[Ruchama]

Hi! It's me , Ruchama I'm in a different topic in this forum, but anyway, I was thinking, why don't you make any characters in your book with notable differences, other than being Black or Arabic, Israeli, etc., etc. but with health/mental problems like autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, ADHD, ADD, SPD(Sensory Processing Disorder), or just in a wheelchair, crutches, scoliosis, etc. I have a friend with scoliosis, a brother with 2 of the above, I have a leg brace and a bunch of other stuff, and in all the books of yours that I have read, none of the characters have had any of the above and more

Thanks! Ruchama

[Gordon Korman]

Hi, Ruchama,

See, you haven't read enough of them. The DIVE series has a handicapped girl who is whole only when swimming. LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE is about a girl who is so insecure that she makes up things just to try to stress her importance in the world. The SLAPSHOTS series makes hockey players out of a group of kids who are singularly ordinary and untalented, and circumstances eventually lead them to a championship, yet no one gives up the kooky habits that make them unique. The ISLAND trilogy is about kids who are sent on a sailboat trip that will treat their various emotional disorders. The EVEREST trilogy deals with ambitious mountaineering kids who have their own demons and fears to overcome. THE UNTEACHABLES -- well, there are various reasons why the class in unteachable! NOTORIOUS -- the kid travels the world with Mom and Stepdad, international school teachers, and contracts tuberculosis. And if you're patient and wait until June 28th with the release of my 100th book, THE FORT, Mitchell has an interesting disorder.

The basic reason is probably because most of my work is light comedy, and a lot of disorders just aren't that funny.

                                                                                                -----Gordon Korman-----

[Ruchama]

Thanks so much for answering! It is true, I haven't really read your trilogies, but I remember me and my cousin fighting over Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire! Most of the disorders/handicaps that you listed above were emotional disorders and insecurities. But I still think that you should have a character with something like a wheelchair, scoliosis, brace, crutches. And ADHD, autism, ADD, because those are super common. It will also make the book sound more realistic and relatable, too. And I'm sure the handicapped/disorder community will appreciate it.

Thanks again and a happy passover!

[Gordon Korman]

Noted.                                                          -----GK-----

[Ruchama]

Also, what do you mean that a lot of disorders \"just aren\'t that funny\"? And I\'m sure that having a character in a wheelchair would make a lot of hilarious jokes 

Bye! Ruchama

[Randy Meadows]

The UNTEACHABLES was a fabulous tale with character "differences" that kids can relate with in any setting.  My 5th graders loved it.  Various kids that have fallen through the cracks academically and grouped into the same classroom.  They have been deemed The Unteachables.  The message really resonated through my classroom and my students saw the similarities between the characters and themselves and they saw moments of vulnerability within the teacher from the book and connected those literary experiences with real life experiences of their own.  I cannot say enough about this book. It was great!  I am about to start Linked next. Good Luck!  (Thank you Mr. Korman) 

 

[Gordon Korman]

Thanks, Randy Meadows & 5th Graders,

I appreciate your support. I hope LINKED goes over well with the class.              -----Gordon Korman-----

[Asher]

Ruchama

Read the Twinkie squad! Its an oldie but goodie - and it has disabled characters (clear ADHD for Ric, for one, and Doug has autistic tendencies).

[Gordon Korman]

Way to go, Asher! I forgot that one! But I think the readers who talked about "differences" meant real physical handicaps, and there aren't many of those.                                                              -----Gordon Korman-----