[Micheal (MJ)]

Hey!! This is not at all meant to be a slight against Gk, I’m just genuinely…amazed..at how far/dark some books get

like, When Joel in restart was describing how bullying really makes you feel, I FELT that. The “Once you start to see yourself as a victim it’s hard to get out of that” line punched me in the GUT. It’s so accurate to how bullying affects your mental state, and I wasn’t really expecting a kids book to get that real. Or to basically describe Joel as depressive, it’s quite unexpected but welcome 

And in Linked, I wasn’t expecting the book to call out how society tries to bury its racist past, It’s actually quite impressive for a book to be so realistic and not try to sugarcoat things 

in Schooled I wasn’t expecting a DEAD BIRD and PICKLED GOAT BRAIN to be in Cap’s locker, or for Zach to steal his shoes. But DANG. It is so accurate to how ruthless middle schoolers are (even if it does make Zach look like an evil villain, bc honestly most middle schoolers wouldnt go as far to put brains in someone’s locker but..he’s just a bit less empathetic I guess)

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m genuinely impressed gk kept it so real, and wasn’t afraid to point out the truth. It’s refreshing and doesn’t feel condescending at all.

Hi, MJ,

Thanks for posting. I'm not sure I would describe the things you list as "dark," exactly, but it's true that my later books have a lot more than just fluff and slapstick in them. LINKED especially is something that I felt I had to get off my chest. And the description of bullying is real -- to my thinking it's nothing to be sugar-coated. As for middle schoolers not worrying about hurting someone's feelings, you've got that right!

I think you probably have to remember that I was 12 when I started writing, and I grew up considerably in the time since then, some 40+ years ago! I appreciate your comments, MJ. It's nice to feel that my perspective has grown over the years!

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

[Jade]

They are "dark!" Or maybe they're just deep, stories that actually touch something in you. I'm forever grateful for your stories and what they teach, but I'm mainly grateful for how hilariously funny they are!

[Jade]

Also, THE HYPNOTISTS is dark. It's just dark!

 

Spoiler Alert: Highlight the rest of this line to read it. The part with D-Day was SO dark!

[Raymond Jardine]

Wow, @Jade... communicating via hidden text on an internet message board seems like something a Korman character would do.   ;-)  Well done, Jade—I’m impressed!

[Aly]

Nothing like a Gordon Korman book with a slight dash of dark plot points.

These can really range from just one or two incidents that are kinda weird or central to the whole story!

But that's why I like Operation Do-Over and Whatshisface so much! The darker ideas aren't fully developed (because the books are made for kids) but it's fun to have ideas on the possibilities!

Thanks, Aly.                                                                                                                                                  --GK--

[Jade]

Thank you, Raymond!