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Gordon Korman Books in Order

All Gordon Korman books and series in order, with short summaries, series background, and quick tips on where to start for new readers.

Last updated: January 12, 2026

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119 books

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Sleepless

by Gordon Korman

2026

Five kids discover they no longer need sleep, and the extra hours feel like a superpower, at first. But something is clearly wrong, and as the sleeplessness spreads, they race to uncover what caused it before their bodies, and their lives, start to break.

New

Hypergifted

by Gordon Korman

2026

Donovan Curtis and the gifted-school crew are back for another round of chaos where being smart is not the hardest part. A new challenge tests friendships, reputations, and what the kids are willing to do to protect each other when the rules make no sense.

Snoop

by Gordon Korman

2025

At his new school, a kid with a talent for noticing things and snooping gets pulled into a problem that needs a discreet observer. What starts as harmless curiosity turns into a real mystery, where one wrong assumption can hurt people.

Old School

by Gordon Korman

2025

A middle-schooler ends up in a situation where the rules are old school, the adults are secretive, and the past keeps leaking into the present. As the year spirals into a mystery, he has to decide who to trust, and what he’s willing to risk.

Slugfest

by Gordon Korman

2024

Yash is his school’s top athlete, but he is missing a required P.E. credit and gets stuck in summer school Slugfest. With a ragtag crew, he uncovers a scandal that could waste their summer, and the slugs band together to fight back.

Faker

by Gordon Korman

2024

Trey is used to moving from one fancy school to the next as his dad runs questionable schemes on wealthy families. At an elite boarding school, Trey wants a normal life, but the family hustle follows him, forcing a choice between loyalty and doing what’s right.

The Superteacher Project

by Gordon Korman

2023

Oliver Zahn is a champion prankster, until a new teacher blocks every trick with eerie precision. As Mr. Aidact becomes the most popular person at Brightling Middle, Oliver gets suspicious and starts investigating, determined to prove the teacher is not what he seems.

Mixed Up

by Gordon Korman

2023

Theo and Reef start having memories that do not belong to them, while their own memories fade. Strangers living different lives, they share a mysterious connection and have to find each other before they forget who they are.

The Fort

by Gordon Korman

2022

After a hurricane uncovers an old bomb shelter in the woods, four friends claim it as their secret hideout. But the fort attracts attention, and what starts as fun becomes a refuge someone truly needs, raising the stakes for keeping it hidden.

Operation Do-Over

by Gordon Korman

2022

Mason would give anything for a do-over, and after a freak accident he wakes up back in seventh grade, before his parents split and his dog dies. He tries to save his friendship and change the future, but every fix creates new problems.

Unplugged

by Gordon Korman

2021

Jett Baranov is a tech billionaire’s spoiled kid, so his worst nightmare is a wilderness wellness camp with no screens. Cut off from phones and gaming, Jett has to survive real people, real work, and a summer that will not let him hide.

Linked

by Gordon Korman

2021

When swastikas appear at their school, Link, Michael, and Dana are pushed into a tense mystery that exposes prejudice in their town. As blame spreads, a student project tries to unite the community, and the kids uncover how the past is still shaping the present.

War Stories

by Gordon Korman

2020

Trevor idolizes his great-grandfather Jacob, a World War II hero, and travels with him to retrace the war’s path. But as they near a French village Jacob claims to have saved, Trevor uncovers cracks in the family legend and has to rethink bravery.

Notorious

by Gordon Korman

2020

On Centerlight Island, the town’s most feared dog is found dead, and suddenly everyone is a suspect. Two unlikely friends dig into clues that lead from neighborhood grudges to a Prohibition-era smuggling story, and someone starts coming after them for asking questions.

Mad Science

by Gordon Korman

2020

Part story and part hands-on science, this book mixes a funny adventure with messy, fascinating experiments and facts. It’s built for curious readers who like humor, gross-out moments, and learning how science works by trying things themselves.

The Unteachables

by Gordon Korman

2019

Room 117 is full of kids everyone has written off, and their burned-out teacher has written off the job. When a new threat forces them to work together, the class discovers they are not hopeless, and their teacher might not be either.

Level 13

by Gordon Korman

2019

Cameron Boxer wants to go pro as a game streamer, but his big dream hinges on beating Level 13, a mission so impossible it’s been banned in dozens of states. Between pressure, rivals, and real-life responsibilities, Cam learns grinding is not just for games.

Whatshisface

by Gordon Korman

2018

Cooper Vega moves so often he’s basically invisible, until a glitchy new phone reveals a boy named Roddy trapped inside it, a teenager from Shakespeare’s time. With Roddy’s odd advice, Cooper tries to fix his life and untangle Roddy’s past.

Supergifted

by Gordon Korman

2018

Noah Youkilis is a genius who’s tired of being perfect, so he transfers into a new school looking for a fresh start. When a feud and a bully problem explode, Noah reinvents himself as a hero, and the attention starts going to his head.

Restart

by Gordon Korman

2017

After a head injury wipes his memory, a middle-schooler wakes up with no idea who he was, and everyone seems terrified of him. With his past erased, he has a rare chance to decide what kind of person he wants to be now.

Payback

by Gordon Korman

2017

Eli and his friends turn toward the people responsible for Serenity, determined to end the experiment for good. With danger closing in and trust strained, they have to pull off a risky counterattack and decide what justice looks like for kids who were engineered.

Slacker

by Gordon Korman

2016

Cameron Boxer would rather game than do anything else, until he nearly lets his house burn down. To look responsible, he invents a fake community-service club, but everyone believes it, and Cam is stuck leading real missions, starting with saving a beaver named Elvis.

Jingle

by Gordon Korman

2016

A holiday-season mission sends Griffin and the gang into another fast-moving caper, with tricky timing and crowded places where they have to work in plain sight. Between good intentions and bad actors, they learn doing the right thing can still look like a heist.

Criminal Destiny

by Gordon Korman

2016

On the run from the people who created them, Eli’s group tries to stay alive long enough to uncover the truth about their origins. New allies and new betrayals force them to ask whether their DNA decides their future, or if they can choose.

Unleashed

by Gordon Korman

2015

When a dog with a critical role in someone’s life goes missing, Griffin’s crew jumps into action. Tracking the truth means digging into motives, dodging danger, and learning that this case is not just about money, it’s about responsibility.

The Dragonfly Effect

by Gordon Korman

2015

The fight over Jackson’s abilities reaches a breaking point as factions close in and the rules of hypnosis keep changing. To protect his sister and free himself, Jackson needs a plan that works on people who are always one step ahead.

Masterminds

by Gordon Korman

2015

Eli lives in a perfect town where nothing bad ever happens, until he discovers why. With his friends, he runs for freedom and uncovers a shocking truth about who they are, and what the people in charge planned for them.

Memory Maze

by Gordon Korman

2014

Jackson’s training deepens as he learns how easily memories can be bent, erased, or planted. When he uncovers new secrets about the program pulling his strings, he has to decide who to believe, and how far to push his own power.

Jackpot

by Gordon Korman

2014

Griffin’s crew stumbles into a scheme tied to big money and bigger rules, and they can’t ignore it. With plans within plans and pressure mounting, the kids have to outsmart adults who think they can’t possibly be the ones meddling.

Flashpoint

by Gordon Korman

2014

In this later 39 Clues adventure, Amy and Dan race to stop a new disaster linked to the dangerous serum that powers the Cahill legacy. The clock is brutal, the enemies are unpredictable, and one wrong move could make everything worse.

The Hypnotists

by Gordon Korman

2013

Jackson Opus discovers he can hypnotize people for real, and a secret organization wants to train him and use him. With his sister as his closest ally, Jackson enters a hidden world where mind control is a weapon and trust is dangerous.

Hideout

by Gordon Korman

2013

A new mystery pulls Griffin and his friends into a case where someone is missing and the adults are not telling the full story. To find answers, the crew follows risky leads into places they do not belong, and nearly gets caught.

Ungifted

by Gordon Korman

2012

After a prank goes way too far, troublemaker Donovan Curtis expects serious punishment, but a paperwork mix-up sends him to a gifted school instead. Now he has to keep his secret while finding out he might belong there in a different way.

The Trophy

by Gordon Korman

2012

A quick story about competition, pride, and what a trophy is really worth. As a kid chases a win, he has to decide whether the prize matters more than the people around him, and what earning respect actually takes.

Showoff

by Gordon Korman

2012

Griffin and his crew take on a new case when trouble swirls around Savannah and something she loves. To protect their friend, they have to untangle a scheme, spot the real con, and pull off a plan before adults shut them down.

Unsinkable

by Gordon Korman

2011

A young passenger aboard the Titanic discovers that the ship is full of secrets, class lines, and risky choices. When disaster strikes, survival comes down to quick thinking and the people you grab onto when everything starts collapsing.

The Medusa Plot

by Gordon Korman

2011

The clue hunt is over, but Amy and Dan are pulled into a new crisis when a shadowy group starts kidnapping Cahill family members worldwide. With a bizarre ransom demand and a brutal deadline, they have to act fast, even if it means trusting rivals.

S.O.S.

by Gordon Korman

2011

After the Titanic strikes the iceberg, confusion and fear take over as time runs out. A kid has to navigate crowds, freezing water, and impossible choices, hoping help arrives before the ship, and everyone on it, disappears.

Collision Course

by Gordon Korman

2011

Another kid’s story unfolds during the Titanic’s voyage, where personal trouble builds before the bigger catastrophe arrives. When chaos erupts, small decisions become life-or-death, and unlikely friendships are tested in the freezing night.

The Emperor's Code

by Gordon Korman

2010

Near the end of the original 39 Clues hunt, Amy and Dan race across Asia to follow a lead tied to an ancient emperor. Betrayals, shifting alliances, and a dangerous artifact push them toward the final answers.

Framed

by Gordon Korman

2010

When a valuable object vanishes and the blame lands on the wrong kid, Griffin and the gang dive into a new caper to clear a name and catch the real thief. Clues, disguises, and close calls stack up as the plan gets messy.

Zoobreak

by Gordon Korman

2009

Griffin’s crew is back, and this time the mission is a rescue: their friend’s pet monkey has been taken to a sketchy zoo. Pulling off a breakout means sneaking in, outsmarting adults, and keeping a wild animal calm during the getaway.

The Juvie Three

by Gordon Korman

2008

Three teens with records and reputations are forced into a program that expects them to change. As they try to finish their sentence and stay out of trouble, they get pulled into a situation that tests loyalty, trust, and second chances.

Swindle

by Gordon Korman

2008

Griffin Bing finds a rare baseball card, then watches a shady dealer swindle him out of it. With his friend Ben and a crew of kids with special skills, Griffin plans a kid-sized heist to steal back what’s theirs.

One False Note

by Gordon Korman

2008

Amy and Dan Cahill head to Vienna chasing the next clue, hidden inside a musical mystery. With ruthless relatives close behind, they have to crack codes fast, before the hunt turns into a trap.

Schooled

by Gordon Korman

2007

Capricorn Anderson has been raised on a commune with no TV or middle-school politics. After moving in with a guidance counselor, he enters C Average Middle School, where his kindness and weird skills collide with a ruthless social scene.

The Search

by Gordon Korman

2006

Aiden follows the trail across the country, piecing together clues that point to a much bigger plan than a random kidnapping. Every answer creates new questions, and the clock keeps moving as he tries to reach Meg in time.

The Rescue

by Gordon Korman

2006

Aiden finally closes in on where Meg is being held, but the people behind the kidnapping are still manipulating events. To get his sister back, he has to outthink them, trust unlikely allies, and act before the final deadline hits.

The Abduction

by Gordon Korman

2006

Meg is snatched in broad daylight, and her brother Aiden is left with only a mysterious clue and a voice on the phone. With adults doubting him, Aiden starts his own rescue mission, racing against kidnappers who stay one step ahead.

Tales Of Suspense For Boys

by Gordon Korman

2006

A three-in-one collection for suspense fans, pairing an On the Run thriller by Gordon Korman with scary and sci-fi adventures by other popular authors. Built for fast reading, it delivers cliffhangers, close calls, and constant tension.

Hunting the Hunter

by Gordon Korman

2006

In the final chase, Aiden and Meg stop just running and start fighting back. To uncover what happened to their family, they have to confront the person pulling the strings, while dodging the law and criminals who don’t want the truth out.

Born to Rock

by Gordon Korman

2006

Leo loves drumming, then learns the rock star he’s never met might be his dad. When he gets a chance to go on tour, Leo has to handle band drama, sudden fame, and family questions, while figuring out what he wants from music.

The Stowaway Solution

by Gordon Korman

2005

To follow their next lead, Aiden and Meg take a desperate risk that puts them in tight quarters and constant danger. Staying invisible is the plan, until everything goes wrong and they have to improvise a way out fast.

The Fugitive Factor

by Gordon Korman

2005

Still on the run, Aiden and Meg chase new leads about their missing parents while dodging capture. Each clue pulls them into another city and another close call, forcing them to trust each other and almost no one else.

Public Enemies

by Gordon Korman

2005

With their faces everywhere, Aiden and Meg can’t ask for help without risking arrest. They chase a clue that could clear everything, but it means trusting strangers, making hard choices, and staying a step ahead of people who want them caught.

Now You See Them, Now You Don't

by Gordon Korman

2005

Aiden and Meg think they’re getting closer to answers, but a new twist turns every safe place into a trap. As they race from one hiding spot to the next, they learn how far their enemies will go to keep secrets hidden.

Chasing The Falconers

by Gordon Korman

2005

Aiden and Meg Falconer become fugitives when their parents vanish and the kids are framed for a crime. With cops and criminals closing in, they hit the road to clear their names and uncover what their family got tangled up in.

Hollywood Hustle

by Gordon Korman

2004

Vince heads to college in Los Angeles hoping to leave his mob ties behind. Then his brother shows up, followed by a parade of so-called uncles, family meals, and fresh trouble. Normal life does not stand a chance.

The Deep

by Gordon Korman

2003

The dive team goes farther underwater and deeper into trouble, chasing answers that someone clearly wants buried. Between equipment failures, pressure, and betrayal, they learn that the ocean is not the only thing that can crush you.

The Danger

by Gordon Korman

2003

What started as a thrilling discovery becomes a fight to survive when the team’s secrets catch up with them. With enemies above and below the waterline, the divers have to act together, or they will not make it back.

Maxx Comedy

by Gordon Korman

2003

Max is convinced he’s destined to be a comedy star, and he treats everyday life like an audition. When his jokes collide with school rules and real consequences, Max has to figure out whether he’s performing, or actually growing up.

Jake, Reinvented

by Gordon Korman

2003

Told by a quiet observer, this story follows popular Jake Cullen as pressure and secrets start to crack his perfect image. Watching from the edges, a classmate sees Jake try to reinvent himself, and learns how fragile popularity can be.

The Summit

by Gordon Korman

2002

The final push to the summit forces the climbers to confront the mountain, and each other, at their breaking points. With storms closing in and decisions that cannot be undone, they learn what they are willing to risk for the top.

The Discovery

by Gordon Korman

2002

Four teens arrive at an elite diving program expecting adventure, and they get it, fast. A deep-water find turns their training into a real mission, where dangerous choices and rival loyalties follow them below the surface.

The Contest

by Gordon Korman

2002

A group of teens enters an intense competition for a chance to join an Everest expedition, complete with cameras, sponsors, and ruthless rivals. Training turns into survival practice, and only a few will earn a spot on the climb.

The Climb

by Gordon Korman

2002

The chosen climbers finally head to Everest, where thin air and harsh weather make every step a fight. As the team pushes higher, fear, exhaustion, and sabotage threaten to turn the adventure into a real disaster.

Son of the Mob

by Gordon Korman

2002

Vince Luca is a regular teen, except his dad is in the mob and expects Vince to keep quiet and keep up. When Vince tries to date and live normally, family business keeps crashing the party, with hilarious and risky results.

The Team Player

by Gordon Korman

2001

Nick and Morgan need a lesson in teamwork, and the magic jersey delivers it the hard way. It zaps them into the bodies of a major-league pitcher and catcher, forcing them to work together on the field before they can switch back.

Survival

by Gordon Korman

2001

The kids on the island start to find a rhythm, but the place has more dangers than hunger and storms. As injuries, secrets, and rivalries grow, they realize surviving together might be harder than surviving the wilderness itself.

Shipwreck

by Gordon Korman

2001

Six kids are separated from the adults when disaster strikes and they wash up on a remote island. With no rescue in sight, they have to build shelter, set rules, and decide who to trust to survive the first brutal days.

Need for Speed

by Gordon Korman

2001

The magic jersey drags Nick into a high-speed competition where split-second decisions matter and fear is not an option. To make it through, he has to learn preparation, focus, and trust, before the next turn wipes him out.

Invasion of the Nose Pickers

by Gordon Korman

2001

The nose pickers are not done with Earth, and Devin is caught in the middle again. As aliens move from nuisance to full invasion, he has to pull together a plan fast to stop Stan’s world from taking over his own.

Head Over Heels

by Gordon Korman

2001

Nick knows his friend Coleman is dating trouble, but he cannot find a way to say it. The jersey steps in, swapping them into the bodies of Tony Hawk and Dave Mirra for an extreme showdown that makes their real-life fight impossible to ignore.

Fight for Your Right

by Gordon Korman

2001

When Morgan is swapped into the ring as boxer Laila Ali, she finally feels what it’s like to fight for respect in a sport that expects men to dominate. The jersey forces her to choose courage and control under pressure.

Escape

by Gordon Korman

2001

With hope of rescue fading, the kids look for a way off the island, even if it means taking a dangerous risk. Old conflicts flare, new clues emerge, and they have to decide how far they will go to get home alive.

Your Mummy is a Nose Picker

by Gordon Korman

2000

A new wave of alien nonsense hits Devin, this time tangled up with an ancient mystery and a nose-picking twist. Between family chaos and sci-fi danger, he tries to keep life normal while helping Stan survive another impossible situation.

This Rocks!

by Gordon Korman

2000

Unathletic Elliot shocks everyone by becoming a natural at rock climbing, until a climb goes wrong and he is stuck on a cliff. Nick has to pull off a rescue with help from champion climber Katie Brown, before time runs out.

The Face-Off Phony

by Gordon Korman

2000

The league gets thrown into chaos when someone starts faking their way through games and stirring up trouble. The Slapshots have to figure out who’s playing dirty, keep their own secret safe, and survive another round of hockey mayhem.

Pop

by Gordon Korman

2000

Marcus is a high school football star, but his closest friendship is with an older neighbor, a retired NFL player struggling with brain injury. As Marcus learns what the game can cost, he has to rethink football and his own future.

Planet of the Nose Pickers

by Gordon Korman

2000

Devin gets pulled deeper into Stan’s alien drama and closer to the bizarre world behind the nose-picking empire. With human life on the line and new enemies closing in, he has to outsmart creatures who treat Earth like a pit stop.

No More Dead Dogs

by Gordon Korman

2000

Wallace Wallace writes the most brutally honest book report in school history and gets kicked off the football team for it. His punishment is detention during rehearsals for the stage version of the very book he hated, and he tries to save everyone from another tragic ending.

No Girly-Girls Allowed

by Gordon Korman

2000

Morgan loves soccer, but a crush makes her doubt herself, until a magic jersey swaps her into the body of pro player Cobi Jones. Now she has to play at the highest level and figure out what confidence really looks like.

Nick's a Chick

by Gordon Korman

2000

Nick has always trashed the WNBA, until the magic jersey drops him into the body of superstar Lisa Leslie. Now he has to compete under bright lights and learn, the hard way, how much skill and grit the game takes.

It's Magic!

by Gordon Korman

2000

Nick inherits an old sports jersey that turns out to be magic, and the first time he puts it on, he’s suddenly living a pro athlete’s life. What should be a normal day becomes a scramble to survive a big moment and get back home.

Cup Crazy

by Gordon Korman

2000

The season builds toward the big tournament, and everyone is going a little nuts for the trophy. With pressure rising and opponents closing in, the Slapshots have to hold it together long enough to chase the cup and keep their team intact.

The Stars From Mars

by Gordon Korman

1999

A local youth hockey league suddenly has players who seem almost too strange, and too talented, to be normal. As games pile up, the team tries to win on the ice while keeping a secret that could blow everything apart.

Nosepickers from Outer Space

by Gordon Korman

1999

Devin’s life gets weird when an alien named Stan Mflxnys shows up and claims he’s collecting noses for a royal ransom. Devin is dragged into a ridiculous intergalactic problem where the details are gross, but the danger is real.

All-Mars All-Stars / The Dream Team

by Gordon Korman

1999

The season heats up and the team’s weird secret gets harder to hide. With rivals watching closely and pressure to win rising, the players chase a dream run while trying not to reveal what makes them so different.

Ultimate Scoring Machine: I Was Jerry Rice

by Gordon Korman

1998

Nick dreams of scoring like Jerry Rice, but the jersey drops him into a real NFL game where every route matters. To keep up, he has to think fast, work with teammates, and earn focus that does not come from cheering at home.

The 6th Grade Nickname Game

by Gordon Korman

1998

Best friends Wiley and Jeff hand out nicknames to everyone at Old Orchard Middle, and it feels harmless, until the jokes start backfiring. When a new teacher’s job is on the line, the boys have to clean up the mess they created.

NFL Rules!: Bloopers, Pranks, Upsets and Touchdowns

by Gordon Korman

1998

A kid-friendly tour of pro football’s funniest and wildest moments, from bloopers and pranks to shocking upsets and miracle plays. Along the way, it breaks down key rules and quirks of the game in short, easy-to-read bursts.

The Super Bowl Switch: I Was Dan Marino

by Gordon Korman

1997

Nick’s jersey lands him in the middle of the Super Bowl as Dan Marino, with the world watching. Between pressure, strategy, and the fear of blowing it, he learns that talent is only part of what carries a team.

Running Back Conversion: I Was Barry Sanders

by Gordon Korman

1997

The magic jersey strikes again and drops Nick into the shoes of Barry Sanders during a real NFL game. With plays to execute and no time to panic, Nick learns how much work, toughness, and focus it takes to succeed.

Quarterback Exchange: I Was John Elway

by Gordon Korman

1997

Nick gets an old football jersey from his grandfather and discovers it is magic when it swaps him into John Elway mid-game. Suddenly he has to survive Monday night football and learn what being the star actually demands.

Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire

by Gordon Korman

1997

Kevin knows how to talk his way out of anything, until a chain of lies catches up with him and his family. Trying to fix one lie only creates another, and Kevin learns that being clever is not the same as being trusted.

Heavy Artillery: I Was Junior Seau

by Gordon Korman

1997

One moment Nick is a kid, the next he is linebacker Junior Seau, expected to stop a powerful offense. He has to face the physical side of the sport and the mental game, while trying not to wreck a pro’s career.

The Last-Place Sports Poems of Jeremy Bloom

by Gordon Korman

1996

Jeremy Bloom is back, and his poems tackle sports, competition, and the misery of finishing last. With his usual honesty and jokes, he turns practice disasters and embarrassing games into verses that are funnier, and sharper, than he expects.

The Chicken Doesn't Skate

by Gordon Korman

1996

Milo’s science-project chick becomes the hockey team’s beloved mascot and supposed good-luck charm. When Milo learns the chick is expected to become a class meal, the kids launch a rescue plan, and chaos breaks loose.

Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall / The Joke's On Us

by Gordon Korman

1995

Bruno and Boots clash with the nearby girls’ school and stumble into a rivalry that keeps escalating. Between pranks, misunderstandings, and surprise allies, they discover the joke is not always on the other side.

Why Did the Underwear Cross the Road?

by Gordon Korman

1994

A quick, goofy collection packed with schoolyard humor, oddball characters, and punchy scenes built for short reads. It’s the kind of book you can open anywhere and get a fast laugh without committing to a long story.

The Toilet Paper Tigers

by Gordon Korman

1993

The Feather-Soft Tigers are the worst Little League team around, and being sponsored by a toilet paper company makes it worse. Then a new coach arrives with wild ideas that somehow turn humiliation into a surprising winning streak.

The Twinkie Squad

by Gordon Korman

1992

A group of kids who feel like outsiders get thrown together and quickly realize they’re stuck with each other. As the situation gets more embarrassing, they find unexpected teamwork, and a way to push back against people who underestimate them.

The D-Poems of Jeremy Bloom

by Gordon Korman

1992

Jeremy Bloom would rather do anything than write poetry, but a class assignment forces him to fill a notebook with verses. What starts as complaining turns into an honest, funny record of school, family, and being eleven.

MacDonald Hall Goes Hollywood / Lights, Camera, Disaster!

by Gordon Korman

1991

A film crew descends on Macdonald Hall, and Bruno and Boots treat it like a personal challenge. As cameras roll, pranks escalate, tempers flare, and the boys learn that Hollywood chaos and boarding-school chaos are a perfect match.

Losing Joe's Place

by Gordon Korman

1990

A teenager finds stability at Joe’s Place, a hangout that feels like the only steady thing in his life. When circumstances threaten to change it, he has to decide whether to go along quietly, or fight for what matters.

Radio Fifth Grade

by Gordon Korman

1989

Benjy Driver wants his school radio show to be a hit, but he’s juggling a bully who hogs the mic, a parrot who refuses to perform, and way too much homework. As ratings soar, Benjy scrambles to keep it all together.

The Zucchini Warriors

by Gordon Korman

1988

Macdonald Hall needs a miracle on the football field, and somehow Bruno and Boots end up running the show. With a ragtag team and a very strange strategy, they chase an underdog season while their schemes threaten to explode.

A Semester in the Life of a Garbage Bag

by Gordon Korman

1987

Labeled a loser, a teenager tries to survive the social food chain of school without becoming the joke. A sudden twist forces him to look at his own choices, and what it really costs to chase popularity.

Son of Interflux

by Gordon Korman

1986

A teenager trying to survive high school gets pulled into an outrageous situation tied to his family, and a larger-than-life figure called Interflux. As plans snowball and trouble multiplies, he has to decide who he wants to be.

Don't Care High

by Gordon Korman

1986

At Don’t Care High, not trying is practically a tradition. A student who thinks he has school all figured out gets dragged into rivalries, pranks, and pressure that prove not caring has consequences, whether he likes it or not.

I Want to Go Home

by Gordon Korman

1985

Told through hilarious letters and notes, a kid at the dreaded Camp Unhappy begs his parents to rescue him. Instead, he teams up with fellow misfits to plot an escape, while counselors and tradition block every route out.

No Coins, Please

by Gordon Korman

1984

A kid looking for an easy summer learns that money comes with weird rules, jealous coworkers, and unexpected pressure. As misunderstandings pile up, he has to do the right thing without losing his job, or his dignity.

Bugs Potter Live at Nickaninny

by Gordon Korman

1983

Bugs Potter hits the road and winds up at Nickaninny, where his big plans and bigger mouth attract instant attention. Whether he’s chasing fame or dodging consequences, Bugs turns a simple trip into nonstop mishaps.

The War with Mr. Wizzle

by Gordon Korman

1982

A new authority figure arrives at Macdonald Hall, and Bruno and Boots decide to make him their next target. Mr. Wizzle fights back, and the battle of wills turns into a schoolwide showdown that tests their nerve and their friendship.

Our Man Weston

by Gordon Korman

1982

Tom takes a summer job at a resort hoping for calm, but his twin brother decides he has uncovered a spy plot. As the investigation spirals across the hotel, Tom scrambles to stop the chaos before the wrong people get blamed.

Who is Bugs Potter?

by Gordon Korman

1980

Bugs Potter has a gift for turning everyday school life into a huge story, especially when he is the one telling it. When his latest scheme collides with teachers and classmates, Bugs has to hustle to stay ahead of the trouble he started.

Beware the Fish!

by Gordon Korman

1980

A fishy new problem takes over at Macdonald Hall, and Bruno and Boots are right in the middle of it. Between ridiculous rules and their own big mouths, they turn a small situation into a full-blown comedy of errors.

Go Jump in the Pool!

by Gordon Korman

1979

Bruno and Boots land in trouble again, this time involving the school pool and a new round of punishments. Their attempt to dodge responsibility only drags more people into the mess and makes everything funnier and worse.

This Can't Be Happening at MacDonald Hall!

by Gordon Korman

1977

Bruno and Boots are prank legends at their boarding school, until the headmaster threatens to split them up for good. To stay together, they have to behave, which is exactly when Macdonald Hall erupts into chaos.

Where should I start?

If you want classic boarding-school chaos: This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!Go Jump in the Pool!Beware the Fish!
If you like kid heists and cons: SwindleZoobreakFramedShowoff
If you prefer modern school comedy with heart: UngiftedSupergiftedRestart
If you want high-stakes suspense: MastermindsCriminal DestinyPayback

Author bio

Gordon Korman was born in Montreal, Quebec, and grew up in the Toronto-area suburb of Thornhill, Ontario. He’s a Canadian-American writer who’s spent decades turning kid life, school life, and family life into stories that move fast and land a lot of jokes.

He started writing unusually early.

As a teenager, he wrote a novel for a school assignment, and that manuscript became This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!. It’s not just a fun origin story, it also explains a lot about his work: he’s always been interested in what happens when a couple of kids with big ideas meet a system with rules, deadlines, and adults who are not amused.

By the time he finished high school, he had already published several books. After that, he moved to the United States to attend New York University, where he studied film and graduated with a BFA in 1985. That film-school sense of pacing, short scenes, and sharp cuts shows up all over his writing, even when the story is set in a cafeteria instead of on a soundstage.

Korman has written a large, wide-ranging catalog for kids and teens. Some readers meet him through classic school comedies like Macdonald Hall, others through modern middle-grade series like Swindle and Ungifted, and others through high-concept thrillers like Masterminds and The Hypnotists. He also jumps into big shared universes, including writing entries in The 39 Clues franchise.

A lot of his best-known books start with a simple mistake or a small lie, then follow the ripple effects.

He likes characters who are smart in the ways that do not show up on tests: kids who can read a room, hustle a plan into place, or talk their way out of trouble until the trouble gets bigger. Even when he’s writing survival adventures or mysteries, the stories usually hinge on friendship pressure, identity, and the question of who gets to decide what kind of kid you are.

Across his work, you’ll see recurring interests: schools as miniature societies, groups that form for the wrong reasons and become real, and kids who get labeled, then push back. Books like Restart and Linked lean more into serious consequences, memory, and community conflict, but he keeps the writing clear and direct, with plenty of humor to keep it readable.

Korman lives on Long Island, New York with his wife and their three children. He’s still prolific, still interested in what kids find funny, and still good at taking one weird situation and squeezing a whole story out of it.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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All 119 Gordon Korman Books in Order (Complete List 2026)