(The Works of Richard Gordon Korman)
When the discussion of humor in the classroom was brought up, the first thing that came to mind was Gordon Korman. Not only because he is a very successful children and young adult books' author, but because he became one at the age of twelve and that was due to an English assignment for his seventh-grade class. No, he did not get an A for his 120-page assignment titled This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald High. What he got was the inspiration to continue writing. In 1977, at the age of 14, Korman published his first book and today, this author continues to amaze young and adult readers alike with his works.
What makes Korman's works amazing is that his first five books were written while he himself was still a teenager. He established a trademark for writing humorous books that feature young characters who almost always test the bounds of adult authority. Korman admits, in a New York Times interview, that when he was a kid himself, he "never really was a favorite with my [his] teachers". His books are funny and filled with crazy characters in crazy situations, but according to Korman in his interview with the Canadian Children's Literature, "considering how crazy the books are, I keep a firm foot in reality". But as Korman matured, so did the characters in his books, moving the focus from "slapstick humor" to "more realistic depictions of adolescent life" (Gale). Korman's books use humor to search through and into the life of adolescents and consequently illustrate the issues and problems adolescents deal with.
As Mark Twain wrote, "humor is a great thing". But if laughter brings with it some learning, then humor becomes greater; and that is exactly what Korman's works do. His books have some, if not all, the features of a good narrative humor - "Ambiguity, Exaggeration, Hostility, Incongruity, Incongruity Resolution, Irony, Superiority, Surprise or Shock, A Trick or Twist, and Word Play" (Donelson, 170).
Korman's No More Dead Dogs, published in 2000, shows all these features. The lead protagonist of the story is a young eight-grade football hero named Wallace Wallace who gets in trouble with his English teacher because of his book report on Old Shep, My Pal. Wallace, who never lies as opposed to his father who always does, does not understand why dogs always die at the end of novels and so he refuses to revise his blunt book report, to the agitation of his English teacher. This rebellious act takes him off the football team and the social scene, and forces him to detention where a play is being rehearsed. The play is based on the same book that he detests, but as his detention progresses, so does his involvement in the play. Instead of the play changing Wallace's mind, as his teacher hopes would happen, Wallace instead gradually changes the entire play. But other than the improvement of the play, he also unconsciously improves his life. Humor abounds in the plot, what with the funny characters and the sabotage plot against the play that leads to a shocking conclusion.
No More Dead Dogs is full of laughs, as well as lessons for young adult readers. It tackles on issues young adults deal with, such as school work and authority figures. It also deals with the problems of peer pressure and the importance of finding and building true friendships. It also teaches on the importance of honesty while it also provokes on the old adage "honesty is the best policy". The book also touches on the issue of parenting, divorce, and single parenthood.
For students, humor books are a relief from what is normally assigned as class reading. Humor gives them a chance to astray from the traditional teaching method, if only for a while, without sacrificing or missing the importance one gets from learning. And that is what Gordon Korman does with his works. Korman never fails to make readers laugh. His list of achievements continues to lengthen, but what makes him a real success is the combination of laughter and learning he brings in every story he writes.
Annotated Bibliography
Korman,
Gordon. This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!. New York:
Scholastic, 1977. ISBN: 0590442139
Bruno and Boot's bording school headmaster, Mr. Sturgen (aka The Fish), decides to separate these two troublemakers, but the headmaster is in for a surprise as these two are determined to get back together and get their room back no matter what.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Go Jump in the Pool!. New York: Scholastic, 1979. ISBN: 0808573462
Bruno and Boots are back and together they try to raise money for a good cause. They want to have a school pool.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Beware the Fish!. New York: Scholastic, 1980. ISBN: 0590403540
Bruno and Boots are back for more adventure and this time is to rescue their school from financial woes. They plan to do so with the aid of the girls from Miss Scrimmage's Finishing School.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman, Gordon. Who is Bugs
Potter?. New York: Scholastic, 1980. ISBN:
0590332708
David "Bugs" Potter is sent to a music expo by their director who is determined that kids learn something from the expo trip. However, Bugs and his roommate have other plans as they get in escapades trying to have fun.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Our Man Weston. New York: Scholastic, 1982. ISBN: 0590403524
This is a mystery-humor book as the Weston twins are convinced that an espionage is going on at the hotel where they are working at that summer. Unfortunately, it is hard to tell who the spies are since all characters are suspiciously absurd.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. The War with Mr. Wizzle. New York: Scholastic, 1982. ISBN: 0590442066
Bruno and Boots are faced with tough nemesis when Macdonald Hall hires a new administrator, Mr. Wizzle, a fanatic of harsh demerit system. Boots and Bruno plot to rid of Mr. Wizzle, while the girls at Miss Scrimmage Finishing School across the road also plots to rid of their new school administrator.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. No Coins, Please. New York: Scholastic, 1984. ISBN: 0590442082
Eleven-year old Arnie Gellar goes on the Junior Tours of American and along the way his clever mind and courageous spirit comes up with ways to make money.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Don't Care High. New York: Scholastic, 1985. ISBN: 0590431293
Recently moved from a small town in Canada, Paul adjusts to his new home, school, and life in New York. Paul enrolls in Don Carey High, better known as Don't Care High due to its apathetic faculty and student body. Although this book may come off as outrageous and offensive, or misinterpreted as promoting to vandalism and violence, the main concept of the book is the motivation of student involvement in school.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman, Gordon. Son of Interflux. New York: Scholastic, 1986. ISBN: 0590411861
Simon Irving leads his high school classmates against his father, Vice-President of Interflux Corporation. In order to beat his father's giant corporation from building a new complex and taking over some city land, Simon starts his own corporation, Antiflux. Together with his new friends, Simon battles the insensitive corporation.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman, Gordon. A Semester in the Life of a Garbage Bag. New York: Scholastic, 1987. ISBN: 0590444298
Sean Delancey, ordinary yet popular high school guy, becomes paired up with luckless Raymond Jardine for their eleventh-grade English project. Raymond convinces Sean into a crazy scheme, including Sean's grandfather posing as a long-deceased and obscure Canadian poet, to ensure winning the school-sponsored trip to Theamelpos, a Greek island believed to bring good luck to everyone who visits it. Sean's building friendship with Raymond teaches him the value of individuality and independent thinking
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman, Gordon. The Zucchini Warriors. New York: Scholastic, 1988. ISBN: 0590441744
Roommates Bruno and Boots's funny adventure as these two sixteen-year olds attempt to lead the Macdonald Hall Zucchini Warrior to a victorious football season and earn the reward of a new recreation center.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Radio Fifth Grade. New York: Scholastic, 1989. ISBN: 0590419285
Benjy Driver dreams of someday being a big-time radio announcer ,and he gets a start on a school radio program, Kidsview, produced and ran by students. But Benjy's job is made harder by a teacher who wins state lottery, a talking parrot who utters all the wrong things, a hair dryer that jams radios and traffic lights, and Venice Menace, the school bully who becomes a regular guest on the show. With no help from adults, not even their faculty adviser, Benjy and the crew have to solve the problems by themselves.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch) and (http://0-galenet.galegroup.com)
Korman,
Gordon. Losing Joe's Place. New York: Scholastic, 1990. ISBN: 0590427695
Summer before their senior year, Joe and his two friends, Don and Ferguson, get a lucky opportunity for independence when their parents allowed them to sublet Joe's older brother's apartment in Toronto. Unlucky for them, other than having to pay the rent for each month, they also have to deal with the Mr. Plotnick, the landlord who also owns the deli below their apartment. They also get involved with Rootbeer, the enormous and eccentric friend of Jason's brother. Another surprise in store for them is Jason's brother's Camaro being mistakenly towed as a stolen car. These three friends' perfect summer of no parents and no rules is turning out to be one big problem.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch) and (http://0-galenet.galegroup.com)
Korman,
Gordon. Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood. New York: Scholastic, 1991. ISBN: 0590439413
Macdonald Hall duo, Bruno and Boots, are at it again. Macdonald Hall is chosen as a setting for a Hollywood film starring Jordie Jones. Bruno, who is jealous of Jordie's life, decides that he must be a part of the film and to show the high and mighty Jordie a thing or two. But he later finds out that Jordie is jealous of his life as a regular kid and student. The three end up as friends, but mishaps follow these new friends. Nonetheless, Jordie cherishes his Macdonald Hall moments, and the duo learns more about life through their new friend.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. The Twinkie Squad. New York: Scholastic, 1992. ISBN: 0590452495
Douglas Fairchild, an ambassador's son and private school flunkee, is forced to join an after-school counseling program called Twinkie Squad. Under Doug's leadership, the Twinkie Squad is transformed from "weirdos" to the most fashionable secret club of Thaddeus G. Little Middle School. With the help of Armando River, their school basketball player and defender of the weaker kids, Doug takes charge of the squad and all hell breaks loose. In the process, the members of the Squad, even the bossy Douglas, find their confidence and true friends.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch) and (http://0-galenet.galegroup.com)
Korman,
Gordon. The Toilet Paper Tigers. New York: Scholastic, 1993. ISBN: 0590462318
Narrated by a Little League baseball pitcher, The Toilet Paper Tigers is about a group of kids thrown together as one baseball group because they are all the worst players in town, and to top it off, their new baseball coach know nothing about the game. To come to their rescue is their new coach's pushy twelve-year old granddaughter, Kristy, who blackmails the entire group with a 'picture'. In each chapter, Corey focuses on one single member of the play that is targeted by Kristy for improvement. Although Kristy's schemes are whacky, they end up helping each of the players. Kristy uncommon coaching style, for the game or for life, turns each player from losers to champs.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch) and (http://0-galenet.galegroup.com)
Korman,
Gordon. Why Did the Underwear Cross the Road?. New York: Scholastic,
1994. ISBN: 0590475029
Justin Zechendorf is teamed up with two of the smartest girls in his fourth-grade class. Determined to win the Good Deed Contest, Justin decides to be the lead of the 'Zs' - composed of himself, Jessican Zander and Margaret Zachary. However, Justin's ideas always lead to hilarious and disastrous results. But in the end, the 'Zs' triumph and win the contest when they catch some car thieves.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall. New York: Scholastic, 1995. ISBN: 0590255215
When Macdonald Hall headmaster, aka The Fish, is on the verge of retirement, a wave of practical jokes hits the school. All eyes turns to the duo troublemaker, Bruno and Boots, as the cause of the jokes. In the hilarious plot, the duo tries to solve the mystery of the joker and find out who is trying to frame them. A shocking surprise awaits at the end of the story as the identity of the joker is revealed.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. The Chicken Doesn't Skate. New York: Scholastic, 1996. ISBN: 0590853007
When Milo Neal's science project, Henrietta the chicken, becomes their school hockey team's mascot, an unlikely group of sixth-graders get together to form a hilarious plot. Believed to be a good luck charm, they believe Henrietta is the hockey team's only chance of winning the season. So when they find out that Milo's science project involves some frying, the group of sixth-graders becomes berserk. It is up to Milo to make the decision: fry Henrietta and make his scientist dad proud or let Henrietta live for his team.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Liar. Liar, Pants on Fire. New York: Scholastic, 1997. ISBN: 0590271415
Zoe Bent, the biggest liar in Mrs. Moore's third-grade class, feels that she has to lie to be special. One lie leads to another, until no one believes her even when she is already telling the truth. Fortunately for Zoe, she has her young brother Joey and her friend Michael to make her realize that she is special even without her outrageous lies. Through the character of Zoe, readers can learn how imagination is good, but lying is not.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Quarterback Exchange: I Was John Elway. New York: Hyperion,
1997. ISBN: 0786812362
This is the first in the Monday Night Football Club series. Eleven-year old Nick Lighter is magically transported to the body of famous football player John Elway by a mysterious, old, and itchy football jersey given by his grandfather. His short experience as the famous player taught him that hard work and dedication are needed in order to be a successful athlete or anything you want to be.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Running Back Conversion: I Was Barry Sanders. New York:
Hyperion, 1997. ISBN: 0613058097
This book is a sequel to Quarterback Exchange: I Was John Elway. Elliot Rifkin does not quite believe Nick Lighter who claims he was transported to John Elways's body, so he decides to try it himself. And it works as he is transported to the body of running back Barry Sanders. Unlike the first of the series, there is no big moment for Elliot Rifkin while in Barry Sanders body, but the story is full of sport action and suspense, and the friendship among the three Monday Night Football Club is relatable to young adult readers.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Super Bowl Switch: I Was Dan Marino. New York: Hyperion, 1997. ISBN: 0786812389
The third in the Monday Night Football Club series introduces the character of Coleman Galloway. His two other friends, Nick and Elliot, have already had their turn transporting into bodies of famous football players, and this time it is his turn during the Super Bowl. When he puts on the old jersey, he switches body with the famous player. But when Dan Marino wakes up in Coleman's body, he panics and takes off the jersey. Unless Nick and Elliot find Dan to wear the jersey, Coleman is stuck in the adult body.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Heavy Artillery: I Was Junior Seau. New York: Hyperion, 1998. ISBN: 0786812591
The fourth in the Korman's Monday Night Football Club stars Hillary Lighter, aka Heavy Artillery, the younger sister of Nick Lighter from the previous series. When Hillary takes her brother jersey as revenge for his theft of her baby pictures, she had no idea that the jersey would transport her to the body of one of the roughest and toughest football player, Junior Seau. Meanwhile, her brother and his friends have no idea of what just happened except that the jersey ran out of magic. The adventure of this book is not only how Hillary will find her way back to her body, but also how her relationship with her brother will change after this escapade.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Ultimate Scoring Machine: I Was Jerry Rice. New York: Hyperion,
1998. ISBN: 0786812702
Like the first four of the Monday Night Football Series, this book is full of fun and excitement as Jerry Rice trades places with Nick Lighter.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. The Sixth-Grade Nickname Game. New York: Hyperion, 1998. ISBN: 0786804327
Eleven-year old Jeff and Wiley like to give nicknames to their classmates and teachers and even their principal. But as they find a nickname to a new girl in their class and adjust to their new football coach and teacher, these two best friends' nickname game backfires on them. Their adventure starts as they try to solve their problem before it gets too late.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Nose Pickers From Outer Space. New York: Sagebrush Education
Resources, 1999. ISBN: 0613221095
Devin
Hunter is definitely disappointed when he sees his new school-exchange buddy,
Stan Mflxnys. Not only does Stan look like an absolute nerd and thus breaks all
of Devin's "Rules of Coolness", Stan also has a habit of picking his nose,
where as it turns out this alien conceals his powerful computer. Devin realizes
this and becomes more accepting of the newcomer, but the teachers and his
classmates are not. With the help of Devin's new friend, Stan saves the earth
from a disastrous end by convincing other aliens the advantages of Earth's
existence.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. No More Dead Dogs. New York: Hyperion, 2000. ISBN: 0786805315
Wallace Wallace, an eight-grade accidental football hero, is sent to detention for telling his true feelings about a book read for class. Wallace does not understand why dogs always die at the end of novels, and as he has never in his life lied, wrote what he truly felt about Old Shep, My Pal . His detention is at a rehearsal for a play for the same book he hates. But as the story progresses, Wallace gets involved in the play, transforming it from boring to something spectacular. And as the play improves, so does this football hero's view on life.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Maxx Comedy: The Funniest Kid in America. New York: Hyperion
2003. ISBN: 0786807466
Maxx Carmody, an eleven-year old wannabe comedian, goes through all kinds of funny escapades as he tries to win a national talent search for the "world's funniest kid in America". Maxx adopts the stage name Maxx Comedy, obsesses about winning, lands a spot on the contest, and loses when instead of bringing the cd with the taped laughing audience, he brings the cd of a cow giving birth. But this fiasco gets him in national news and a gig at a local comedy club. This book "puts a humorous twist on issues of divorce, fitting in, and following big ambitions".
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman,
Gordon. Jake, Reinvented. New York: Hyperion, 2003. ISBN: 0786856971
This book is the updated version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. It features Jake Garret as the lovelorn Jay Gatsby who reinvents himself from a math geek and tutor to a cool and rich kid who throws the best parties in their high school. He reinvents himself as part to get closer to Didi, comparable to Daisy's character in Fitzgerald's classic novel. But just as Jay took the bullet for Myrtle death, Jake takes the blame for what Didi did to Nelson. Unlike the tragic end for Gatsby, Jake escapes being sent to prison. This book is "humor with heartbreak" and it deals with real life concerns of modern teens, such as popularity, being true to one's self, self-esteem and respect, and responsibility.
Summary taken from: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch)
Korman, Gordon. Son of the Mob: Hollywood Hustle. New York: Hyperion, 2004. ISBN: 0786815930
Vince Luca is a son of a powerful Mafia boss and his girlfriend, Kendra, is the daughter of the FBI agent who is after his father. Vince only wants to be a regular boy, but his family's complicated life does not let him. This book brings a twist to the classic Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and brings edgy humor to the story. In the end, Vince realizes the power of his blood and name relationship with his father but in the end, decides to choose his own path in life and stand up to his father.
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