The Superteacher Project by Gordon Korman – Book Review

Title: The Superteacher Project Author: Gordon Korman Publisher: Balzar + Bray Release Date: January 10, 2023

Oliver Zahn is looking forward to another exciting year of rule-wrecking. Yet, his enthusiasm for breaking the rules comes to a screeching halt when the new teacher at Brightling Middle School, Mr. Aidact, stops him in his tracks on the first day, intercepting a perfect spitball without looking. As the school year trudges along, Mr. Aidact wins the admiration of his “pupils” and quickly becomes the most popular teacher at the school. Still, Oliver and his friend Nathan are suspicious of Mr. Aidact’s vast abilities and seemingly bottomless wealth of knowledge about all things. The adults at the school know the truth, and it is only a matter of time until the students at Brightling will discover Mr. Aidact’s true identity.

The Superteacher Project by Gordon Korman is a light-hearted, fun novel. It is teeming with hilarious interactions and plenty of dramatic irony, allowing readers to kick back and enjoy the realistic minutiae of middle school. Told through a variety of perspectives, readers will come to understand the narrative’s plot through its expansive point of view. By doing so, the potential for interesting character development and deeper thematic exploration is sacrificed. However, one essential question cuts through: what does it mean to be human? With so many novels with overly complicated plots and competing lessons, The Superteacher Project’s strength may be its simplicity. It allows readers to grapple with just one compelling question – a worthy one to study at that. Most characters default to White.

Educators seeking a comical, entertaining novel with a relevant, unique theme will find just that in The Superteacher Project. Students will certainly find the plot amusing. They will also eagerly engage with the debate about artificial intelligence (AI) and humanity the novel raises. Thanks to its narrower focus, the novel simplifies instructional decisions without sacrificing content or opportunities for extension and discussion. The Superteacher Project is a perfect novel to teach at the start the year (or even end it). Or simply put it in the hands of students and watch how quickly they read it and pass it on to the next eager pupil.

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and publisher, Balzar + Bray, for an eARC of this book.

Classroom Applications

• Cross-Curricular Study – Teach the novel in conjunction with a study of the artificial intelligence (AI).
• 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.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Book Companions

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

• The Unteachables by Gordon Korman (Themes, Character Connections)
• The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (Themes, Nonfiction Connections, Character Connections)
• The Last Human by Lee Bacon (Themes, Nonfiction Connections, Character Connections)

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