Gordon Korman
Born: October 23, 1963 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Gordon Korman is a Canadian-American author of middle-grade and young adult fiction, known for humorous school stories and fast-paced adventures including This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!, Swindle, Restart, and books in The 39 Clues. A #1 New York Times bestselling writer, he has published over 100 books, translated into 32 languages and sold over 35 million copies worldwide.
Biography & Author's Journey
Gordon Korman was born on October 23, 1963, in Montreal and grew up mostly in the Toronto area, where an unusually open-ended seventh-grade English assignment changed the course of his life. At twelve, he wrote a comic boarding-school manuscript that became This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall; after sending it to Scholastic with his class book orders, he saw it published when he was a high-school freshman. What began as a fluke quickly became a vocation. Korman later earned a BFA from New York University, majoring in dramatic writing with a minor in film and television, training that matched the pace, dialogue, and scene-building that would become central to his fiction. ((https://gordonkorman.com/more-resources/about-gordon-korman-2))
Quotes
You May Also Like
Popular Books
Discover more
Garry Tan's Books for Visionary Builders
Discover Y Combinator CEO's picks for mastering startups, strategy, and meaningful living.
BeFreed team
Books Recommended by Charlie Kirk
Explore Charlie Kirk's book recommendations on freedom, truth, and Western values—powerful reads that challenge mainstream narratives and inspire action.
BeFreed team
Learn book writing and comedy
Learn book writing and comedy
This curriculum bridges the gap between technical narrative craft and the nuanced art of humor, which is often difficult to teach. It is ideal for aspiring authors and humorists who want to write books that are both structurally sound and genuinely funny.
Read all Alex Hormozi business books
Read all Alex Hormozi business books
Alex Hormozi's frameworks provide a proven blueprint for entrepreneurs looking to move beyond stagnation and achieve exponential growth. This plan is ideal for business owners and sales professionals who want to master the art of value creation, customer acquisition, and operational excellence.
7 Dan Koe Episodes: One-Person Business Guide
7 Dan Koe Episodes: One-Person Business Guide
This guide is essential for aspiring solopreneurs looking to escape the 9-to-5 by building a scalable digital empire. It bridges the gap between creative content and technical automation, making it perfect for creators who want to work smarter, not harder.
50 Charlie Kirk Quotes: Understanding His Political Views
Explore 50 authentic Charlie Kirk quotes on MAGA, education, guns, immigration, culture, and conservatism.
BeFreed Team
Summary: Men in the Sun by Ghassan Kanafani
Summary: Men in the Sun by Ghassan Kanafani
This plan provides a deep dive into the intersection of literature and political struggle, essential for understanding the Palestinian experience. It is ideal for students of postcolonial studies, human rights advocates, and readers interested in how fiction shapes national identity.
Crimen story
Crimen story
This learning plan provides a comprehensive bridge between literary history and practical creative writing for aspiring novelists and genre enthusiasts. It is designed for writers who want to master the specific mechanics of suspense, from classic whodunits to modern psychological thrillers.
Community Voices
"Gordon Korman, Prolific—and Lifelong—Author, Balances Absurdity and Heart"
— School Library Journal
"When you talk to anyone about Gordon Korman books, the phrase that often comes up is 'kid-friendly."
— David Levithan
"Gordon Korman, who began his literary career when he was 12 years old"
— Tulsa World
"Gordon Korman published his first book (This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!, Scholastic, 1978) when he was still a freshman in high school"
— The Horn Book
"Korman is one of the best middle grade authors writing today"
— LIT Lessons
"New York Times best-selling author Gordon Korman, who has written more than 75 books"
— Daily Herald
"Gordon Korman's 100th Book Rolls Off Press"
— Publishers Weekly
"Interview: Trying to keep up with prolific children’s book author Gordon Korman"
— IndyWeek
"Gordon Korman has written more than 70 middle-grade and YA novels over the past 25 years"
— Publishers Weekly
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
