READER’S FORUM

April 20, 2026 at 10:37 pm Reply

Allie

Dear Mr. Korman, me and my friend's mom are having a debate over if your new books are as good as your older ones. She says the old ones are very funny, but I say that the new ones are entertaining. Which do you like more? Which were more fun to write? What does the public like more?

I would very much like your opinion.

Thanks,

Allie
April 21, 2026 at 02:33 am Reply

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Hi, Allie,

Good question! I wish I had an answer that makes sense! The general rule seems to be that my audience from when I first started seems to prefer the older books, e.g. I WANT TO GO HOME was really popular and sold a ton. And, of course, the very first one, THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING AT MACDONALD HALL. And the younger people, the ones readng the new stuff as it comes out, prefer what I'm writing now. Like RESTART, which has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for over 5 years! And the MASTERMINDS series. And the GIFTED series.

I lke them all, some more than others. They were all fun AND heartaches to write, which is the way it goes for everything I write. I don't know if it's just me, or if all authors feel that way. And what does the public like? Apparently, they like RESTART. And I would never argue with the public!

And that, confusing as it may be, is my opinion! Thanks, Allie. -----Gordon Korman-----
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Hi, Allie,

Good question! I wish I had an answer that makes sense! The general rule seems to be that my audience from when I first started seems to prefer the older books, e.g. I WANT TO GO HOME was really popular and sold a ton. And, of course, the very first one, THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING AT MACDONALD HALL. And the younger people, the ones readng the new stuff as it comes out, prefer what I'm writing now. Like RESTART, which has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for over 5 years! And the MASTERMINDS series. And the GIFTED series.

I lke them all, some more than others. They were all fun AND heartaches to write, which is the way it goes for everything I write. I don't know if it's just me, or if all authors feel that way. And what does the public like? Apparently, they like RESTART. And I would never argue with the public!

And that, confusing as it may be, is my opinion! Thanks, Allie. -----Gordon Korman-----
April 21, 2026 at 09:43 am Reply

Darren

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Funnily enough, Raymond Jardine and I were just talking about this earlier.

My take is that when your series like Island, Everest, Titanic and so on came out, that was a demarcation between your older and newer books. I enjoy your new works but the older stuff certainly has a special place in my heart. There is a bit of a nostalgia effect going on there. People tend to think that the entertainment they had as kids was the best and anything new is garbage or pales in comparison. The choice of which GK era one prefers is informed by the evolution of both writer and reader.
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Funnily enough, Raymond Jardine and I were just talking about this earlier.

My take is that when your series like Island, Everest, Titanic and so on came out, that was a demarcation between your older and newer books. I enjoy your new works but the older stuff certainly has a special place in my heart. There is a bit of a nostalgia effect going on there. People tend to think that the entertainment they had as kids was the best and anything new is garbage or pales in comparison. The choice of which GK era one prefers is informed by the evolution of both writer and reader.