduring popularity underscores his status as a prolific author in children's and , particularly in middle-grade fiction. Multiple titles have reached the top of major bestseller lists, including several number-one debuts on Children's Middle Grade bestseller list. One of Korman's earliest major bestseller achievements came with his contributions to the multimedia series. His second book in the series, One False Note (2008), debuted at number one on Children's Books bestseller list, marking a breakthrough in mainstream commercial recognition for the author. Later entries like The Emperor's Code (2010), the eighth book in the series, also benefited from the franchise's momentum, contributing to Korman's growing reputation as a New York Times bestselling author. In recent years, standalone novels and series installments have sustained Korman's presence on bestseller lists. Restart (2017), a story of memory loss and second chances, has appeared regularly on Children's Middle Grade Paperback list, accumulating over three years on the chart as of 2024 and demonstrating sustained reader appeal. Similarly, The Unteachables (2019) entered the list in early 2020, propelled by its selection as a Book of the Month. Other notable hits include Snoop (2024), which achieved bestseller status on , , and Indie lists, and Old School (2025), which had two separate runs on list. These achievements highlight Korman's ability to blend humor, adventure, and relatable themes that resonate with young readers, driving consistent sales in the competitive middle-grade market.

References

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