Review: Masterminds

Masterminds by Gordon Korman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!!
If you have a middle grade student.... run as fast as you can and buy this book, if you love middle grade books, run...

I attended a webinar by the Junior Library Guild about books to read over the summer. The third book of the trilogy was on that list, and of course as every reader knows you have to start at the beginning of any series or trilogy. I ordered the first two books because they were both in paperback.
I devoured this book, The only reason I did not read it in 5 straight hours is because, a) I needed to sleep. and b) it got a little intense a couple of times and I had to put it down.
The premise of the book is the reason I wanted to read it. These children live in a town with no crime whatsoever... then things start to go a little crazy. Honestly I do not want to tell you about any plot points, spoiler or not because experiencing it as they experience it is a rush. I will tell you that it is Pleasantville/ Truman Show/ 1984/ Are you intrigued? You should be.

I will say this, it ends with a cliffhanger and if I did not already have the second book, I would have thrown the book across the room.... That is cruel to a reader. I can hear authors everywhere cackling in delight when they do it to us. It was bad enough I couldn't dive right into the new one because I had to go to work. I will be ordering the third book of the trilogy as soon as I finish this review, I just pray it truly is only a trilogy and I will not end the week in utter devastation at being left with a cliffhanger and no other book in sight.

The book has great adventure, with both girls and boys having a part of the story... There will be no questions of is it a girl book or a boy book.... (although I am always telling them books don't have a gender) It has intrigue and technology and moral questions galore... I am gushing... and rambling, I love this book.

I am ashamed to admit that this is the very first Gordon Korman book I have read... I assure you it won't be the last. I already told my book vendor to add every book of his to my list, hopefully come fall I will have a bunch. Do you think I could convince some teachers to read these books to their classes? I will have to try.

View all my reviews