Author: Gordon Korman
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year Published: 2015
Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian
Reader Recommendation:
- Middle School Students (Grades 5-8)
- Both Genders (female and male perspectives)
- For kids who enjoy a mystery
- Book that keeps kids guessing
- Readers who enjoy Dystopian fiction
Serenity Town was built to be a community intentionally separated from the secular world of violence, crime, and rebellion. Since its founding, Serenity has strived to keep its inhabitants believing this exact message, that they are a special and unique place, better than anywhere in the outside world. Friends and classmates Eli, Malik, Hector, Amber, and Tori have never thought twice about where they have grown up, until their friend Randy moves away, leaving them a suspicious note that causes everyone to think twice about their “perfect society.” Together, they fight to uncover the mystery of Serenity without anyone finding out what they are up to.
Why Masterminds?
This book will keep students guessing about what will happen next as the group of friends maneuver through Serenity’s security and uncover their town’s deep secrets. Dystopian fiction allows students to begin to think abstractly about if a perfect society is really a positive thing, or if it harms and limits its people. Students can ask questions about the confines the people of Serenity are in such as having regulated TV and newspapers that leave out negative events or their requirement of always having to tell the truth; students can question if this really is “perfection.” They can also start to develop opinions and stances about authority, a theme that emerging adolescents deal with. The idea of control and being controlled by forces can be developed throughout reading about “the purple people eaters,” otherwise known as the “Surety office” who manage over Serenity’s citizens.
Themes:
Challenging Authority: The kids in Serenity realize they are being controlled by forces bigger than themselves who run their town. They plan to get to the bottom of it.
Perfect Society: To the majority, Serenity is a perfect place, but is it really? The kids realize that they are missing out on many aspects of the outside world. Everyone says its for their protection, but is ignorance really bliss?
Science & Technology: Certain kids in Serenity are part of a scientific and psychological experiment.
Adventure: The kids decide to take the risk of getting caught for the grand adventure of finding out what is really going on with their "perfect town."
This book would be great for a unit on dystopian/utopian literature!
Teaching Masterminds:
Class Debate: Have kids debate about the pros and cons of living in the town of Serenity. Is it better to live here or in the outside world?
Create Your Own Town: Have students create their own model of what their perfect town would look like and what it would include. What makes it perfect? This can be done through writing, presentation, or map/poster. Give kids choice about how they want to display their work.
Prediction/Anticipation Guides: This book is filled with twists and turns. Have students make predictions about what will happen next through graphic organizers. Have them identify elements that foreshadow future events in the book.
Write Your Own Ending: This book ends on a cliff hanger (partly because it is part of a series.) Have kids finish the story and write about what would happen next if they were the author.
Additional Resources:
Author Website: www.gordonkorman.com
Author Q and A, other books, videos
TeachingBooks.Net https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?aid=797
Lessons, interviews, book readings
Created Book Trailer:
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