The Fort by Gordon Korman – Book Review

Title: The Fort Author: Gordon Korman Publisher: Scholastic Press Release Date: June 28, 2022

After Hurricane Leo wreaks havoc on the small town of Canaan, a group of friends – Evan, Jason, Mitchell, and CJ – meet to survey the damage inflicted on their makeshift fort in the woods. At first, the friends are irritated when Evan brings Ricky, the new kid to town. Soon, their annoyance is mostly put aside after Ricky discovers a metal door recently uncovered by the hurricane’s destruction. Once inside the mysterious underground structure, they discover an old, unused bomb shelter, equipped with electricity, canned food, and fun. It’s the perfect place for this group of 8^th graders to escape, relax, and have fun. Yet, their fortress quickly becomes more than just a secret, underground playground when one of the friends seeks shelter from his abusive stepfather and the others try to avoid the wrath of some bad actors seeking to learn about their hide-away. As problems mount, the friends must do what is necessary to save what they value most: their friendship.

Gordon Korman is a tour-de-force for fans of middle grade novels, and his 100^th book, The Fort, did not disappoint. Nuanced and honest, The Fort is a powerful examination of friendship, the effects of domestic violence, and bullying. Although humorous and lighthearted on its surface, this perspective-shifting novel goes beyond surface-level treatment of issues to deeply explore tough, sensitive topics. Its fast-paced plot compels readers to keep turning pages while its somber moments bring pauses for thoughtful consideration. Altogether, The Fort is a shining example of why Korman is one of the best middle grade authors writing today.

Korman’s works are prolific in classrooms across the world. From Restart to The Unteachables to Linked and more, they are fan-favorites of students and educators alike. Still, The Fort offers a new, fresh novel for teachers looking to examine the power of perspective and willing to tackle tough topics, such as bullying and domestic abuse. It’s a rich tale that will elicit rich learning. And yet, at the heart of it all is a story about unwavering friendship and an awesome fort. The Fort’s ability to bring all those elements together into one gripping tale makes for an incredible novel study.

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and publisher, Scholastic Press, for an eARC of this book.

Classroom Applications

• Cross-curricular Study – Teach the novel in conjunction with a study of bomb shelters or the effects of domestic violence.
• Literature Circles – Use novel for small groups or choice reading with a variety of books written by Gordon Korman.
• Book Club or Book Exchange – Share the novel with students that enjoy reading realistic fiction.

Nonfiction Connections

The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.

• Effects of Domestic Abuse
• History of Bomb Shelters

Book Companions

The following are great books to pair with The Fort. In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts.

• A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
• Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Character Connections, Themes)
• The Secret Life of Sam by Kim Ventrella (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)

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