Masterminds

Kids, students, and life-long readers,

TEACHER ALERT - This is a great read aloud for class, and will keep the student guessing the entire time.  Great for predicting and characterization.

If you have read any of my blog posts, you know that Gordan Korman is one of my favorite authors.  When I first picked up this book, I knew nothing about it, but it is now part of my top ten list.

This story features five teenagers living in the town of Serenity - the happiest city in America.  All houses are the same with everything that children need from pools to basketball hoops in their driveway.  Some of our main characters love the life that Serenity offers, while others speak of leaving as soon as they can.  It won't take the reader long to see that this is not your ordinary town from the classes that are taught to the activities the children do.

The plot thickens when Eli is working on his computer and after an electrical surge is able to see the real internet.  American history that has been taught to him does not match.  The Boston Tea Party was not an actual tea party between the British and American to discuss their differences????  This is enough to lead Eli and crew to find the truth of Serenity and their lives.  There will be countless predictions and questions to keep you guessing the climactic reveal of their backstory.  And adventure and suspense will continue to build as they continue to take risk after risk to find the truth

Projekt 1065

Kids, students, and life-long readers,

"Sometimes we have to sacrifice good people to win the war."

"Sometimes you do what you have to do, even if it means doing something wrong."

These phrases test our characters throughout this historical fiction novel set in Berlin during the heat of World War 2. Michael and his parents are living in Berlin as ambassadors from neutral Ireland, but are really serving as spies for the Allies.  There are some plot lines intertwined in this dangerous world of espionage.

 - Michael needs to conquer his fear of heights to pass the Hitler Youth test to become an SD, and help his friend Fritz, a weaker bullied teenager, do the same.  Michael needs to get closer to Fritz to steal his father's plan for a top-secret airplane being planning by the Nazis named Projekt 1065.  Will Michael's trust in Fritz pay off, or will it cost him everything?

 - Simon, a British pilot, crashed down into enemy lines, and Michael and his parents are harboring this fugitive.  They need to find a way for him to escape along with the Projekt 1065 plans, but at what costs and at what sacrifices.

 - An assassination attempt is being planned to take out a scientist working on the Manhattan Project for the atomic bomb. Can Michael find a way to stop this assassination attempt that will be taking place in Switzerland?


This historical fiction novel is filled with interesting historical facts about life in Berlin during World War 2 from bombing raids, anti-aircraft guns, Kristallnacht, and even the Eidelwise pirates.  The larger theme of this novel involves sacrifice.  Michael continually struggles with the decisions he needs to make and what is the greater good.  Is it worth it to sacrifice one life to continue to fight against the Nazis and win the war which could save thousands?  Readers will be able to make many connections to what would they do if they were in Michael's shoes.

Overall, this novel is filled with suspense as our characters' lives are faced with many dangers which makes this book hard to put down.

AUTHOR: Alan Gratz

GENRE:  Historical Fiction

GRADES 6-8