[Turner]

Dear Mr. Korman,

 

 My 8th grade English class is currently reading Lord of the Flies, and as part of this we are discussing the question \"Are people born evil, or does society make them evil?".

 

As an activity, each student in my period were given a balloon and a pencil to stab with. The task was simple: if a student's balloon was unpopped at the end of the one minute activity, they would get a piece of candy. As soon as the activity started, people were up from their seats and attempting to pop everyone else's balloon. Every student had entered fight or flight mode and the classroom had become absolute chaos.

 

At the end of the one minute activity, only two balloons remained unpopped. I was one of the two students, and we each earned a piece of candy. After we had all settled down, our teacher stood up and made a simple statement: "Why hadn't you all just stayed in your seats and left the balloons alone? Everyone would have gotten a piece of candy". No one had an answer.

 

I immediately thought of your book, Masterminds, and how it perfectly addressed the question of  "Are people born evil, or does society make them evil?". The whole series was awesome and was full of great concepts, including this one. So,

Thank you!

TK

 

 

P.S. You visited my Washington DC school on November 1st, and your presentation was very entertaining. Thanks again!

 

Hi, TK,

That is an amazing story -- and an object lesson. Your teacher must be very smart to illustrate the point that way.

You also grasped the theme of MASTERMINDS perfectly -- nature or nurture.

Thanks for reaching out.                                                                                  -----Gordon Korman-----

[James]

I really liked your book! My favorite part is when Tori is climbing the plastic works building.

Hi, James,

I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying MASTERMINDS. I hope you'll plan to read all 3 books in the series. Thanks very much for writing to me. I appreciate the input.

                                                         Best regards,                                                   -----Gordon Korman-----

[VERONICA]

I loved MASTERMINDS series so much i actually cried when i finished Payback. I have two questions: 1. Is there going to be a fourth book? 2. Did Malik and Amber get together?

Hi, Veronica,

I'm glad MASTERMINDS wel over so well with you! (Sorry about the tears.)

Your questions: 1. I would never rule it out completely, but right now there are no plans for a 4th book. And 2. Of course Malik and Amber will get together. So will Tori and Eli.

Thanks, Veronica.                                                                                        -----Gordon Korman-----

[Veronica]

Hi! I'm writing again to ask just one more question. So, I heard Amber and Malik get together in the third book. But I never saw anything that indicates it. Do they get together in the book or after? (P.S I really love your books)

Sorry, Veronica. I thought you were asking about after. They are close in the story, but have to do some growing up in order to access the romantic side of their friendship.                                                                                 ---GK---

[Katie]

Hi Gordon! Also hi Veronica ( I love Amber and Malik too)

I also had a question about Amber and Malik. Do you think when they were in childhood back in Serenity they always acted like they disliked each other causing them to have so many arguments or were they friends before and started drifting apart causing them to start arguing? Also, how did you picture the MASTERMINDS characters when writing them? Thank you so much! Also I love your books so much! (Especially Masterminds)

[Charles]

Hi, Katie,

Good question. Malik and Amber, as young children, were both very bright, very agressive individuals. They probably genuinely disliked one another, as young kids often do, largely for no reason other than competition. It's when people get older that they start to think of one another differently, and that's what would have happened with these two.

How did I picture them? As typical 11 to 13 years olds, non-specific. That's something that, except for "blonde," or "tall," or "slender," that I like to leave to the reader

OK? Thanks for posting, Katie. I hope you'll read many more of my books.

                                     Regards,                                                                    -----Gordon Korman-----

[Katie]

Thank you so much Gordon! That makes sense I’m excited to read more of your books! Also are you planning on doing a series anytime soon?

Hi, again, Katie,

Your question: I haven't planned a series, nor anything that might turn into a series. Right now I'm concentrating on standalone novels. But if any one of them seems to be just asking for a sequel, I wouldn't hesitate! I love series work!        --GK--