The Unteachables (2019)

by Gordon Korman

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Members	Reviews	Popularity	Average rating	Mentions
723	15	31,768	(4.24)	6
Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Humor (Fiction.) HTML: A hilarious new middle grade novel from beloved and bestselling author Gordon Korman about what happens when the worst class of kids in school is paired with the worst teacher�??perfect for fans of Ms. Bixby's Last Day. A good choice for summer reading or anytime! The Unteachables are a notorious class of misfits, delinquents, and academic train wrecks. Like Aldo, with anger management issues; Parker, who can't read; Kiana, who doesn't even belong in the class�??or any class; and Elaine (rhymes with pain). The Unteachables have been removed from the student body and isolated in room 117. Their teacher is Mr. Zachary Kermit, the most burned-out teacher in all of Greenwich. He was once a rising star, but his career was shattered by a cheating scandal that still haunts him. After years of phoning it in, he is finally one year away from early retirement. But the superintendent has his own plans to torpedo that idea�??and it involves assigning Mr. Kermit to the Unteachables. The Unteachables never thought they'd find a teacher who had a worse attitude than they did. And Mr. Kermit never thought he would actually care about teaching again. Over the course of a school year, though, room 117 will experience mayhem, destruction�??and maybe even a shot at redemption. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 4 to 6, in the classroom or for homesch… (more)

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Showing 1-5 of 15 (next | show all)

I recently just read this and I loved it. As a future teacher, I think I reflected alot with this book and what it was about. I think a lot of kids could easily relate to this story and all of it’s characters. It’s a fun and easy read that I think a lot of people could enjoy. (

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cmmeza0709 | Apr 4, 2024 |

An over the top funny read for middle school students who don't like to read. (

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SGKowalski | Dec 6, 2023 |

What happens when the worst teacher in the school meets the worst class? Mr Kermit has decided not to teach anymore after a cheating scandal that wasn't his fault. He just takes the roll, sits at the front of the room and does a crossword while the kids just do what they like. In Room 117, the kids are the "Unteachables", they have learning or language difficulties or problems at home and the school has neatly tucked them away in a back room together so the other teachers and classes can get on with their work and not be interrupted and get good grades. Into this class comes Kiana, who is new and instead of enrolling properly, just turns up to the class one day and keeps coming. (This will be a problem later) After Mr Kermit stands up for the class against the school principal, the class decide to help him out by stealing all the vuvuzelas that have been bought by the school to support the sports team. They also enter a Science competition and do much better than everyone expects.
A lovely story that teachers will enjoy as much as kids. (

)

nicsreads | Oct 19, 2023 |

This was so adorable and I loved all the various points of view. (

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whakaora | Mar 5, 2023 |

In 2019, Gordon Korman, who is one of God's gifts to the genre of middle-grade fiction, surpassed himself once again with "The Unteachables." The story features a small class of utterly incorrigible 8th-graders and a teacher who is both burned out and (justifiably) bitter. Their interactions, and their development, make for a book that is both heartwarming and hilarious — two words that I tend to use very sparingly.

Very highly recommended. (

)

WilliamMelden | Sep 1, 2022 |

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Gordon Korman	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Berman, Fred	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Brown, Sean Welsh	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Fitzsimmons, Erin	Designer	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Gebauer, Chris	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Goer, Sarah Beth	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Hurley, Josh	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Kaufman, Sarah Nichole	Cover designer	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Larkin, Pete	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Miles, David	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Morris, Tristan	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Nittoso, Jennifer	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Wyman, Oliver	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

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▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee – Grades 4-6 – 2021)

Georgia Children's Book Award (Finalist – Grades 4-5 – 2021)

Great Stone Face Book Award (Nominee – 2020)

Horace Mann Upstanders Award (Lifetime Achievement – 2020)

Iowa Children's Choice Award (Nominee – 2021)

Joan Betty Stuchner—Oy Vey! —Funniest Children’s Book Award (Shortlist – Chapter Book – 2021)

Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee – Grades 6-8 – 2021)

Nebraska Golden Sower Award (Nominee – Meadowlark (Novel) – 2021)

Red Cedar Book Award (Winner – Fiction – 2021)

Red Cedar Book Award (Nominee – Fiction – 2021)

Red Maple Award (Nominee – Fiction – 2020)

Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (Nominee – Grades 6-8 – 2022)

Truman Readers Award (Winner – 2022)

Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee – Children's Fiction – 2021)

The Willow Awards (Finalist – Snow Willow – 2021)

Notable Lists

Idaho Battle of the Books (Elementary – 2024)

Maine Regional Library System Cream of the Crop List (2020)

Tome Society It List (Junior Tome (Grades 6-8) – 2022)

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Canonical title

Original title

The Unteachables

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Original publication date

2019

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Dedication

For all the teachers who soldier on

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▾Book descriptions

Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:

A hilarious new middle grade novel from beloved and bestselling author Gordon Korman about what happens when the worst class of kids in school is paired with the worst teacher�??perfect for fans of Ms. Bixby's Last Day. A good choice for summer reading or anytime!

The Unteachables are a notorious class of misfits, delinquents, and academic train wrecks. Like Aldo, with anger management issues; Parker, who can't read; Kiana, who doesn't even belong in the class�??or any class; and Elaine (rhymes with pain). The Unteachables have been removed from the student body and isolated in room 117.

Their teacher is Mr. Zachary Kermit, the most burned-out teacher in all of Greenwich. He was once a rising star, but his career was shattered by a cheating scandal that still haunts him. After years of phoning it in, he is finally one year away from early retirement. But the superintendent has his own plans to torpedo that idea�??and it involves assigning Mr. Kermit to the Unteachables.

The Unteachables never thought they'd find a teacher who had a worse attitude than they did. And Mr. Kermit never thought he would actually care about teaching again. Over the course of a school year, though, room 117 will experience mayhem, destruction�??and maybe even a shot at redemption.

This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 4 to 6, in the classroom or for homesch

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