[Kinley Toomer]

Dear Mr. Korman,

Hi, Mr. Korman! I'm not a long-time fan, and I just started reading "The Unteachables".  My teacher is having us do a book report, and I chose this because it looked good and all my friends recommended it. But what I really wanted to talk about is a new book idea. I have had this idea in my head for so long it hurts, and I finally found an author who ACTUALLY responds to kids fan-mail. I call it "The Unknown Soldire"

Gillian, an obedient soldier in the Glass Saint army, was thrown off the ship by his comrades while on the way to invade a neighboring country. He swims to shore, but is wounded and tired. With only a compass, $20, a knife, and hope, he sets off on his journey home. His adventure takes him through mountains, ravines, woods, and plains. He makes friends with a baby sabertooth tiger, who risks everything for the safety of her human friend. When Gillian finally reaches his home, he has adapted to this new world and is unsure if he wants to go back to the life he once knew.

Do you like it? I've worked SO HARD on perfecting the summary and finding someone who actually cares to write about this. If you want to write it, you can change the title or the plot, but I thought that this book would be amazing someday, and I would be honored to have such an amazing author write MY story.

THANKS AGAIN!

Kinley Toomer, Indiana

Hi, Kinley,

Good plot. You are missing some stuff -- e.g. Gillian was tossed off a ship which means he has more than  just mountains, ravines, woods, and plains to cross to get home. How about water, which has to be a big distance if his trip is going to be memorable and difficult. Plus you'd better pick a different baby animal, as sabretooth tigers are extinct (or cartoon animals, I seem to recall) -- the best part is making friends with a fierce animal that befriends him. I like that! It's also important because he can talk to it. A book like that without dialogue can be hard to read.

It's a great story with a lot of possibilities. Have you thought of attempting it yourself? It's not really something that's my style. And it's not my story; it's yours!

Thanks for sharing your creativity. Someone with your degree of enthusiasm for a story should write it!

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

 

[Kinley]

Oh my goodness, thank you SO MUCH, Mr. Korman! That really helped. I really just thought that because I'm a kid, my stories would never go big in life. But recently, I have read YOUR life story, and you published your first book when you were my age. That gave me hope.

Thanks again SO MUCH

Kinley

P.S: You are DEFINITELY my favorite author!

[Elliot]

Wow, that's a really good prompt, @Kinley. If you do that it's gonna slay.