Book Review: The Unteachables by Gordon Korman

The Unteachables
by Gordon Korman (j Korman)

Meet Mr. Zachary Kermit, a former Teacher of the Year early on in his career. Sadly, he was caught up in a cheating scandal not of his making nor involvement, but he was blamed regardless. Jilted by his fiancée shortly after, ever since he’s just been coasting to early retirement — lonely, unhappy, uncaring. During his final year he’s been put in charge of the most incorrigible students — slackers, those with home-life issues, and others who’ve fallen between the cracks. All the middle-school tropes are present.

 

Mix in his Superintendent, Dr. Thaddeus, who is secretly plotting to get him fired right before his retirement so that Mr. Kermit will be left with no job, no pension.

 

The Unteachables learn Thaddeus’s plans and decide to join the science fair competition against the best and the brightest student teams. Who are they kidding? But, winning this thing will raise their overall grade scores thus negating the trumped-up reason for firing Mr. Kermit.

 

Written with Korman’s characteristic laugh-out-loud sense of humor, wit, sarcasm, and spot-on descriptions of his characters as everything is unpacked over the course of the school year. Each chapter is told from the point of view of a different character in the story, giving the reader the opportunity to get to know each person better. You’re rooting for the students and wondering how a group of slackers think they can win the science fair, and what will happen if they don’t. Nothing is guaranteed here.

 

Can be read over a long afternoon.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Gifted, also by Gordon Korman.)

 

( official The Unteachables page on the official Gordon Korman web site )

 

Recommended by Charlotte M.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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