The New York Times Book Review - Lisa Von Drasek
[Korman] is the king of voice and setup, and he never fails to make me laugh out loud.
Publishers Weekly
12/15/2014
Several teens learn that their idyllic small-town existence is a sham in this first entry in Korman’s Masterminds series. Serenity, N.Mex., has the best standard of living in the country, with zero unemployment and total peace and prosperity. Thirteen-year-old Eli and his friends have never known anywhere else. Honesty, harmony, and contentment aren’t just valued in Serenity, they’re a way of life. Then Eli and the others start to notice odd things: when they try to leave town, they get sick; their Internet is remarkably sanitized compared to outside sites they accidentally come across; and some kids are considered special, while others are less so. After they discover the truth about why Serenity is so peaceful, they must face the fact that their lives have been ruled by a gigantic lie. Rotating among several young narrators, Korman builds tension as the mystery unfolds, leading to several surprise twists that upend the status quo. While an awful lot of dumb luck is involved in the kids’ discoveries, this tense, fast-paced story will have readers racing toward the cliffhanger ending. Ages 8–12. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
★ “A compelling, twisty mystery with a truly gratifying payoff.” — Booklist (starred review)
“This unique and action-packed story is filled with twists and turns that readers will not see coming. A wonderful start to what promises to be a thrilling series.” — School Library Journal
“This tense, fast-paced story will have readers racing toward the cliffhanger ending.” — Publishers Weekly
“A fresh premise, good pacing, surprising twists and engaging characters all combine to make this a series worth following.” — Kirkus Reviews
“A terrific page-turner, full of unexpected twists and revelations. Buckle up.” — James Patterson
“Masterminds is a masterpiece—a mind-bending adventure in a shocking but all-too-possible present, a tale of friendship and ultimate sacrifice with characters who will reach inside you and not let go. It’s that rare book that scares you to the core while you’re laughing your head off.” — Peter Lerangis, bestselling author of the Seven Wonders series
“Masterminds takes readers on wild ride with terrific humor, a surprising mystery, and characters you can’t help but root for.” — Brandon Mull, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fablehaven and Five Kingdoms
Praise for UNGIFTED: “Touching, without being overly sentimental, Ungifted is a gem for readers looking for a story where the underdog comes out on top.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Praise for UNGIFTED: “From its lovable-robot jacket art to its satisfying conclusion, this will please Korman’s fans and win him new ones.” — ALA Booklist
Praise for UNGIFTED: “Donovan has a goofy kindness that charms characters and readers alike … The message is tolerance, and Korman expertly and humorously delivers it in an unpretentious and universally appealing tale.” — School Library Journal
Praise for UNGIFTED: “Funny and insightful.” — Publishers Weekly
Praise for POP: “A brisk, heartfelt and timely novel.” — The New York Times Book Review
Praise for POP: “Korman goes straight to the heart.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Praise for POP: “Thought-provoking.” — Publishers Weekly
Praise for POP: “Fantastic…Perfectly captures the football experience.” — Newsday
Praise for POP: “Funny, poignant and full of football action, POP hits you hard and doesn’t let up.” — Tim Green, author of the New York Times bestselling Football Genius and Football Champ
James Patterson
A terrific page-turner, full of unexpected twists and revelations. Buckle up.
ALA Booklist
Praise for UNGIFTED: “From its lovable-robot jacket art to its satisfying conclusion, this will please Korman’s fans and win him new ones.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Praise for UNGIFTED: “Touching, without being overly sentimental, Ungifted is a gem for readers looking for a story where the underdog comes out on top.
Peter Lerangis
Masterminds is a masterpiece—a mind-bending adventure in a shocking but all-too-possible present, a tale of friendship and ultimate sacrifice with characters who will reach inside you and not let go. It’s that rare book that scares you to the core while you’re laughing your head off.
Booklist (starred review)
★ “A compelling, twisty mystery with a truly gratifying payoff.
Brandon Mull
Masterminds takes readers on wild ride with terrific humor, a surprising mystery, and characters you can’t help but root for.
Newsday
Praise for POP: “Fantastic…Perfectly captures the football experience.
The New York Times Book Review
Praise for POP: “A brisk, heartfelt and timely novel.
Tim Green
Praise for POP: “Funny, poignant and full of football action, POP hits you hard and doesn’t let up.
James Dashner
It’s hard to express how much I loved MASTERMINDS without spoiling it. Real characters that make you laugh, twists that genuinely surprise, a plot that reveals itself perfectly. Another instant classic by one of my favorite authors.
School Library Journal
11/01/2014
Gr 4–6—Serenity, New Mexico is an idyllic community for all its inhabitants. Everyone has everything they need and no one lies. As the local newspaper boasts, "Serenity Voted #1 in USA for standard of living." Eli has always been happy with his life and never had any reason to want to leave. One day though, while on a bike ride past the outskirts of town with his best friend Randy, Eli begins to feel sick. When he recovers from his illness he discovers that Randy, who convinced him to ride out, has to leave town. Randy tells everyone that he is going to his grandparents' house, but he is acting strange and no longer wants to hang out with Eli. After Randy leaves, Eli finds a note that makes him realize this may not be the perfect town after all. Eli and a few friends begin to uncover secrets and discover that honesty may not be at the heart of Serenity. They also realize that they can't trust anyone, especially not their parents. Korman has created a fun and creative story that delves into the philosophy of what makes us human and whether or not we are defined by our circumstances. Told in alternating voices, readers will get insight into life in Serenity and make life-changing discoveries with the characters. This unique and action-packed story is filled with twists and turns that readers will not see coming. A wonderful start to what promises to be a thrilling series.—Kristyn Dorfman, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, NY
MARCH 2015 - AudioFile
A masterful story and a cast of five individual voices combine to deliver a real thriller. Told in the alternating viewpoints of five teenagers, the story begins in the boring, serene, and aptly named town of Serenity. Ramon de Ocampo as Eli is the best narrator of the quintet, transitioning from a bored, carefree, and pampered teen to a serious young man who is desperately unravelling a disturbing plot. Mike Rylander also shines in the difficult task of voicing Malik, the angry, cynical teen who will earn listeners’ grudging admiration. The five teens, three boys and two girls, will join forces against the adults in a town that is not what it seems. This thriller is the first in a series. L.T. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2014-11-04
With no unemployment, no homelessness and no crime, Serenity, New Mexico, is the perfect town. Or is it?When 13-year-old Eli Frieden attempts to bike past the town limits for the first time, he is struck with paralyzing nausea and pain that makes him wonder if Serenity is less of a paradise and more of a prison. When Malik Bruder, his classmate, discovers that the major employer, a traffic-cone factory, is just a front for something more sinister, the two boys, along with friends Hector Amani and Tori Pritel, decide to investigate. They find that Serenity, which holds honesty and integrity above all else, is built on a lie. The truth is so shocking that it puts into question everything they know, even their identities. The mystery is unraveled through several alternating first-person narratives. The distinctive voices of a cynic, a true believer, a hopeful optimist, a terrified tag-along and others create depth, while break-ins, theft, vandalism and an explosive car chase keep the pages turning. A cliffhanger ending points to at least one sequel. A fresh premise, good pacing, surprising twists and engaging characters all combine to make this a series worth following. (Adventure. 8-12)
