Ungifted by Gordon Korman

Pages: 280
Intended Audience: Tweens and teens
Genre: Real life
Notes for parents: Includes some pranks and bad behavior.

The Back Cover

The word gifted has never been applied to a kid like Donovan Curtis. It’s usually more like Don’t try this at home. So when the troublemaker pulls a major prank at his middle school, he thinks he’s finally gone too far. But thanks to a mix-up by one of the administrators, instead of getting in trouble, Donovan is sent to the Academy for Scholastic Distinction (ASD), a special program for gifted and talented students.
It wasn’t exactly what Donovan had intended, but there couldn’t be a more perfect hideout for someone like him. That is, if he can manage to fool people whose IQs are above genius level. And that becomes harder and harder as the students and teachers of ASD grow to realize that Donovan may not be good at math or science (or just about anything). But after an ongoing experiment with a live human (sister), an unforgettably dramatic middle-school dance, and the most astonishing come-from-behind robot victory ever, Donovan shows that his gifts might be exactly what the ASD students never knew they needed.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

It tells you everything.

What’s good?

This is a good, light, easy-to-read classic tale of a fish out of water. In this case, the fish is Donovan, an average, goofy, distracted middle school boy whose impulsiveness leads to disaster. Luckily for him, a mistake sends him to a school full of overachievers. The characters are likeable, the plot is simple but engaging, and most of all, the message at the heart of the story is a good one – we all have something to offer, regardless of our IQ.
Best part: Noah.

What’s not so good?

It’s pointless to look beyond the surface of this story, because all you’ll find are ridiculous stereotypes. Noah has an IQ over 200 and he’s never heard of YouTube? Why have they never thought of naming the robot – isn’t it standard practice at these competitions? Schools for smart kids are clean and roomy with the latest technologies while regular schools are dumpy and dirty?
Worst part: Smart kids are not creative?

Recommendations þþþoo

It’s best to accept this for the light, entertaining read that it is and avoid analysing it too much. Recommended for a rainy afternoon.

Korman, Gordon. Ungifted. Toronto: Scholastic Canada, 2012. (Hardcover)