Review

Ungifted

Common Sense Media says

Wacky mayhem fills tale of troublemaker in genius academy.
Age
9
Quality
 
  • Educational value3
    Kids will learn about brain-freezing, advanced math, and robotics. Ungifted also does a great job of illustrating the difference between academic brilliance and ingenious creativity and how both have their strengths and limitations.
  • Positive messages4
    While quite a few of Donovan's adventures are of the sort that earned him the nickname "Don't Try This at Home," the messages of collaborative cleverness, teamwork, and the value of people having different interests and skill sets are strong.
  • Positive role models4
    Donovan has a penchant for comical mayhem but is also responsible enough to feel bad about the impact that his misdeeds have on his family and to want to do better. He uses his creative problem-solving to help the gifted kids and his family. The gifted school students offer a believable mix of positive qualities and extreme cluelessness. Robotics lab teacher Mr. Oz is a good teacher and supportive of the kids; Dylan's family members love him and help keep him from serious trouble.
  • Violence1
    Donovan whacks a bronze statue with a board. There's chaotic mortal combat between robots. Donovan's brother-in-law is deployed in Afghanistan, and his sister worries about him.
  • Sex2
    The academy students have a required Sex Ed course; Donovan persuades his pregnant sister to become the subject of a class.
  • Language1
    Minor crude language, e.g. "butt" and "pee," the latter in the context of pregnant women and dogs.
  • Consumerism1
    Donovan refers to his distant ancestors and his fascination with Ancestry.com, and YouTube figures prominently in the tale.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Ungifted is another page-turning middle-school comic adventure from prolific, kid-pleasing author Gordon Korman (The 39 Clues, Pop). Class prankster Donovan Curtis is definitely "ungifted," at least compared with his high-IQ classmates at the academy for gifted children, where he's sent by mistake. But as it turns out, in a wacky tale incorporating Afghanistan, pregnancy (of Donovan's sister, whose husband is deployed), robotics, bronze statuary, a cranky Chow Chow, and much more, he and the geniuses have a few things to teach one another. Expect a little crude language, robot combat, and plenty of comic mayhem.

This review of Ungifted was written by

Most useful reviews by all members

Parent of 6 year old
September 3, 2012
18
Not for Kids
 
ungifted
Families can talk about the various kids' feelings about being in a school for gifted students. Why does Noah the genius hate it so much, while other kids are right at home? Why do you think books about middle school are so popular? What does Donovan learn from the kids at the academy? What do they learn from him?
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Kid, 12 years old
February 24, 2013
9
OK for kids & up
 
probably a book that describes me in 2nd grade ( not really, sort off )
I loved the book "Ungifted". My favorite part of the book was during the robotics competition. i won't give the ending away, but i will tell u that it is a motivating story and one that i think that kids that are bellow your average joe or a know-it-all. Other reviews may say it is inappropriate because it includes human growth and development with a live example, or what she likes to call herself a "lab rat". over all, once again, a very good book. P.S. all trouble makers who think they're "Bad to the Bone" should compare their lives to Donovan's, the main character
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