Gordon Korman
by Gordon Korman
Reviewed by Shravan
February 16, 2026
The best Gordon Korman books for kids ages 10-14. Find action packed adventures and funny stories for 10, 11, and 12 year olds. Great for hesitant readers and middle schoolers who love funny, fast paced books.
Gordon Korman is an incredible author of over 100 realistic fiction books featuring diverse middle school and high school characters. The main protagonists of his books often don’t fit in with the ‘social norms’ of their school, shown by books such as Schooled, Ungifted and No More Dead Dogs. There are several series written by Gordan Korman, like Masterminds or Kidnapped, in addition to his independent books like Restart and Unplugged. This review focuses on the independent books written by Gordon Korman.
What I absolutely loved about the books made by Gordan Korman is that they are so absolutely engaging. There is just so much detail put into those books, and the amount of effort is incredible. Some of my personal favorites include Schooled, Linked, and Ungifted. Out of the series created by Gordan Korman, my favorite would be the Masterminds Series, which would easily be one of my top 5 series that I have ever read.
In the end, the books written by this author are just incredibly amazing to read, and are incredible recommendations to middle school and high school students. Because these books by Gordon Korman have violent topics such as death and antisemitism, I would give this series an age rating of 10+. In general, Gordon Korman’s books are absolutely deserving of a 5 Star rating and can grab the interest of almost any tween/teenager.
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Common Questions About Gordon Korman
What age are Gordon Korman books for?
Gordon Korman books are recommended for ages 8-10 (Grades 3rd-5th). His books are funny, fast-paced, and honestly perfect for reluctant readers who need action and humor to stay engaged. If your 3rd or 4th grader says they don't like reading, try handing them a Gordon Korman book — it usually works.
What is the most popular Gordon Korman book?
Restart is probably his most popular standalone — it's a really cool concept where a bully loses his memory and gets a chance to start over. For series, the Swindle series and Masterminds are fan favorites. His earlier Bruno and Boots books are also classics. There's genuinely something for every kid in his catalog.
What order should I read Gordon Korman books?
Gordon Korman writes both series and standalones, so you can jump in almost anywhere. Start with any series — Swindle, Masterminds, or Kidnapped — each tells its own story. For standalones, Restart and Supergifted are great entry points. I'd just pick whichever premise sounds most fun to your kid.
Are Gordon Korman books good for reluctant readers?
Gordon Korman is honestly one of the best authors for reluctant readers ages 8-12. His books have short chapters, cliffhanger endings, humor on every page, and action-driven plots that make kids actually want to keep reading. If your kid finishes a Korman book and wants more, Dog Man and Diary of a Wimpy Kid on BookVine are also great for reluctant readers.
Gordon Korman is recommended for ages 10 - 14 (Grades 5th - 9th) with Lexile scores ranging from 610L to 750L.