Product Description
ISLAND is a thrilling trilogy of stories. Luke, Charla, Will, Lyssa, J.J., and Ian aren¹t alone on their desert island. They¹ve survived so far, but now their enemies are closing in. They have only one chance to escape. Will they make it? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

The Island, Escape
In Island Book Three: Escape, JJ hid in one of the smuggler's boxes, and after the long trip to Asia, tried to tell the police the whole story.He got cauht by Fatso and had to spend a few days with the guards.When he finally talked the smugglers into believing that the whole story really happened, the police found out and immediately put the smugglers in jail.JJ went with the army to get the rest of the castaways.While this was going on, the rest of the castaways finished up surgery on Will using Novocain. Before they knew it, a helicopter came to rescue them, harnessed the now five castaways, and lifted them up with a rope.Did they forget something else?

The situation seemed bad enough until....
In the final book of the trilogy, the tension escalates as the young, marooned crew find themselves with company on their tropical island.And, it's not the kind of company you'd invite to dinner!To make matters worse one of the friends needs medical attention...soon!Now getting off the island isn't just about finding their way home - it's the only way to survive.If you've enjoyed the first two books, you'll definitely want to read the satisfying ending to this adventure.
-- Reviewed by Michelle Delisle

not so great
Ordered a set of three of these books for a sibling for Christmas.Items were supposed to arrive by 12-18 but did not arrive until the day before Christmas.

Adventurous
I loved this book! Good for adventurous types like me, I couldn't put it down!

Adventure and horrortogether all in one book!By Brianna
There is no doubt that anyone who reads Island Book Three: Escape By Gordan Korman would love it! In this book there are six kids who get marooned on an uncharted island for 28 days.
Things were bad enough when Luke, Lan, Lyssa, JJ, Charla, and Will were stuck alone on the island, but now they have company- really bad company. Plus Will is seriously injured and needs help immediately. Before, escape was something the kids could only hope for. Now it's a matter of life and death.
This is one of the greatest books I've ever read and if I like it I'm sure you willtoo. This is a very adventurous book.
I awarded this book 5 stars. I awarded it 5 stars because when I read it I felt like I was actually on the island. I could see the pictures in my mind.
Do the kids survive and get off the island? Read the book to find out.

... Read more

Product Description
After a mean collector named Swindle cons him out of his most valuable baseball card, Griffin Bing must put together a band of misfits to break into Swindle's compound and recapture the card. There are many things standing in their way -- a menacing guard dog, a high-tech security system, a very secret hiding place, and their inability to drive -- but Griffin and his team are going to get back what's rightfully his . . . even if hijinks ensue.

This is Gordon Korman at his crowd-pleasing best, perfect for readers who like to hoot, howl, and heist.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

amazing!
I loved this book.It was exciting, and well written.I like how Gordon Korman made you think that the guy that Griffin utterly hated, Darren, would help get the card.Eventually though, Darren goes back to the bad kid that he normally was.I would recommend this book to anyone.

amazing!
I loved this book.It was exciting, and well written.I like how Gordon Korman made you think that the guy that Griffin utterly hated, Darren, would help get the card.Eventually though, Darren goes back to the bad kid that he normally was.I would recommend this book to anyone.

If you've ever dreamed of pulling off a big heist . . .
Very fun, well-plotted middle grade novel about group of misfit kids trying to right a wrong perpetrated by a swindling collectibles dealer. I see why this is so popular with the boys at my school.

Swindle
Dear Readers,

If you like action and mystery books, then you will love Swindle. Swindle is a book about two boys named Griffin and Ben. Griffin invites a lot of people to spend the night in an old abandoned house, but only Ben shows up. While Ben falls asleep very quickly, Griffin goes exploring. Somehow bats frighten Griffin and he falls through a hole. Griffin is having difficulty seeing in the darkness, but then he spies a cabinet. He opens the cabinet and out pops a baseball card that reads George Herman (Babe) Ruth. He finally found a way out and the next day Griffin wanted to go check if the card was valuable. He goes to a Sports Memarabilia shop to see what is was worth. The owner, S. Wendell Palomino, rips Griffin off for only $160. If you would like to hear what happens next,then you're going to have to read it.

Inappropriate for 9 year olds
The first chapter starts with how to lie to your parents and sneak out of the house.The chapter proceeds to discuss how the house is haunted by various people including a woman that was cut up by her husband with a chain saw or possibly killed by a railroad spike to her skull.My son was done with this book after the first chapter. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (13)

A pleasure for my son to read.
A very well written book for children but adults will find it a pleasure to listen to as it is being read.

For reluctant readers
This series by Gordon Korman worked wonders for several reluctant readers in my class. These are good fast moving books that really move you on to the next in the series.

Public Enemies
Great but before I say anything, NOTE this is a six part writing, the reader must read them in order to make sense.

Best series ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the best series I have ever read! I couldn't stop reading them!The series is about 2 kids, Aiden and Meg Falconer trying to prove their parents innocence.They find out along the way it isn't so easy. Their parents are convicted of helping out terirists and were put in jail for life. They are wanted by a killer,known as Hairless Joe, the F.B.I., and the police. They never get boring. I recommend this series if you like books that never have a dull spot in them!

Sweet book!
I really liked this book because it never was boring. Every page has something interesting on it. Once I read the first book in the series I couldot stop. They have lots of action in it, like when hairless Joe chased them in a gold corvette! It was a very good book I really enjoyed it. I hope you will too!




By Surfergirl ... Read more

Product Description
Six kids. One shipwreck. One deserted island.After their ship sinks, Luke, Ian, JJ, Sharla, Will, and Lyssa must find a way to survive. They have no food and very few supplies. They think they¹re all alone‹but they¹re not. And that¹s even worse. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

The Adventure Continues....
In the second book of this series, the castaways must learn how to cope after the shipwreck in Book 1.On the deserted island where they washed ashore, they prove very resourceful at setting up camp and finding food.While they hope for rescue, everything seems to be going fairly well - at least as well as can be expected - until a sea plane lands near the island and they realize they are not alone.Middle grade readers will enjoy the adventure as the unlikely heroes fight for survival.
--Reviewed by Michelle Delisle

Erik's Book Report
Korman,Gordan (2001) The Island: Book 2 Survival
New York: Scholastic Inc.

In the begining of this book 7 young teens are caught on a sinking n the middle of the Pacific Ocean. When the boat sinks the teens are split up. When they reach the island they are in the middle of nowwhere.The teens are stranded here and do not know what to do and all they have to eat are banana's and coconut's. About 1 week into the trip that was supposed to be the teens discovered that there was a group of men that where coming to the island and met and then left on the planes. they soon figured out that the men were smuggling drugs into the country.At the end of this book the teens are trying to get rid of any evedence that they were on this island. The Smugglers brought a dog on this island because they saw some of the foot prints in the beach sand.


The setting of this story is on a island 500 miles from guam. the setting is very well described

In order to read this book you should have read the first book. If you dont you may be lost in this book.
I rate this book a 9 because it is a little slow but it is very well described.

the best book
This is a great book if you read the first one this one is better.It is about the kids that are in that ship wreck get to a island that they think is deserted and Will forgets the whole thing and does not rember the wreck and runs off. They see a murder and they are potchers and find there other friends and the dogs from the potchers find and well i`ll just leave the rest to you.

Island
Island by Gordon Korman

Imagine sailing on a dreadful boat in the middle of the humongous Pacific Ocean, when suddenly something horrible happens! Next thing you know you are on a cabin top with four of your friends alone with terrifying sharks! When you read this book remember to hold on because it's going to be a bumpy ride!
There they knew they were sailing on a cabin top for 7 days and finally when the 7th day came they were stuck, stranded on a island with no food or water besides rain, coconuts and these fruit that made them sick to there stomach. They had no were to go nothing to see, but the question is will anyone ever come?
One thing I like about this book is how the author drags you into the story through the many details. For example, the author uses powerful words such as "shrieking," and you're able to hear the character's panic through the language he uses. I also like how he says, "This time he wouldn't stop crying till sleep claimed him." This language relaxes readers, then suddenly the word "Slam!" appears in the beginning of the next chapter. Also, he writes, "Four orange life jackets came sailing down" I just love how he says orange and sailing because it's so detailed and I can see everything in my mind.
It's really amazing how the author compares the characters because at first they hated each other. They barely knew each other and wouldn't even sleep in the same room! However, when the boat sank, they all helped each other and they acted like they were brother and sister which made it fun and entertaining to read.
As you read you hope they make it home safe and sound but something else could happen! They could get bit by a shark or starve to death and die! To find out, read books one, two, and three.

By: Casey Goldlynn

Unlikely happenings, but you'll keep reading
The second book of the trilogy, the young survivors of the shipwreck in Book One end up on an apparently deserted island very far from anything.They're alive, but the beginning four have one member who is delusional as a result of the traumas of getting from the shipwreck to the island, and three who work in terrific cohesion to establish life-sustaining routines.The characters are good, as in the first book, but the island lends itself to better imagery without the burden of maritime vocabulary of the first book.As in the first book, a considerable amount of toleration for wildly unlikely occurances is necessary.It turns out that the island is not as deserted as the four think, and they witness crimes, deal with wild animals and general survival, and confront evidence of human occupation of the island in the past, among other things that strain credibilitly.Assuming that one overlooks these strains, and Korman makes it easy for the reader to do so, the book is good fun, maybe more enjoiyable for an upper elementary reader than the first book and it can be read independent of that first one. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

Action Packed!
This book is about a girl named Savannah who loses her monkey, "Cleo".Her friends, Griffin and Ben, take Savannah's dog named, Luther, on a walk around town to places that Cleo liked to visit.Luther the dog found a bannana with Cleon's scent all over it.That's when Savannah realized that Cleo had been kidnapped.The bannana was used to lure Cleo away from their yard.

Later, the kids visited the "All Aboard Animals" floating zoo for a school field trip.They end up seeing Cleo in a cage at the floating zoo.Savannah tells the zookeeper that the monkey is hers.But the zookeepser, Mr. Nastase, says that the monkey is their newest attraction, Eleanor.Savannah knows the monkey is her pet Cleo!

Griffin decides to come up with a plan to rescue Cleo from the floating zoo.He brings his old team of 11 year old friends together, Logan, Antonia, Melissa, Savannah and Ben.

The first time they attempt to rescue Cleo failed. The second attempt to rescue Cleo, they asked Darren to sail them to "All Aboard Animals" because he was a boating expert.Unfortunately, he never showed up for the rescue.They decided to use a row boat they found all by themselves.When they arrived at the zoo and freed Cleo from her cage, Savannah felt sorry for all the other animals because they knew that the zookeepr was abusive.So they ended up freeing all of the animals and brought them back to their homes.

After about a week or so, the animals started to irritate the children.Savannah called another zoo keeper at the Long Island Zoo that she knew to see if she could take care of the animals.Unfortunately, the zookeeper was out of town and wouldn't return for 2 weeks.So the kids decided to take the amimals to the zoo themselves.Meanwhile, the zookeeper from "All Aboard Animals", decided to get his animals back from the other zoo.Mr. Nastase decided to shoot Griffin with a tranquilizer gun.Mr. Nastase's assistant took the shot for Griffin because he didn't like the way Mr. Nastase treated the animals.

Darren, the boy who never showed up for the rescue mission, was dreaming about it and ended up telling his parents about the rescue because they were asking questions.His parents called the other parents of the rescue team and then called the police.

The police arrived and arrested Mr. Nastasi and his assistant.All of the rescued animals ended up at the Long Island Zoo safe and sound.

All of the 11 year rescue team ended up getting grounded for not telling their parents about their rescue mission.

I liked this story because it had alot of action in it.I am also an animal lover and would try to rescue an animal if I thought it was abused.I would recommend it to my friends because it's action packed and makes you want to read more and more!

A childhood adventure I wish I could've been part of
They all seem to be misfits, but the young heroes in this story fit one another very well. In this second installation of Gordon Zorman's contemporary adventure series starring Griffin Bing and his friends Ben and Savannah, they are once again caught in the borderline of helping someone and breaking some laws. After breaking into a floating zoo to rescue Savannah's stolen capuchin monkey, the friends find themselves in another zoo break. This time, though, they're not doing it to get the animals out but to bring the animals in! Truly, Griffin--the Man with The Plan--thought it sounded easier than the first zoo break. Unfortunately, they didn't count on Mr. Nastase--the keeper of the floating zoo--to have plans of his own.

With a storytelling as energetic as the young characters, the visuals Mr. Zorman presented with his words become as real to this reviewer as her memories of her tween-hood: loyal childhood friendships, ambivalence towards authority, the desire to accomplish something that adults won't put down as impossible. Young readers will enjoy the victories in this novel, while adults who were once young readers will pleasantly linger in the vicarious experience.

Reviewed by D. Harms

made for a happy child
My son was very excited to receive this book. I will presume it is quite good - I had to confiscate flashlights so that he would actually go to bed, not hide under the cover & read!

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
If it weren't for Savannah's capuchin monkey, Cleopatra, being stolen, none of this would have happened.But Cleo was stolen, and it did!

Griffin and his friends (if you've read SWINDLE by Mr. Korman, these are the same kids that managed to pull off the baseball card caper) are on a class field trip to the traveling exhibit All Aboard Animals.An old paddleboat has been converted into a traveling zoo.The kids are grossed out by the stench of the animals, and when Savannah finds Cleo in a cage marked Eleanor, she is absolutely livid.She demands her monkey back, but the zookeeper, Mr. Nastase, insists he bought her legally and has a bill of sale to prove it.

The kids, grumbling, leave the floating zoo, but Savannah is determined to get Cleo back.It's Griffin who comes up with the idea:Zoobreak.He assembles a team of friends, each with a specific job, and comes up with the plan.

The kids successfully (though with some hiccups in the execution) retrieve Cleo, along with all the other animals in the exhibit.If they had left the other animals, they'd have been home free.But Savannah can't stand the thought of leaving the rest of the animals in such squalid conditions.

Trying to conceal such exotic animals as a meerkat, loon, beaver and more create havoc in the kids' lives.They realize they have to get rid of the animals before they are found out.Their only option is to break the animals INTO another zoo.

If you think this is as crazy as it sounds, it is!The adventures Griffin and his friends get into are hysterical.The fact that the plans actually work are astounding.But of course, there are obstacles along the way, and it's navigating the obstacles that are the most fun.

This is the first story I've read by Mr. Korman, and after enjoying ZOOBREAK so much, I know I'll read more.

Reviewed by:Jaglvr

Turning my special needs 5th grader into a reader!
I have a 10 year old son who has Aspergers.As a result, reading has not been something he has embraced.He loves non-fiction books about animals but mostly because he will look at the pictures and read the captions.As a result, his reading has been consistently behind grade level and he has never been interested in reading fiction -- where my older son devoured the Magic Treehouse books, my younger son found them "too hard" and didn't hold his interest.

Yesterday, he picked out this book from the school book fair.I was surprised he picked it out because it is long and it is fiction (no pictures to speak of).But apparently they had a video that made him want the book.

We started reading it last night and for the most part, he is able to read it with little help.It is funny right from the start -- I was even enjoying it and wanted to know what happens next.The chapters are short so that it makes it very easy for him to read some and have a good stopping place yet feel like he has accomplished something.

But the most amazing thing about this book -- he actually picks it up to read on his own -- without needing an adult there to read with him.He is motivated and interested in the book enough to want to keep reading to see what happens -- to me, the very definition of whether a book is good.For a kid where reading doesn't come easily -- for him to want to put in the time and the effort to keep reading it is nothing short of a miracle and makes me want to sing the books (and author's) praises from the rooftops.

For every kid who eventually grows up to love reading, there will be ONE special book that gets them into reading.The humor, the kid-friendly format, the characters, and the subject all combine to make this THE ONE book for my son and I'm thrilled!

I think my son summed it up the best when he quoted Sam from iCarly:"Hey Mom!Sam's right!! This is just like TV inside your brain!"

[NCJAR] ... Read more

Product Description
Capricorn Anderson had never watched a television show before. He'd never tasted a pizza. He had never even heard of a wedgie. And he had never, in his wildest dreams, thought of living anywhere but Garland Farm commune with his hippie caretaker, Rain.

Customer Reviews (10)

Miss these books
When I was younger, I loved these books.They actually made me laugh out loud.I'm saddened that they are out of print.I own a lot of the original Bruno and Boots books, but wish they were more readily available to kids now.I'm just glad I have them for my own kids someday.

Hey I'm ollie fishman, what is up, ELO DIGGS
This book is about two best friends who attend boarding school in Canada.They are two of the notorious troublemakers of their school McDonald Hall which is their school and they have a very bad reputation with the headmaster of the school, Mr. Stregion.They are always in trouble.Everything that bad happens is always their fault.But finally, there is a notorious troublemaker going around doing pranks, but its not Bruno and boots, the two best friends.The notorious, "Phantom prankster", keeps striking and striking again until one prank goes so far that Bruno and Boots nearly get expelled.They are at the bottom of this and hey will do anything not to get expelled by Mr. Stergion.They set up surveillance but this prankster is so sneaky, maybe even Bruno and boots, practical joking kings are in over their heads in this mystery.

so cool!
I love these Gordon Korman books. You are always guarenteed to laugh out loud. I think they are fantastic for kids, or just anyone who enjoys light hearted, well written entertainment - I am 25 and still reread my Gordon Korman books!! I think that these books would be especially great to read to kids who don't like to read, and to get those said kids started - I mean this is enjoyment, pure and simple!

Great beginning!
Every writer and reader of YA fiction should read this book.  Not because it's the best book in Korman's long career, but because it's the first.  And he wrote it when he was twelve years old.  Many publishers publish books by kids because it's a great media bonanza -- Korman was one of the few child prodigies who turned out to be a prolific and talented writer.  In this first book he introduces Bruno and Boots, two smart alecky kids who get into loads of trouble through the course of the novel.  The plot is simple.  Bruno and Boots get into trouble.  Bruno and Boots find a clever way to get out of trouble.  But the fun is in the humour and the light-heartedness of the book.  Korman obviously liked these two characters because he went on to write several more books based at Mcdonald Hall.

An Excellent Introduction to the series
I am beyond thrilled that these books are being reprinted. This Can't Be Happening was the first book I ever read that wasn't Nancy Drew and I loved it! I can't wait to introduce my niece and nephew to Bruno and Boots and the Fish. I highly recomend this book and the rest in the series. ... Read more

Product Description

When Marcus moves to a new town in the dead of summer, he doesn't know a soul. While practicing football for impending tryouts, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with an older man. Charlie is a charismatic prankster—and the best football player Marcus has ever seen. He can't believe his good luck when he finds out that Charlie is actually Charlie Popovich, or "the King of Pop," as he had been nicknamed during his career as an NFL linebacker. But that's not all. There is a secret about Charlie that his family is desperate to hide.

Customer Reviews (6)

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Gold Star Award Winner!

If I was asked to write a one word review for POP by Gordon Korman, I would write - Fantastic!Once readers start passing this one around, it may never touch a bookshelf again.

Quarterback want-to-be Marcus Jordan is packed up and moved to the mountains of New York state by his divorced mother.It's no big loss in the dad department considering he refers to his father as Comrade Stalin.He knows he and his mother are better off out of Kansas and on their own, but it's the summer before his junior year, and his dream of playing varsity quarterback may not survive the move.

With no friends yet to occupy his time and definitely no fellow football companions to work out with, Marcus heads to the local city park to create his own workout.He is attempting some passing practice when a burly, middle-aged guy shows up and sprints into the park and picks off one of his passes.Before he knows it, the guy is putting him through his paces.They are passing the ball like crazy and then running patterns and hitting each other like it's the biggest game of the season.And then the guy is gone.

Marcus learns the man's name is Charlie.Without any regular schedule or plan, they start working out together in the park.Charlie just sort of shows up - maybe one day, but not the next, and rarely ever at the same time.Even with crazy and unreliable appearances, the time Marcus spends with Charlie is really improving his game.

Whenever Marcus tries to find out exactly who Charlie is, he runs into a roadblock.Their time together is basically all about football - until the day a wild pass ends up crashing through the side window of a car parked along the street.Charlie disappears faster than Marcus believed possible, leaving him to write a note to the car owner promising to pay the repair bill.After that more strange things begin to happen.Marcus notices that when he and Charlie leave the park to grab a Gatorade or a bag of ice to ice down an injury, Charlie simply grabs what they need from a local store and leaves without paying a cent.Weird... but the weirdness is outweighed by the fantastic football knowledge Marcus is gaining from this awesome athlete.

As school starts that fall, Marcus finds it difficult to fit into the already stacked football roster.The team has a super reputation and is heading into a second undefeated season.There seems to be no hope that he will play quarterback.In his attempt to make friends and fit in with the team, Marcus learns that Charlie is the father of the team's star quarterback.It makes sense that such a great player would have a talented son, but Marcus also discovers that there is some sort of family secret and Charlie seems to be at the center of it.

Gordon Korman is at his best in POP.He has wrapped a tremendous amount into this fast-paced novel.In addition to football action, readers will experience Marcus's "new guy" frustration, emotions twisted by his parents' divorce, and the discovery of a horribly debilitating disease.Readers will find it difficult to stop reading once they have met Marcus and Charlie.

Run, don't walk, to the nearest library or bookstore to get a copy of POP.

Reviewed by:Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

Super Sports Action and a Superior Story
When sixteen-year-old Marcus Jordan moves to Kennesaw, New York, he doesn't exactly find a welcoming committee waiting for him. It's a little hard to make friends in the middle of the summer when you don't know anyone in town, so Marcus spends his days at Three Alarm Park, practicing his football skills alone and waiting for the school year to start.

It's while Marcus is honing his game that he finally makes a friend - an unlikely friend, but a friend nonetheless. Charlie is in his mid-fifties, but he's not like any adult Marcus has ever met. He loves pranks and he really loves football. And, after practicing with Charlie every afternoon, Marcus comes to love the `pop' of a hard tackle as much as the odd older man does.

When football tryouts start, Marcus is met with a wall of resistance. The team was undefeated last year, only graduated two seniors, and the coach has no desire to introduce a new player into the mix. Worse yet, starting quarterback Troy Popovich detests Marcus from the moment they meet and he doesn't try to hide it. When Marcus discovers that Charlie is Troy's dad - and a fourteen year veteran of the NFL - Troy's hostility and Charlie's juvenile behavior lead Marcus to discover a truth about Charlie that his family is desperate to hide.

Marcus vows to remain loyal to his friendship with Charlie, despite Troy's animosity. Even though Troy and his sister want Marcus to stay away from his father and out of their lives, he's not willing to abandon Charlie - even if it means putting his own future at risk.

Smash-Mouth Football, Feel-Good Reading
POP as a title contains a double meaning -- one, it is the nickname of Charlie Popovich, an ex-NFL star suffering from Alzheimer's, and two, it is the sound you get when you slam your helmet into someone in football.It comes as no surprise, but "Pop" likes to pop people, and our protagonist, Marcus Jordan, finds out the hard way when he meets the 50-something Charlie at the public park one day while tossing around a football.The unlikely meeting leads to regular practice between the old-timer and the youngster, who is new to town and anxious to try out for the undefeated high school team.

With plenty of football action, this book will appeal to reluctant readers as well as sports fans, but it also takes a social angle as Marcus learns that the high school quarterback whose job he covets is the son of Charlie and none too pleased that Marcus is a) angling for his starting QB job, and b) practicing football with his legendary dad at the park.What's worse, both Troy and his sister Chelsea are bent on keeping Charlie's condition -- Alzheimer's as a result of multiple concussions during his NFL career -- a secret.Want more for the mix?How about Alyssa, head cheerleader and looker who on-again/off-again dates Troy, taking up an interest in Marcus?

Veteran YA author Gordon Korman pulls all the levers in this book to maximize the entertainment value.There's some suspense, some humor, and some learning about an important disease neatly brought together in one package here.My one reservation is a common one in the YA field -- the lack of reality in some of the situations and events.The more important point, however, is that this book is compelling and equal parts sports, humor, and social drama -- a potent combination.Recommended.

Great read
I started reading this book one night and two hours later and way past midnight I was still turning pages. What may be even more unusual about that is that I am hardly Gordon Korman's target audience. I'm a middle-aged woman, albeit a football fan. Marcus and Charlie are great characters. You can feel Marcus's anguish at being the new kid in town, school, and team. You get a sense of Charlie trying to hang on to the last shreds of himself. For adults, the story may be a bit precious in places. All the pieces fit together a little too neatly, and we're never in doubt that in the end there will be a big game and it will be up to Marcus to win it. That's hardly a spoiler, but there's a lot more to the ending and it's a surprise. Young teen boys should really enjoy this story. It would be great for slightly younger kids too, but there is some kissing and sexual innuendo.

"Pop" is a winner
Reviewed by Ben Hartman (age 11) for Reader Views (7/09)

"Pop" by Gordon Korman is a great, realistic, fiction book that will have you hooked in the first five pages.One of the main characters, Marcus Jordan, moves to a new town during the summer and spends his time alone in Three Alarm Park practicing his football passes to get ready for tryouts.His summer suddenly becomes exciting when a middle-aged man jumps out from behind a statue and intercepts Marcus's football pass.The man has a great arm and launches the ball out of the park and across the street.From that day on, Charlie, the middle-aged man, comes to the park almost every day to play football with Marcus.

During the summer, in addition to football, Charlie and Marcus play lots of tricks and pranks on the K.O. Pest Control owner. One of the tricks they play is sugaring the entire store. The next day, there are bugs swarming everywhere around and in the store - not a good thing for a Pest Control company!Although Marcus is having fun, he starts to wonder why this middle-aged man is spending time playing pranks and football with him, and why he calls him `Mac' instead of Marcus. He looks up Charlie on the internet and is amazed to find out that Charlie was one of the best pro-football players in NFL history.His nickname is "The King of Pop." As the relationship between Marcus and Charlie gets closer and closer, Marcus also figures out the secret that Charlie's family is desperate to hide.

At tryouts, Marcus makes the Raiders football team thanks to Charlie's coaching.The Raiders are working on their second perfect season.Troy, their quarterback, and also Charlie's son, doesn't like the new kid, Marcus, for two reasons.First, Marcus is also a quarterback, and might threaten his starting position on the team.Second, Troy doesn't like the relationship between Marcus and his father, Charlie, and is afraid Marcus will learn the secret he is trying to keep.As the football season get underway, Troy starts to have more trouble with his Dad, Charlie, and more trouble concentrating on playing quarterback.Can Marcus figure out how to help the team and how to help Troy with his Dad?

This book was so good, I would rate it 4 ½ out of five stars."Pop" by Gordon Korman is appropriate for kids 10 or 11 and up.There was lots of sports action in this book, but it was also about relationships and how they impact your life - Marcus and Charlie, Troy and Marcus, Troy and Charlie, plus a lot more. Marcus and Troy both think they know what is best for the team and Charlie. But in the end, who will win?

... Read more

Product Description
More hilarious misadventures of Boots and Bruno at Macdonald Hall. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

you kiding? its grate!!!!!!!!!!!!
wow i love this book!
soooooooooooo cool
and its so funy im 14 yrs old and i sttil enjoy it!
gordon korman is a amazing riter!
and this book is just wey out!!!!!!!!!!
buy it for your kid or for your sellf!!!!!!!!!
eather wey its worth the mony

Pure brilliance
I read these books (Gordon Korman in general, Bruno and Boots in particular) when I was 10, and I laughed non-stop, and read them over and over. I thought they were brilliant. I'm 28 now, with a Ph.D. and a real, adult life, and I still read them over and over, still laugh non-stop, and still think they're brilliant.

Project Popcan, confusion and fun
My favourite Bruno and Boots book.This is hilarious, and not just for kids.

Absolutely cool and funny
Beware the Fish is one of our favourite books.The story is very clever.One of our favourite parts of the book was when Elmer was singing about science and math.Another good part was when Elmer's cold cure was put inCoach Flynn's drink.It made him so drunk that he ran aroud in hisunderwear and asked Miss Scrimmage to dance. The book was great because it was funny anditwill make you laugh. A fabulous story!!Ryan "Rhino" Mills,Shawn "Slam Dunk" Pascal, Jeff "Gretzky" Hay, PembertonBritish Columbia, Canada.

Bruno and Boots Strike Again!!
The author of my book Beware The Fish! is Gordon Korman. Gordon Korman wrote his first book This Can't Be Happening At MacDonald Hall! as a Grade 7 english project. In my book Beware The Fish the main characters areBruno Walton and Boots O'Neal. They are kind hearted teenagers but like toplay tricks. Boots has blond hair and blue and Bruno has brown hair andbrown eyes. They live at MacDonald Hall, a boarding school for Boys inOntario, Canada. They are roommates in Room 306, Dormatory 3. Theproblem is MacDonald Hall is closing! Bruno, Boots, and the rest of thestudents want to save the school. They decide to get publicity by gettingthe school on TV. They decide to set a world record to get publicity. Theytry to build the world's largest popcan tower. The way they get the schoolis very funny! I liked the book because I have read 3 other Bruno andBoots books and this is the second best book. I liked the authorbecause Gordon Korman makes me laugh in different ways. A strengh isthat Gordon Korman taught me that teamwork achives your goals, hopes, andmaybe your dreams. A weakness is that people sometimes think thathumor books have nonthing to teach you about the meaning of life. NowI have 2 questions for Gordon Korman. Why did you pick the names Bruno andBoots for your main characters? Why did you make a series of them? Iloved this book and I would read it 10 more times. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (15)

Perfect chapter book
Honestly, when I took this book I was only taking it for the sake of my friend, who swore that it was an awesome book. However, considering how I already had it in my grasp, I gave it a shot. My eyes were glued to the pages from the very first paragraph. Gordon Korman is very skillful in his writing. It is amazing how he put in so much action into only 137 pages. For a brief summary to the readers, "Kidnapped: The Abduction" is about a family suspected of terrorism. After the parents are found to be framed and are released from prison, their daughter, Meg, is kidnapped while she and her brother Aiden are walking home from school.
This book is filled with suspense, and I know that I was right to give it a chance. For those of you out there who seek action and adventure, this book is definitely for you.

Great for kids who don't LOVE to read!
My 10-year-old daughter doesn't love to read, or at least I should say didn't like to read until she discovered this series.She can't put it down.Its the first time I don't have to force her to read for school.I worried she might be frightened when I saw the title, but I read the book and feel fine about her reading it.It is exciting and fast-paced.I like that the characters are smart and brave.I am so excited to find all the other books written by Gordon Korman.She just may become a "reader" yet!

Thrilling - but a cliffhanger ....FRUSTRATING
This was a thrilling book with a fast moving plot, but is a bit of cheat to be left hanging at the end.I didn't know this when I bought the first book, so now I have to spend more money and wait for the next two books to arrive to find out what happens.... Frustrating!So here's a tip (or a warning), if you buy book one, be sure to get all three at the same time or you'll be left hanging like I was.

A Family Torn Apart...
Crystal, a fifth grader at Ruth Fyfe shares: "Do you like a story that has exciting events, leaves you hanging, and it just wants to make you read more? Well if you do, you should read Kidnapped by Gordon Korman. It is filled with all that good and exciting stuff. I strongly believe that Kidnapped deserves 5 stars. This book is part 1 of Meg and Aiden Falconers lives at risk. First, their parents go to jail because they think they are traitors. Meg and Aiden are on the run, running away from the police because they didn't want to go to a temporaryhome. Then, Meg gets kidnapped and they don't know who it could be. Then the call the agents. The agents keep Aiden away until they have to let him go and deliver 2 million dollars. Next, this clown comes and takes the duffel bag and rollerblades away. Finally, when they think they've got Meg...Read the book to find out what goes on, and what is going to happen next."
Goran adds, "For people who have never heard of Kidnapped, you don't know what your missing. This book is so fun it leaves you hanging and Aided wants his sister out of the kidnappers hands. If you're wondering how Meg got kidnapped, Meg and Aiden were walking home from school when a van pulled beside them and took Meg. So Aiden has to meet the cops who arrested his parents. Also, Aiden has to go through obstacles to get Meg back. Meg escaped twice but got caught. If you want to learn more about Kidnapped, by Gordon Korman, visit your local library.
Shalonda states,"Where's Meg? That's the question everyone has been dying to answer. The Falconer family, which everyone calls traitors have been in very tense/tiring situations from Dr. John and Louise Falconer being sentenced in a 14 month-life sentence for aiding foreign terrorists. To Aiden and Margaret Falconer escaping from juvenile hall, and becoming fugitives. All chargers were dropped from their parents, but still people don't believe the Falconers, whom Aiden and Meg call 'Falconer-Haters.' But one day a car pulls by slowly and when Meg doesn't notice it, she is snatched into the black van. Aiden tries to help, but is too late. Now Meg is taken away...for ransom? The Falconers don't find out why until a letter tells the family that in order to get Meg back Aiden needs to deliver 2 million dollars to the kidnappers. But still, the Falconers worry that Meg's already seen the kidnappers face. This book is a very fun and exciting story, and if you like a book filled with exciting events and characters, then you should read Kidnapped by Gordon Korman.

kidnapped [1the abduction]is my favorite book !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just finshed kidnpped and i JUST LOVE it!It is a little weird if you haven't read the first series.but it's cool no AWESOME no fantastic!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (15)

Perfect chapter book
Honestly, when I took this book I was only taking it for the sake of my friend, who swore that it was an awesome book. However, considering how I already had it in my grasp, I gave it a shot. My eyes were glued to the pages from the very first paragraph. Gordon Korman is very skillful in his writing. It is amazing how he put in so much action into only 137 pages. For a brief summary to the readers, "Kidnapped: The Abduction" is about a family suspected of terrorism. After the parents are found to be framed and are released from prison, their daughter, Meg, is kidnapped while she and her brother Aiden are walking home from school.
This book is filled with suspense, and I know that I was right to give it a chance. For those of you out there who seek action and adventure, this book is definitely for you.

Great for kids who don't LOVE to read!
My 10-year-old daughter doesn't love to read, or at least I should say didn't like to read until she discovered this series.She can't put it down.Its the first time I don't have to force her to read for school.I worried she might be frightened when I saw the title, but I read the book and feel fine about her reading it.It is exciting and fast-paced.I like that the characters are smart and brave.I am so excited to find all the other books written by Gordon Korman.She just may become a "reader" yet!

Thrilling - but a cliffhanger ....FRUSTRATING
This was a thrilling book with a fast moving plot, but is a bit of cheat to be left hanging at the end.I didn't know this when I bought the first book, so now I have to spend more money and wait for the next two books to arrive to find out what happens.... Frustrating!So here's a tip (or a warning), if you buy book one, be sure to get all three at the same time or you'll be left hanging like I was.

A Family Torn Apart...
Crystal, a fifth grader at Ruth Fyfe shares: "Do you like a story that has exciting events, leaves you hanging, and it just wants to make you read more? Well if you do, you should read Kidnapped by Gordon Korman. It is filled with all that good and exciting stuff. I strongly believe that Kidnapped deserves 5 stars. This book is part 1 of Meg and Aiden Falconers lives at risk. First, their parents go to jail because they think they are traitors. Meg and Aiden are on the run, running away from the police because they didn't want to go to a temporaryhome. Then, Meg gets kidnapped and they don't know who it could be. Then the call the agents. The agents keep Aiden away until they have to let him go and deliver 2 million dollars. Next, this clown comes and takes the duffel bag and rollerblades away. Finally, when they think they've got Meg...Read the book to find out what goes on, and what is going to happen next."
Goran adds, "For people who have never heard of Kidnapped, you don't know what your missing. This book is so fun it leaves you hanging and Aided wants his sister out of the kidnappers hands. If you're wondering how Meg got kidnapped, Meg and Aiden were walking home from school when a van pulled beside them and took Meg. So Aiden has to meet the cops who arrested his parents. Also, Aiden has to go through obstacles to get Meg back. Meg escaped twice but got caught. If you want to learn more about Kidnapped, by Gordon Korman, visit your local library.
Shalonda states,"Where's Meg? That's the question everyone has been dying to answer. The Falconer family, which everyone calls traitors have been in very tense/tiring situations from Dr. John and Louise Falconer being sentenced in a 14 month-life sentence for aiding foreign terrorists. To Aiden and Margaret Falconer escaping from juvenile hall, and becoming fugitives. All chargers were dropped from their parents, but still people don't believe the Falconers, whom Aiden and Meg call 'Falconer-Haters.' But one day a car pulls by slowly and when Meg doesn't notice it, she is snatched into the black van. Aiden tries to help, but is too late. Now Meg is taken away...for ransom? The Falconers don't find out why until a letter tells the family that in order to get Meg back Aiden needs to deliver 2 million dollars to the kidnappers. But still, the Falconers worry that Meg's already seen the kidnappers face. This book is a very fun and exciting story, and if you like a book filled with exciting events and characters, then you should read Kidnapped by Gordon Korman.

kidnapped [1the abduction]is my favorite book !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just finshed kidnpped and i JUST LOVE it!It is a little weird if you haven't read the first series.but it's cool no AWESOME no fantastic!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Where is Meg Falconer?

Everybody wants to know.Her brother Aiden, who saw her kidnapped and is now trying to track her down, wants to know.The FBI, led by the very serious Agent Harris, wants to know.Her parents, who fear their pasts have something to do with why Meg was taken, want to know.

Even Meg's kidnappers want to know.Because even though they caught her once, that doesn't mean they can keep a hold of her. . . .

... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The Search = winner!
In this second book of the "Kidnapped", we are now in the center of the kidnapping of Meg Falconer. She has escaped and been recaptured multiple times, all the while leaving clues that only her brother Aiden could understand.
This is an extremely exciting series, and I couldn't stop myself from reading it. Anyone from fourth grade to high school could easily enjoy these books.

jason's book reveiw
this story is about two kids named, meg and aiden who were walking home from
school, one day a van with three kidnappers showed up. one had a Spider-Man mask, another had a Micky-Mouse mask, and the other didn't have a mask. they kidnapped meg and tied her up, but aiden was able to get away. the kidnappers took her to a building and left her. at one point, she makes a run for it, but the kidnappers catch her and she has seen them and she is afraid that means they will kill her. Aiden has teamed with the FBI to try to find her. the kidnappers have a ransom they want for her. meg tries to send a message to the outside world that she has been kidnapped, the FBI and aiden get close to finding her, but they failed to complete the search.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
In the sequel to Abduction (Kidnapped), the Falconers and the FBI are still frantically searching for Meg. It has been a little over a week since she was kidnapped and Aiden is getting restless. He hasn't slept, he's barely eaten, and a new agent has just been assigned to the case.

After the FBI got very close to getting Meg back, the kidnappers decide to move her to a new location. The new location is nearly impossible to find. But Meg doesn't give up hope. She is still planning to escape.

When a mysterious incident happens, Aiden is sure that it's a sign that Meg was sending him. But Agent Sorenson thinks otherwise. So Aiden decides to take matters into his own hands and go search for Meg on his own. This results in many run-ins with the law. Find out exactly what kind by reading this excellent book.

THE SEARCH, like the first book in the KIDNAPPED series, was an incredible thriller! Gordon Korman really knows how to write a story that will keep you guessing every time. I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventures. I think this book deserves five stars because it is action-packed and full of realistic details. It's almost like you are there!

Reviewed by:Frizzie

The Search (Kidnapped)
This book was purchased for a ten year old lad as a Birthday gift.The young lad had the book open and was reading it within thirty minutes of receipt.He is a avid reader and had read the author's earlier book of the same series and wanted this title as soon as it came available.

I am pleased both with the delivery service of AMAZON and the caliber of the books being offered to our youth.

Thanks,

JIMMIE L. SPENCER, Lt Col, USAF (Ret.)

Kidnapped
Totally AWESOME!!! It was a refreshment from all those other books I've read. The escapes were cool also. Ya know what, I'm hoping that someone in the movie buisness is reading this and they turn this whole series into a movie! ... Read more

Product Description
The youngest expedition ever to attempt an Everest climb has begun. But the trouble starts long before they reach the summit.Competition is fierce. Conditions are harsh.And the trek from Base Camp proves a challenge that not all the contestants can meet... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Everest 1: The Contest
Everest #1: The Contest, by Gordon Korman

An athletic company is holding a contest to sponsor the youngest climber ever to summit Everest, the highest mountain in the world. "The Contest" follows several young hopefuls as they compete for a place on the four person team.

Book one in an action-packed trilogy, "The Contest" is quick, decent read. My main complaint is that Korman uses several climbing terms and equipment pieces that he doesn't explain until the end of the book, if at all. For example, I knew what crampons were, but I don't think it's a common term.

The story isn't told from the viewpoint of any one character; and several of the characters are cliches: there's the young kid, the mean kid, the kid who doesn't want to be there, the adrenaline junky, etc. "The Contest" is still a good story, though, and I enjoy these types of stories because they introduce me to a new world or new activity that I was previously unfamiliar with.

The entire Everest trilogy is best for readers who are interested in mountain climbing, competition, or just learning about something new.

3/5.

Awesome book
Awesome book.My son loved it so much, I read it after him and loved it too!Cant wait to read number two!

Everest
Everest Book One: The Contest was extremely exciting, although slightly unrealistic. Everest is about a group of young kids who want to be the youngest to climb Mount Everest. One boy has already climbed Everest, sixteen year old Ethan Zaph, and the corporation sponsoring the climb, Summit, would like one boy and one girl under sixteen to climb Everest along with famous alpinist and expedition leader Ciercio. At first it seems that Dominic, the most interesting character, will not make the cut, but as time goes by the leader starts to see himself in Dominic and keeps him around. I enjoyed the book because it is very suspenseful. While trying to "solve a problem" (a tough boulder to climb) Dominic runs and jumps twenty five feet into the air off the base of the boulder reaching out for a finger hold a few inches wide and swinging to the top. I actually learned a lot about climbing although this is a fictional book. It gives you a good perspective of the dangers and strains involved with climbing. I did like that it was fast moving, but the author Gordon Korman was scant on the details. I think outdoorsmen especially climbers of all ages would enjoy this book. This is a good book, and I would definitely recommend it.

From the bottom to the top
This is a children's series that doesn't try to talk down to kids. Instead, these books introduce new terms and techniques from the sport of climbing that even many adults have not come in contact with. This series does not try to make reading easy. It focuses more on the story and the adventure. I do have complaints about the series, like the fact that it is a series. The beginning of books two and three both have to recap what has occurred to that point in the story. Just make it one book so that you can have the flow of the story continue with out forcing the reader to reread. It also seems questionable that anytime the team of boys goes anywhere they are faced with a major problem. Yet, I understand that these were written for kids. Together this series cannot be as powerful as Harry Potter, but will help kids know the fun of reading. I can't wait to go climbing in the snow.

Everest
The author of the book I read is Gordon Korman.The title of the book is Everest.The type of book that Everest is historical fiction.
In this story several kids train to become part of a team to climb Mount Everest.They go through hard and extreme tests of their climbing abilities.At different times some of the climbers are cut from the team until there four left.Cap Cicero is the team leader.E first chosen at first are Ethan, Chris, Bryn, and Perry.But Ethan drops out.Who takes his place?
The book is very interesting.It made me want to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next.It is best suited for people who like to read suspence books and adventure.
... Read more

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Customer Reviews (41)

Chasing the Falconers
Chasing the Falconers
Aiden and Margaret (Meg) Falconer are in a detention farm when it burns. The kids along with a fellow inmate, Miguel Reyes, get away. They are determined to clear their parents who were convicted of aiding foreign terrorists.
They want to find an old uncle, Frank Lindenauer, who was their parents CIA handler. But at the trial he disappeared. Now a bald assassin shoots Miguel and the kids are on their own. An FBI agent named Emmanuel Harris (The person who convicted their parents) is now after them. All through the book they stay one step ahead of cops: Harris and Hairless Joe (the bald assassin).I liked it because it was action packed.

Enjoy!

Amazing book, very hooking!
You'll be hooked into this book the minute you read the first word. It was so awesome I read all the way to the end. Meg and Aiden Falconer, aka Meg and Aiden Eagleson, were trapped in Sunnydale Juvinille Center because their mother and father was convicted of spying. Aiden later accidently set the whole farm on fire, where they escape unknownlingy. Later they found that Miguel Feyes, a kid convicted of manslaughter, also escaped and stole a Chevy Tahoe to escape the police. The story ends on the cliff...so countinue on!

Awesome book
This is one of my favorite books I have ever read. This super exciting book is about the Falconers. Aiden and Meg Falconer. They are in Juvenile Detention. And their parents are in jail. They are desperate. Desperate to get out of Juvenile Detention and to prove their parents innocent. Although this is a super great book, I didn't love the ending. The ending continues to the next book in the series. This book is action packed,funny and exciting. Sometimes they trick to police and they do many other funny things. The Falconers escaped from Juvenile Detention. They escaped by burning down the whole farm. I guess they were sick and tired of being there. They also wanted to save their parents. Overall, I thought it was a great book. I highly recommend it.

LOVE this series
Fifteen year old, Aiden Falconer, and his eleven year old sister, Meg, are sent to a juvenile delinquent farm after their parents are arrested and convicted of espionage. After an accident that sends the farm up in flames, Aiden and Meg find themselves free at last to find the one person who can clear their parents' names. But if neither the Feds nor the team of investigators their parents' hired were able to find him, how does a pair of kids think they can?

Agent Emmanuel Harris is the one who broke the case against the Falconers. He should be satisfied with the fame he received from the highly publicized case. But something just never sat well with him and he can't seem to get the two criminals or their kids off of his mind. When he finds out that the Falconer children have not been found after the fire, he feels responsible for their safety. He makes it his personal mission to find them. But he isn't the only one looking for the two. Can Agent Harris find them before someone else stops them forever?

This book begins an exciting chase across country as two kids jump onto moving trains, break into empty houses, learn to drive, stowaway on a cargo boat, get separated in a stormy sea, get shot at, make new friends, solve crimes, and learn more about their own strength and character than they ever thought possible. All the while, the danger to their lives escalade as they come closer and closer to finding the truth that will set their parents free.

As the story progresses through the six books, the reader is left rooting for the kids and wondering how it could possible end well for them. As an adult reading the story, I felt the frustration that Agent Harris seethed with each time he realized he'd been within minutes of catching the two juveniles, only to lose them once again in the chaos. I also felt the thrill and excitement as Aiden and Meg escape time and time again as they gets closer to finding out the truth and solving the case.

The On The Run series was a roller coaster ride of highs and lows. I laughed. I cried. I also waited on pins and needles after reading the 3rd book and then had to wait for the bookstore to order the 4th, 5th, and 6th one in. This was an awesome series and I'm thrilled to see that Mr. Korman has another series featuring the Falconer siblings, entitled Kidnapped, where Meg gets kidnapped and Aiden has to team up with Agent Harris to find his sister. You better believe I'm waiting not so patiently for the bookstore to get this series in for me. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Love this book!
I absolutely love this book but, better than that, my fifth grade class loves this book!I use this book toward the end of the year as a read aloud and my students are riveted.I love the author's syntax and it is a great "hook"----I know my students read more of the series during summer reading cause they have to find out more..... ... Read more

Product Description
A sixth story starring the rollicking Bruno and Boots finds the young pranksters of Macdonald Hall stirring up more trouble than ever, and their tricks include blue dye in the swimming pool and water-filled balloons in the classroom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Something a Little Lacking at McDonald Hall
As great as it is to see Bruno and Boots again, and even see the tables turned on them, there was something lacking in this episode.Perhaps it was a stretch for something a little different.Bruno & Boots are confused by a mysterious "Phantom" practical joker, for whose pranks they are being blamed by default.They spend less time spiritedly plotting and planning than usual,however,and more time baffled and bewildered. Likewise, their partners in crime, Cathy & Diane, are confronted with "increased security" at Scrimmage's, and find themselves more frustrated than inspired to ingenuity.They are victims here, and while it is certainly different, it is much less fun.While the gang is all here --- Wilbur, Mark, Sidney & Co. --- even they seem a little tired of the routine.The appearance of Boots' younger brother is promising, but probably not as well developed as it could be.However, a Bruno and Boots volume is not to be missed, and this one is no exception.Elmer's foray into romance is alone worth the time!

Great! A five- star book with humor, character, and fun!
I loved this book! It had an amazing storyline, abiut the two practical jokers (Bruno and Boots) who get Framed by 'The phantom'. I was amazed at the suprizing ending, which took a twist that was out- of- this- world!Read It!!!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Six kids. One fate.Nick, J.J., Will, Lyssa, Charla, and Ian.They didn't want to be on the boat in the first place. They didn¹t want to be stuck at sea with a bunch of strangers. But when you¹re in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, there¹s no easy way out. And when a terrifying storm hits, there¹s no way to fully prepare. It¹s all about survival.Amazon.com Review
Being on a sailboat in the warm waters of the Pacific with a bunch of kids the same age could sound like a vacation dream come true. However, when this month-long trip is part of a strict program called Charting a New Course, and each participant--or inmate--is there for disciplinary problems, things don't look quite as rosy. And then, of course, when a big storm strikes, and the captain and first mate disappear, and the boat seems to be sinking... the whole idea becomes less and less appealing. Still, for Luke, Will, Lyssa, J.J., Ian, and Charla, this is the way the cards have been dealt, and whatever problems they may have with each other, however much they don't want to be there, it's time to start working together to save their own lives.

The first book of Gordon Korman's exciting new trilogy introduces readers to the six troubled kids who will become unwitting partners in their desperate bid for survival. A steely captain and a gruff first mate who calls every boy "Archie" and every girl "Veronica" keep order and attempt to turn their charges into young sailors--an effort that may pay off more than any of them ever anticipate. A hint of menace permeates Shipwreck, along with humor, angst, and mystery. Readers won't want to miss the continuation of the riveting saga in books 2 and 3, Survival and Escape. (Ages 9 to 13) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (49)

Castaway For Kids
Take six kids, throw them into the "Charting A New Course" program for troubled youth aboard the Phoenix and the journey begins.Most of them don't want to be there and most of them don't really like each other very much.But, when a brutal storm hits, the kids become castaways forced to worked together to survive.This first book in Gordon Korman's series is well-plotted and uses an appealing mix of kids--rich and poor, boys and girls, shy and outgoing.Perfect for third and fourth graders who want an adventure read!
--Reviewed by Michelle Delisle

Not as good as the next two, but this is a really good series.
There are three books in the Island series and I have to admit the first one is my least favorite.They get so much better as the story unfolds in the other two books.I would definately get all three though and you need to read them in order.Very exciting for a 10 year old.We read these together and we both wanted to read longer than our normal 30 minutes.

Better reading for all
It seems in this day and age that books for tweens and YAs are better written than adult fare! This series is a real page turner and I'm 62! The YA books come in all genres and more attention is paid to the writing (the author studied up on island living just for this series) as no one has to figure out where to put the overly gory and excessive use of graphic sex and four-letter words. This is a great mystery/action/adventure story. A real page-turner. I highly recommend this series!

Not for a 3rd grader
My son is in third grade and read this for a book report.He pointed out several cuss words while reading this. I just wish the author had left out those words. Why take a good kids book and use that language?

Great Read-Aloud Book for Reading Class
I teach freshmen in high school.Every day we have a thirty-minute reading time.I read this book to the class aloud, and they enjoyed it.The story is well-told, with good characters.The story takes a while to develop (perhaps because the author wrote it with a trilogy or series in mind), but once it gets going, it is compelling reading.We are now reading the second book.Good high-interest book for apathetic readers. ... Read more

Product Description
Disgusted by his softball team, which includes a ball-fearing catcher, a sleepy right fielder, and a toilet paper sponsor who wants the uniforms to reflect his product, Corey Johnson forms a plan with the coach's granddaughter. Reprint. AB. K. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

My 9 year old son LOVED it!
My 9 year old son is not an avid reader.It's a struggle to get him to read everynight.But once we started reading this book.He would anxiously read at night and then show up with it at the breakfast table.He couldn't wait to read again and again to find out what was going to happen next.I also read it and found it to be very cute and funny with a positive life lesson.

A Favorite Of Mine
I really liked this book when I was a kid. It had a solid plot and really good character development...usually uncommon during that time when RL Stine was cranking out Goosebumps books with transparent characters, simple and lame plots, repetitive dialogue. No, this book is definitely different from most kids books.

Ya know, I always wondered why this book was never made into a tv movie or a disney summer movie. This story and characters had alot of potential to be made into a really entertaining and enjoyable movie. I hope to someday see this book made into a movie.

Strike one. Strike two. This team is out to lunch!
Well I read The Toilet Paper Tigers. I thought that it was a good book. It was about a boy named Cory Johnson. He joins a baseball team. From the beginning he knew that it was a big mistake. First he findsout that his teammates don't try to score runs or get outs. They are too lazy to do anything. Then he meets the coach. He becomes totally shocked because he next finds out that hi coach doesn't know anything about baseball. The coach is a teacher and he teaches science. So the coach cant really help the team in winning because he doesn't know the rules or how to play the game. The reason why he has to coach the team is because none of the other teachers volunteered to coach. My question to you is, can the team work together? Or will they fall apart and do nothing about it?

Tiger Turn Around
The Toilet Paper Tigers was a very good book. I liked the way it had each player described in each of the chapters. My favorite was the chapter on Tuba Dave and all the M&M's in the closet he was hiding. Another part is the championship game and how Kristy put Corey in the game on the three most important pitches of the whole season. This book is for all the baseball readers out there. It is a very funny book at some points.

the Tigers kept me up all night
A few weeks ago, I picked this book up in the middle of the night because I couldn't sleep.I ended up not being able to sleep because I was too wrapped up in the story to put it down.I read it cover to cover.In one evening, the Toilet Paper Tigers easily seduced a well-read, intelligent woman.The plot, completely devoid of any romantic interest, is the kind of wholesome stuff I had forgotten about in the many years since I last read a book with a 4-6 grade target audience.Honestly, I loved it. ... Read more

Product Description
Aiden and Meg Falconer are out to find the evidence that will free their parents from a life sentence in prison.But in order to do that, they have to live undercover.Ever since they broke out of a juvenile detention facility, they've been chased by the FBI ... and by a strange killer they've nicknamed Hairless Joe.Now their story has hit the airwaves, and suddenly everyone is looking for the Falconer kids.They think they can hide with an old family friend ... but when she turns them in and Meg is put in jail, the danger and adventure only increase. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

excellent!
My son who is a very reluctant reader loved it!He said that it was a kids' book version of the tv show Prison Break and couldn't put it down.

The Fugitive Factor
Book Review: The Fugitive Factor


Imagine your parents are accused of a crime they didn't commit, or so you believe. Because of this you and your sister are placed at a juvenile farm.After you and your sister escape the farm, a crazy bald man is in pursuit of you. You don't know who he is, but when you hide he searches for you and when you run, he follows. You have to avoid him if you want any chance in freeing your parents. This is Aiden and Meg Falconer's story.

In The Fugitive Factor Aiden and Meg are on the run since their escape from Sunny Dale, a juvenile farm. The Falconer children were placed at Sunny Dale Farm because their parents have been accused of helping terrorists sneak into America.After escaping the farm Aiden and Meg experience the harsh conditions of life on the run as they try to evade a man they've dubbed Hairless Joe while trying to locate Frank, the only person who can prove their parents' innocence.When Aiden and Meg find a picture at their summer house of Frank and their parents sitting outside a hotel, Meg and Aiden decide to visit the hotel and try to trace Frank down.Once at the hotel, Aiden asks the clerk to search for records of Frank's visits there. When the clerk hesitates, Meg distracts him long enough for Aiden to search the files.

With a little luck Aiden comes up with the name of Jane, a woman registered with Frank at the hotel.When they visit her, she gives them some good information including Frank's old room number.When Aiden and Meg visit the current occupant of the room, he gives Aiden and Meg some things Frank left behind.This leads to more unanswered questions.Later, when Aiden and Meg return to meet with Jane, she opens the door along with police. The Falconers immediately run, butMeg is caught.Posing as a police officer, Aiden is able to find an address for Frank.He then busts Meg out and they head to California to find Frank.

The Fugitive Factor is a very descriptive and well written book. It is at about an 8 to 10 year old reading book. Throughout this book you are entertained with the ups and downs of the Falconer's everyday struggles to prove their parents innocent. This book kept me wanting to read more at all times. This is one of the best books I've read yet. This touching and moving story is a great read.


I would most definitely recommend this book.

Great Series, fast paced
My 10-year-old loves this series, and has hooked her 12-year-old sister in to it, too. I've read some of the books out loud to the kids and they are fun, fast, and clean. Great suspense of a very appropriate nature for young readers. I would recommend these books to anyone.

For reluctant readers
This series by Gordon Korman worked wonders for several reluctant readers in my class. These are good fast moving books that really move you on to the next in the series.

Fugitive Factor
Great but before I say anything, NOTE this is a six part writing, the reader must read them in order to make sense. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Perfect!
Because my grandson was delighted with this gift, I am delighted. Thank you for helping me make him happy!!!

A fictional action adventure masterpeice
The book The Stowaway Solution is a fictional action adventure book.The main characters Aiden and Meg are fugitives trying to prove their innocence because they where framed by Frank Lindenauer.This book is adventurous and suspensful, easy reading, and many other books in the series follow its footsteps.I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars and it would be great for anyone who has read the first three books or if you like adventurous and suspensful books.Everybody should be offered the chance to read one of these books because they are great and good for all ages.

Great for reluctant readers
This series by Gordon Korman worked wonders for several reluctant readers in my class. These are good fast moving books that really move you on to the next in the series.

The Stowaway Solution
Great but before I say anything, NOTE this is a six part writing, the reader must read them in order to make sense. Now for a young adult to adult reading it was great. G.Korman is a master of getting kids you will love, in and out of fixes and still maintain a balanced understanding of right and wrong.

Great series of books!
My daughter (age 10) started reading this series last year and is finishing up now that we found them online.She has really enjoyed them.
She has also read a couple of the trilogy that follows (Kidnapped: The Abduction, Kidnapped: The Search, and Kidnapped: The Rescue). ... Read more

Product Description
Four kids are on a marine expedition for the summer, diving to explore an underwater habitat that's just been altered by a seismic event.What they find, though, is much more than fish - it's sunken treasure.Can they salvage it without anyone else getting to it first?Will the prospect of wealth set them against one another?And what about those sharks . . . .DIVE is another action-packed trilogy from Gordon Korman.The narrative will shift between an account of two kids caught in the shipwreck and the story of the four kids fighting over and desperately trying to get the treasure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

A student's review of The Discovery
The Discovery

The Discovery is an interesting, exciting book, because you never know what will happen next and there's always a new twist.There is so much excitement, you can't put it down.Although I enjoyed this book, I liked The Danger, the third book in the series by Gordon Korman, better because it had even more excitement and suspense than The Discovery.I would have liked The Discovery better if it had more action in it.This book and series are definitely worth reading.

Great experience
I needed this copy for a literature group in my classroom. it arrived quickly and in great condition.

sams review of Dive
DIVE
by,Gordon Korman

My book is Dive. The book is about four teenagers that are chosen by a professor to dive and explore the sea. They aren't sure why they are there, but they know that they're looking for something big. The other divers are covering up something, and they don't want Star, Dante, Adriana, and Kaz to know.
I think this book makes people think about what could happen next. That is one of the reasons why I like it. Another reason is that you don't know what they're hiding until a little more than half of the story, and you want to find out so bad so you're on you're toes! The setting of the story is out on an island in the Atlantic Ocean.






( I didn't tell people what they're hiding, because they mignt want to read it, and find out for them selves.)

Dive: The Discovery : Book One
Dive: The discovery is pretty much a adventure/mystery that takes place in the middle of the Carribean. It's about four kids who are set-up for a diving internship at an oceanography company called Poisedon. They're with the Ponce de Leon and it's crew, but they find out that they're four litte pawns in a treasure hunt. The crew of the Ponce de Leon has the kids mark random caves while they take metal scans for the missing gold.They obviously don't solve the problem in the first book,so they leave off with a cliffhanger. They also have a side story about an abandoned orphan who's at the mercy of Captain James Blade. They're on a ship called the Griffon, with more than 100 crew members. James Blade states that it's "perfectly legal" and "goverment certified," to steal treasure from Spain's ships and plunder their gold.The boat later wrecks, and all their gold sinks to the depths of the Carribean, and now the Ponce de Leon crew is after it.

Dive
I think that Dive is an exciting book that has many adventures. There are four divers that have been chosen to explore the sea. While they are there they run into a couple problems. The killer sharks and someone is covering up something big that they dont want people to know about. ... Read more