Hubbry Logo
UngiftedUngiftedMain
Open search
Ungifted
Community hub
Ungifted
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Ungifted
Ungifted
from Wikipedia

Ungifted is a 2012 children's novel by Gordon Korman, which contains 31 chapters and 280 pages. The story is told with chapters of alternating perspectives. The plot revolves around Donovan Curtis, a troublemaker who gets wrapped up in a major prank gone wrong. Due to an accident caused by the superintendent, Donovan gets sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction (ASD), a school for gifted and talented students. The rest of the novel is spent on Donovan avoiding being caught while helping the students of ASD through his own special gifts. Donovan avoids getting caught by driving the class robot (shown on cover) and providing a teacher (his pregnant sister Katie) for Human Growth and Development class, of which the students of ASD lacked, to prevent them from having to attend summer school.

Key Information

A sequel, Supergifted, was released January 2, 2018. As of 2021, a television series adaptation is currently in the works and will air on Nickelodeon.[1]

Plot

[edit]

Donovan Curtis considers himself ungifted (the opposite of gifted), instead being a prankster and troublemaker. One day, one of his pranks goes too far when he strikes a school statue of Atlas which disrupts an ongoing basketball game. Although no one is injured, the gym is destroyed, with repairs for the damage that was done to the gym being prohibitively expensive due to the statue’s foundry having gone out of business. The district superintendent, Dr. Schultz, who was at the game, catches Donovan red-handed. However, after he jots down Donovan's name, he accidentally adds it to a list of candidates for the Academy for Scholastic Distinction (ASD), a school for extremely gifted students.

Donovan expects the mishap and his escape from punishment will eventually be discovered and feels that he will cause more stress to his already stressed household. His older sister, Katie, is currently staying with them and is seven months pregnant. Katie's husband Brad is a Marine who is deployed in Afghanistan. Adding to the pressure, Katie's mother-in-law leaves Brad's dog, Beatrice, who seems to be ill (but was later revealed to be pregnant) and only takes a liking to Donovan. However, after Donovan learns of the error that is sending him to ASD, he is filled with joy by the mistake.

On his first day, Donovan meets his classmates, and while some seem to be annoyed by him (in particular, a girl named Abigail Lee) some take a liking to him, especially Chloe, a girl interested in normal things. While Donovan continues to hide in the academy, his teachers wonder if he really is gifted. Donovan joins Robotics, a class taught by his homeroom teacher Mr. Osborne ("Mr. Oz"), who are preparing for a robotics tournament. Donovan helps give their robot a name: Tin Man Metallica SquarePants. Donovan introduces his classmate Noah Youkilis, a skinny boy with a high IQ (206), to YouTube which proves to be addictive to Noah. Donovan also impresses his classmates by showing his talent controlling the robot with a joystick.

Eventually, Donovan learns his classmates will have to go to summer school for failing to take Human Growth and Development. To help them, he convinces his sister to teach his classmates, which eventually gets approved. Later, during a school dance at the academy, Donovan's Hardcastle friends, the two Daniels (Daniel Sanderson and Daniel Nussbaum), steal the robot. However, one of the perpetrators is thrashed by Noah, who had learned of professional wrestling via YouTube.

A little bit later, Donovan is told to go to the library to take a test, to which he feels nervous because if he fails it he could be kicked out. However, while taking the test, Donovan discovers that someone had hacked the computer and was taking the test for him. For this Ms. Bevelaqua interviews Donovan's classmates about the test. While interviewing Noah Youkilis she says that they could get expelled for cheating on the test, to Noah’s happiness as he doesn’t like being at ASD and would prefer to be at a normal school.

Later, as the team prepares for the robotics tournament, Dr. Schultz finds a video from Noah's YouTube channel "Youkilicious" and recognizes Donovan as the boy who destroyed the gym. He goes to Academy to Donovan's classroom and tells him that he's been expelled. Back at Hardcastle, Donovan begins to feel depressed and filled with guilt. Meanwhile, Chloe feels distraught and skips school to try and find him. There, she runs in the Daniels, whom she manages to convince to find Donovan and bring him to the tournament.

Later, on the day of the tournament, Donovan is taken out of school by the Daniels and Katie. There, he watches the ASD control Tin Man, though he doesn’t participate until Cold Spring Harbor (one of the opponent schools) attempts to cheat by shoving Tin Man with their robot. Angry, Donovan runs down to the ASD and takes over control, using Tin Man to assault Cold Spring Harbor’s robot, with Noah using a chair to crash down. In the chaos, Katie suddenly goes into labor.

Later at the hospital, Dr. Schultz reveals that ASD and Cold Spring had been disqualified, with a different school taking the trophy. However, ASD's team doesn’t care; they are more overjoyed over Cold Spring Harbor’s defeat. Katie’s baby is revealed to be a girl, overjoying Noah as he had predicted the baby would be male and is happy to be wrong for once. Schultz also counts the hospital visit as Human Growth and Development hours, saving the ASD class from summer school.

Soon, Donovan is surprised to see Noah at Hardcastle, and is shocked to hear that Noah took the blame for hacking his test and was expelled; the true culprit was Abigail Lee, who did it out of gratitude.

Noah and Donovan continue to take the ASD robotics class after school, working on a new robot they call “Heavy Metal”. The book ends with Donovan reflecting over the whole experience, saying that people who attended the tournament might question who caused the ASD robot’s rampage, adding that he’ll always know that it was him and “you don’t have to be gifted to know that”.

Characters

[edit]
  • Donovan Curtis, the main protagonist. He is a self-described prankster and troublemaker who accidentally destroys his school’s gym after he struck an Atlas statue. Due to a series of mishaps, he is sent to a school for incredibly gifted students and makes friends with several of them. Over the course of the book, his influence spreads over the students.
  • Noah Youkilis, another student. He is regarded as one of the brightest in ASD, but has issues with socializing. Donovan introduces YouTube to him, where he develops a fascination with pro wrestling. He takes the blame for hacking Donovan’s test as a way to leave ASD as he hates being so gifted and would rather be with normal kids.
  • Chloe Garfinkle, another student at ASD. She is the first to openly recognize Donovan as a “normal student”, as she strived for any kind of non-gifted interaction.
  • Abigail Lee, a student at the Academy for Scholastic Distinction (ASD). She has an overachieving, uptight personality and is annoyed by Donovan, having known him since elementary school. She later secretly hacks his test to stay in ASD as gratitude for saving the class from summer school.
  • Kevin Amari, Latrell Michaelson and Jacey Halloran, 3 other students in ASD's robotics. Jacey in particular has a habit of spewing random facts and tidbits when under pressure.
  • Daniel Nussbaum and Daniel Sanderson (The Daniels), Donovan’s best friends from Hardcastle. They are outwardly rude and condescending, with them purposely attempting to dismantle ASD’s robot at a school dance. However, they do care about Donovan.
  • Katie Patterson, Donovan’s pregnant older sister. She is staying at her home while her husband Brad is deployed in Afghanistan. She has a sibling rivalry with Donovan, but does love her little brother. Her baby is born at the end of the story.
  • Brad Patterson, Katie’s marine husband. He is deployed in Afghanistan during the story and makes a cameo in the end via a call by Noah.
  • Tina Mandy Patterson, Katie and Brad's baby who is born at the end of the book. She is named after Tin Man Metallica SquarePants, ASD’s robot.
  • Ms. Bevelaqua, ASD’s math teacher. She suspects that Donovan is not what he is trying to appear as. She is the subject of a prank video by ASD’s robotics team, who use their robot to lift her skirt, much to her chagrin.
  • Heather, Daniel Nussbaum’s love interest.
  • Deidre, Daniel Sanderson’s love interest.
  • Beatrice (the dog), a cinnamon Chow Chow who is given to Donovan’s family by his aunt Beatrice. At first she is believed to be dying due to her behavior, but is later revealed to be pregnant. She likes Donovan.
  • Tin Man (the robot), a robot created by ASD’s robotics team for a robotics tournament. His name is a reference to Tin Man, Metallica, and SpongeBob SquarePants. At one point, his motor is damaged and replaced by one from ASD’s floor polisher.
  • Mr. Osborne (“Oz”), the teacher of ASD’s robotics homeroom. He supports Donovan even though he ultimately proves to not be gifted.
  • Dr. Schultz, the superintendent. He catches Donovan after his prank, but subsequently forgets his name after an accident that sends Donovan to ASD. He also used to be the principal of Katie's high school.
  • James Donovan, Donovan's dead relative. He is said to have been on the Titanic.

Awards and achievements

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

Ungifted has received positive reviews from School Library Journal, Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), ALA Booklist, the National Post, Publishers Weekly, New York Times Book Review, the Horn Book Guide, Children's Literature, Junior Library Guild, and Kirkus Reviews. School Library Journal described the story as "unpretentious and universally appealing".[3] Booklist labelled the conclusion as "satisfying".[4] New York Times wrote that the novel is "brisk, heartfelt and timely". Children's Literature described the story as "unique" and the novel as "easily read", "nice" and "safe". Children's Lit also recommended it for "middle school students who don't feel they belong" and as an "ideal selection for classroom study" with "well-developed" characters and "many layers of 'drama'". Voice Of Young Advocates praised the novel by describing Ungifted as "humorous", "quirky", and "feel-good". The novel was also praised as "a gem for readers looking for a story", and the plot as "touching, without being overly sentimental". VOYA recommended Ungifted for "middle school readers who are looking for a funny and quick read".

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Ungifted is a middle-grade by Canadian-American author , published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of Publishers. The book follows seventh-grader Donovan Curtis, a mischievous student who, after accidentally destroying a during a prank, is mistakenly redirected to the Academy for Scholastic Distinction (ASD), a program for gifted and talented students, instead of facing suspension. Spanning 280 pages and divided into 31 chapters with alternating perspectives from multiple characters, the narrative explores themes of , , and self-discovery through humor and heartwarming moments. Donovan's unorthodox presence in the ASD challenges the students' preconceptions about achievement and talent, as he helps them navigate social awkwardness, competitions, and school events like dances and experiments, ultimately fostering unexpected bonds and growth. The novel received positive reviews for its engaging plot and relatable portrayal of middle-school dynamics, earning praise as a "page-turning comic adventure" that highlights individuality beyond traditional measures of success. is the first installment in a loosely connected series, followed by Supergifted (2018) and Hypergifted (2026), which continue to examine similar themes in educational settings.

Background and Publication

Author

Gordon Korman was born on October 23, 1963, in , , and grew up primarily in the area. His writing career began unexpectedly at during seventh grade, when he composed his first novel, This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall, as an English class assignment over four months; the manuscript was submitted to a publisher and accepted for publication when he was 14. Korman has maintained a prolific output, authoring over 105 books for young readers as of 2025, with sales exceeding 35 million copies worldwide and translations into 32 languages. His works are characterized by humorous, fast-paced middle-grade fiction, frequently set in school environments and featuring misfit protagonists who navigate challenges through wit and camaraderie. Early in his career, Korman gained prominence with the series, starting with his debut novel in 1978, which centered on prankster roommates at a and established his signature blend of and group dynamics. He later transitioned to standalone novels, including Ungifted (2012), continuing his focus on underdog stories that highlight resilience and unexpected alliances among young characters. The creation of Ungifted drew from Korman's extensive school visits, which served as key inspirations for exploring the pressures and misconceptions surrounding gifted programs, as well as his own self-described "ungifted" experiences in school that mirrored the protagonist's perspective. Korman's body of work has earned widespread acclaim for its engaging portrayal of adolescent life.

Writing and Release

Gordon Korman's inspiration for Ungifted stemmed from his observations during school visits, where he noted how the label "gifted" could act as both a burden and a blessing, prompting him to explore the stereotypes surrounding gifted students and the disruptions caused by introducing an outsider to an elite program. The was written and completed between and , structured as an ensemble narrative with 31 chapters that alternate between multiple character perspectives to develop the story's dynamics. Ungifted was first published in the United States by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of , on August 21, 2012, in format with 978-0-06-174266-8 and 280 pages, targeted at readers ages 8-12. A edition followed on February 18, 2014, under 978-0-06-174267-5. The , produced by Recorded Books and narrated by a cast including Jonathan Todd Ross, , and Erin Moon to reflect the ensemble voices, was released on October 12, 2012. International releases included a Canadian edition by Scholastic Canada in 2012 (ISBN 978-1-4431-1920-7, 272 pages) and a edition by Children's Books on the same date as the release. Initial marketing positioned the book as a humorous exploration of experiences, with the cover artwork featuring a to highlight the central robotics club element.

Narrative Elements

Plot Summary

Donovan Curtis is a prank-prone seventh grader at known for his impulsive behavior and mediocre academic performance. During a basketball game, Donovan impulsively strikes a statue of Atlas with a tree branch, dislodging its globe, which rolls down the hill and crashes through the gym doors, causing significant damage. , who catches Donovan, writes his name on a slip of paper intended for the list of students to be transferred to an , but an administrative error sends him to the Academy for Scholastic Distinction (ASD), an elite program for gifted students. At ASD, struggles to blend in among the high-IQ students and rigorous academics, yet he unexpectedly joins the club, where his practical skills and expertise prove valuable in building and operating their , Tin Man. His unorthodox approach begins to influence the club's academically focused members, fostering and as they prepare for escalating challenges, including a regional robotics competition that tests their abilities under pressure. The story builds to a climax revealing the administrative error that placed Donovan at ASD; later, Youkilis frames himself for cheating on a test to get expelled and join Hardcastle . Friendships are strained amid the competition's demands and the of exposure, but resolution emerges through collective efforts that highlight misperceptions of talent and the power of diverse . The novel's structure alternates chapters among multiple viewpoints, including those of Donovan, ASD students like Youkilis, and school staff, providing a multifaceted perspective on the unfolding events.

Characters

Donovan Curtis serves as the of Ungifted, a 13-year-old seventh grader characterized by his , street smarts, and tendency toward , often struggling with academic performance while excelling in practical, real-world problem-solving. Despite exhibiting ADHD-like traits that lead to frequent trouble, his arc involves cultivating and discovering personal worth beyond pranks, particularly as he navigates an unfamiliar environment. Donovan's relationships with authority figures and peers highlight his resourcefulness, as he supports his family and integrates into new social circles. Among the gifted students at the Academy for Scholastic Distinction, Noah Youkilis stands out as a prodigy and arguably the group's most intellectually brilliant member, though his social awkwardness contributes to initial isolation. Garfinkle, who forms a close alliance with , and Lee, known for her pride in her intelligence and occasional judgmental demeanor, each possess niche talents that underscore their early detachment from typical peer interactions. Antagonistic elements arise from school officials like Superintendent Dr. Schultz and ASD Principal Mr. Del Rio, who enforce strict policies in response to disruptions. These figures contrast sharply with the supportive yet strained dynamics in Donovan's home life, where his parents grapple with his recklessness—his mother labeling him as such—and his pregnant sister , recently returned from living with her deployed husband, adds emotional layers to family tensions. Donovan's old-school friends, including those like Will who embody the rowdy energy of his previous environment, further illustrate the divide between ordinary and elite academic settings. Character interrelationships evolve through Donovan's influence, as his social savvy humanizes the gifted ensemble, promoting collaboration on the robotics team and subtly eroding their elitist tendencies toward greater inclusivity. For instance, benefits from Donovan's hands-on contributions, while and develop alliances that bridge individual isolations, ultimately enhancing without relying solely on intellectual prowess.

Themes and Analysis

Intelligence and Giftedness

In Ungifted, Gordon Korman critiques traditional IQ-based gifted programs by portraying protagonist Donovan Curtis, an average student with low academic aptitude, as possessing intuitive creativity and leadership skills that rival the "book smarts" of his high-IQ classmates at the Academy for Scholastic Distinction (ASD). Korman draws from his observations during school visits, noting that while gifted students excel in certain areas, they may lag in social or practical domains, and an "ungifted" outsider like Donovan can introduce balance by encouraging relaxation and real-world engagement. This setup challenges the narrow definition of intelligence tied to standardized tests, highlighting how administrative errors—such as Donovan's accidental placement—expose the limitations of such systems. A key example is the ASD's robotics club, where the gifted students' theoretical designs for their , Tin Man, falter in practice, but Donovan's hands-on problem-solving—such as improvising fixes when motors fail—propels the team toward success in competition. This contrast underscores Donovan's practical ingenuity over the academics' abstract knowledge, ultimately fostering and demonstrating that often requires blending diverse sets. The also dismantles of gifted children as socially isolated or , showing characters like Youkilis evolving through exposure to Donovan's impulsive energy, which humanizes their brilliance and reveals emotional depths beyond IQ scores. The book engages broader implications in the debate, presenting Donovan's impulsivity not as a flaw but as an innate talent that thrives in unstructured environments, while the gifted students' growth depends on nurturing real-world applications to complement their nurtured academic strengths. candidates analyzing the have noted how this reflects giftedness as a developmental influenced by environment and expectations, rather than solely genetic factors. Korman's intent, informed by real-world dynamics, emphasizes diverse intelligences—implicitly aligning with Gardner's , which posits abilities like interpersonal and kinesthetic skills as valid forms of talent alongside linguistic and logical ones.

Social Dynamics and Growth

In Ungifted, the social structures of Hardcastle Middle School and the Academy of Scholastic Distinction starkly contrast, with Hardcastle embodying a rowdy, prank-filled environment where students like Donovan Curtis navigate hierarchies based on mischief and group loyalty, while the Academy fosters a competitive, intellectually isolated culture among gifted elites who prioritize academic excellence over interpersonal bonds. This divide underscores the novel's exploration of inclusivity, as Donovan's accidental placement at the Academy bridges these worlds, challenging the gifted students' insular dynamics and introducing a more egalitarian approach to collaboration. Teacher candidates analyzing the book noted how such separations exacerbate social stigmas, advocating for integrated models to mitigate among gifted youth. Friendship arcs in the story particularly highlight the robotics team's transformation from fragmented cliques of theorists—where interactions are limited by academic focus and social awkwardness—to a cohesive, supportive unit that thrives on mutual vulnerabilities revealed during events like school dances and competitions. Donovan's influence fosters these bonds, as his peers, including and , begin to value emotional openness alongside intellectual pursuits, evolving from isolated individuals to empathetic collaborators who defend shared secrets and celebrate collective successes. This progression emphasizes empathy as a for growth, with the team learning to handle ethical dilemmas, such as concealing school irregularities, through trust rather than competition. Personal growth emerges as characters redefine popularity and identity beyond traditional labels, with gifted students like acquiring that humanize their prodigious talents, while tempers his by embracing ethical responsibility and collaborative over solitary pranks. The narrative critiques the pressure of "gifted" or "troublemaker" labels on middle schoolers, showing how they constrain personal until disrupted by cross-group interactions that prioritize and over individual achievement. Ultimately, this humanization arc illustrates collaboration's role in fostering , as seen in the team's redefined success metrics centered on relational support rather than accolades.

Reception and Legacy

Critical Response

Upon its release in 2012, Ungifted received positive reviews from professional critics, who praised its humor, engaging ensemble cast, and exploration of social dynamics in a school setting. Kirkus Reviews highlighted the novel's charm, noting its allusions to The Wizard of Oz—including a robot named Tin Man and themes of brains, heart, and courage—and described it as an engaging tale where protagonist Donovan Curtis becomes the "heart" of the gifted academy. The School Library Journal commended the book's multiple viewpoints and its anti-elitist message, portraying Donovan as an "impulse-driven prankster" whose presence disrupts and enriches the gifted program's dynamics. Reader reception has been strong among middle-grade audiences, with the earning an average rating of 4.05 out of 5 on based on over 26,000 ratings. Common praises include the relatable characters and humorous situations, while some criticisms point to a predictable plot and occasional reliance on middle-school tropes. Commercially, Ungifted achieved success, benefiting from Gordon Korman's established fanbase and integration into school reading programs. Retrospectively, as of 2025, the novel continues to be appreciated for its accessible commentary on educational environments and inclusivity, with recent reader reviews emphasizing its enduring appeal for young audiences. Some critiques note stereotypical depictions of gifted students as socially awkward or overly academic, though the overall pace and wit are seen as strengths.

Awards and Honors

Ungifted received several notable awards and honors from children's book organizations across , reflecting its popularity among young readers. In 2013, it was shortlisted for the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award. The following year, the novel won the Red Cedar Book Award for Fiction, presented by the Young Readers' Choice Awards Society. It was also named an honour book for the 2014 Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award. Additionally, Ungifted was nominated for the 2014-2015 Sunshine State Young Readers Award in the grades 6-8 category. In 2015, the book earned further recognition by winning the Colorado Children's Book Award in the junior novel category. It also took the middle school division of the Oregon Reader's Choice Award. Beyond these competitive awards, Ungifted was selected for numerous state reading lists between 2013 and 2016, including the Texas Lone Star Reading List and the South Carolina Children's Book Award nominee list, which helped promote its use in school curricula and libraries. These accolades, building on positive critical reception, enhanced the book's adoption in educational settings.

Sequels and Adaptations

The Ungifted series expanded with the direct sequel Supergifted, published on January 2, 2018, by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of Publishers, under 978-0-06-256385-9. In this installment, protagonist Donovan Curtis navigates chaos as his supergifted friend Noah Youkilis enrolls at the same , leading to humorous entanglements involving a robotics competition and the school's dynamics, while preserving the multi-perspective narrative style of the original. The third book, Hypergifted, is scheduled for release on February 3, 2026, also by , continuing the franchise's focus on Noah's extraordinary intelligence amid school-based adventures. Announced by author in August 2025 via his official website, the story centers on Noah Youkilis, a young super-genius who has already graduated high school but faces new challenges at a prestigious gifted obsessed with , where he seeks to blend in while uncovering issues in the admissions process; Donovan Curtis returns as a key ally in the ensuing antics. Korman described it on his site as extending the "Ungifted" legacy with humor and heart. In March 2021, announced plans for a live-action television series of Ungifted, acquiring rights in 2020 and co-producing with Mulberry Films, with the project emphasizing Donovan's pranks and the novel's blend of mischief and growth. However, as of November 2025, the series remains undeveloped with no production updates, episodes, or revival announcements reported, indicating stalled progress due to typical industry development hurdles. No film or other media adaptations have been confirmed for the franchise. Ungifted established the core premise of contrasting intelligence levels and school environments, with sequels building on character growth and thematic explorations of giftedness without requiring strict sequential reading, allowing independent enjoyment while rewarding series followers. These expansions have maintained fan engagement through Korman's signature witty, ensemble-driven storytelling centered on and themes.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.