Old School by Gordon Korman is a fish out of water tale about 12 year-old Dexter. He was raised in the Alpine retirement village by his grandmother and her neighbors as well as homeschooled. unfortunately, for Dexter, the government finds out and decides to send him to Wolfey middle school, where he doesn’t fit in with his octagen Erion and Mr. fix it mindset that the other kids only associate with their grandfathers. fortunately for Dexter just like the grandfather‘s the kids through trial and era will come to love him as well. He doesn’t like the school at first and wishes he didn’t have to go, but it isn’t until he gets his wish that he soon learns maybe that’s not what he wanted at all. This is a book I could definitely see becoming a movie. It is so funny and so cute. I love Gina, her troublesome brother egomaniac Jackson and especially the guidance counselor if you have any middle school age children in your life or just love books and that genre you will definitely like this one. I absolutely loved it. I thought I had read books by this author before, but sadly, I don’t think I have but will not pass up ones in the future as well as go back to others in his catalogue. What a great read. #NetGalley, #GordonKorman, #OldSchool,#HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks,

Dexter Foreman is a rare bird. He has been homeschooled at a retirement home for years and he has loved being a big fish in a small pond. Then the truant officer sends him to middle school. Talk about culture shock! Dexter feels like a fish out of water. We get several perspectives in addition to Dexter's: Gianna Greco (would-be reporter), Ms. Napier (guidance counselor), Jackson Sharpe (big man on campus), Ronny Greco (a bully and brother to Gianna), and Teagan Santoro (another child visitor to retirement home).

A heartwarming and humorous tale follows. One of my favorite reads by Gordon Korman so far. There's some WW II history woven in and some really great ideas about mixing middle school with retired folks.

This was such a perfect book to read after Oh No, Not "The Home": Observations and Confessions of a Grandmother in Transition. Love it when my books connect in unanticipated ways. Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Des has grown up in a retirement village. His grandmother and the residents have been homeschooling him but it turns out that his grandma fudged some paperwork, so he is discovered and forced to attend the local middle school. Dex has not been around many kids his age, with his best friend being a 99-year-old WWII code breaker. One can easily imagine how hard the adjustment to middle school is for both him and his peers. When he gets suspended for trying to be helpful, it will either unite or break the community.

Gordon Kerman is a brilliant author with great ideas. The interactions between characters are mostly delightful. It does read a bit adult just in terms of understanding some of the things that Dex has learned from the retirement community.

This would make an amazing read aloud in a classroom setting. I think it is a great addition to any collection. I have a few kiddos I plan on recommending it to but I can also see how adults may enjoy it too!

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins Children’s books for the DRC! All opinions are my own!

Korman is back wowing us with another creative book! I can’t get over wondering where he comes up with this stuff. Just about every kid out there can relate to wanting to fit in and make friends, but here is where the story gets unique, have you ever met a kid who grew up in a retirement community? Dexter’s unique surroundings equip him with many unique and heartwarming traits that make kids wonder about him. Which leaves him to wonder if there is a place for a 12 year old senior citizen in middle school. I absolutely fell in love with Dexter’s story and I can’t wait to share it with my kids!

Dexter Foreman has spent the last 6 years of his life in his grandmother's retirement village, with his education provided by the residents. Dexter feels so at home at The Pines that he talks, acts, and dresses like an octogenarian. His life is perfect until the truant officer shows up to tell him he must enroll in the local middle school. Not surprisingly, Dexter is a fish out of water in his new surroundings and longs for his old life full time at The Pines

4.5 stars for a classic Gordon Korman story. It reminded me of Restart, my favorite Korman book with a bewildered main character who changes as much as those around him. The side characters (a would-be journalist, her brother the bully, a jock, and the guidance counselor) take turns telling the chapters from their points of view -- one of the Greco siblings would have to be my favorite. The half star is for the events that require some movie magic to believe: for one, I don't see middle schoolers deciding to hitch up their pants like old people, no matter how much they like spending time with them.

But yes, it's a clean read that my 5th and 6th graders (and maybe the 7th graders, too) will love -- I've already ordered it for my classroom library as I know my Korman fans will line up to check it out. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC given in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins Children’s Books for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this – even though it’s a middle grade book, it was engaging, realistic, humorous, and entertaining. I think any age reader would appreciate it. The story kept me turning the pages, there were a few interesting side plots, many appealing characters, credible relationships, and the writing was excellent.

The chapters alternate points of view, but it’s always 12-year-old Dexter Foreman’s story. He’s been living with his grandmother in a retirement village in the small town of Wolf’s Eye since he was six, and homeschooled by a variety of retired educators who also live there. When a truancy officer discovers he’s never been to school, he is forced to attend the local middle school.

Every reader can imagine what life is like for a dorky 7th grader who is now in a foreign-to-him environment. Author Korman portrays this new world vividly, yet without profanity, sexual innuendo, and only mild violence. He meets a variety of students and becomes the subject of several articles in the school’s newspaper, The Eyeball.

One of the first things Dexter learns at his new school is “the biggest argument in town is whether we should tear the middle school down or just wait for it to collapse on its own. Except new schools are expensive and people are divided over whether it would be worth it to spend the money or just keep on fixing and patching the old doghouse.”

I don’t want to share any more of the story, but I urge you to read this heartwarming story about a young boy who becomes the school’s hero. Dexter is “the kid who risked everything to improve the school he loves, [even though he] never wanted to be here in the first place.”

✨Book Review✨
🚌🏫 Old School 🏫🚌

Synopsis:
12-year-old Dexter lives with his grandma in a retirement village. He relates better to people over the age of 75 than he does to people his own age. When a truancy officer shows up and forces him to go to school for the first time, Dexter is in for a rude awakening!

My thoughts:
🤔 This story is perfectly woven together. Gordon Korman knocks it out of the park again! Every book I’ve ever read by Korman is wholesome, good, clean fun, and this one is no exception!
🤔 Old School is packed with humor, character growth, and heart. I really appreciate how Korman was able to connect the middle schoolers to senior citizens. I think readers will gain a deeper appreciation for the elderly after reading this one.
🤔 I can’t wait to get this one for my students! I’m sure it is going to be hard to keep on the shelf!

Who is going to love it? Middle Grader Readers who love….
❤ Multiple POV
❤️ Realistic Fiction/Humor
❤️ Stories They Can Relate To

📢This one releases January 14, 2025!

🥰Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books @harpercollinsch and @NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love how Gordon Korman always knits the perfect story together. He mixes the most opposite people from very different backgrounds and personalities. Then he uses their differences to pull them together in a relationship. Dexter is forced into the one of the most difficult places for an teenager.. a middle school. Middle schools aren't not for the faint of heart. It is the war zone for teens. They are emerging from childhood and trying to find their own identity, while facing possible rejection from other kids doing the same thing. Being a teen is hard enough but Dexter has been living in a retirement environment. Besides a couple of residents" granddaughter., he has never been exposed to kids his age. Adding the knowledge he gained from his wisee and older neighbors, he sticks out like a sore thumb in his new school. I love how he learns to mix new thoughts and ideas but not loosing his old methods. Korman always keeps me going with a mixture of comedy and a message to take to heart.

Dexter has been raised by his grandmother in a retirement community while his parents work overseas. But when the county discovers he has never been enrolled in school, he is forced to go to 8th grade. The various people in the retirement community have educated him quite well but his old-fashioned ways are very odd to his new classmates. This book is so charming and fun. It probably won't win awards but it would make a great, engaging 5th or 6th grade class read aloud.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Gordon Korman, and the bulisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Old School" is a witty middle-grade novel that explores the complexities of adolescence, competition, and what it means to "fit in." The story is narrated by a group of middle schoolers who are each dealing with their own personal struggles. Dexter is twelve… going on eighty-five. He lives at The Pines Retirement Village with his grandmother and he gets along better with senior citizens than kids his own age. He’s been home-schooled by the residents up until the day the truancy officer shows up and announces that Dex has to go to middle school.

Dex is made fun of for his clothes and sticks out like a sore thumb. Dex tries to fit in by fixing the school vending machine with his pocket knife, but is soon suspended for having a "weapon" on campus. Dex is kind of happy to return to the retirement village, but soon his new life is intertwining with his old life.

In conclusion, Old School is another standout novel from Gordon Korman. It’s a compelling read that deftly balances humor and heart, while offering meaningful reflections on integrity, friendship, and the challenges of growing up. With relatable characters and a thoughtful exploration of important themes, "Old School" is a must-read for middle schoolers and provides valuable life lessons.

Twelve year old Dexter has lived most of his life In The Pines retirement community with his grandmother. His parents work overseas and have always meant to send for him but it just hasn’t happen. Therefore all his influences come from senior citizens. Seniors who had impressive careers in their days. He dresses like older folks dress, speaks in antiquated sayings, and grandmother has always cut his hair! So imagine what life is like for Dexter when he is suddenly thrust into public middle school life. He arrives dressed like an old man. But he’s a smart one having learned everything through the wisdom and smarts of the elders. Who all adore this fine young man. For this reason, he doesn’t arrive behind in studies, in fact, he is far more educated than his school peers. Dexter is also very handy with a Swiss army knife and is known for fixing up the broken down old school which gets him in big trouble with the powers that be.

The kids and staff don't know what to make of a boy who dresses and talks like an 80 year old. I fell in love with Dexter and ninety nine year old Leo's relationship. The connections across the age divisions are just beautiful and heart warming.

Old School Is a quick and fun read with realistic and relatable characters. I hope middle grade readers will enjoy another Gordon Kormon great read about differences and acceptance.

Korman's Old School is a hit!
I loved how Korman was able to weave together the lives of the grandparents and the lives of the middle school kids. As someone who was labeled an 'old soul' all my life, this storyline seemed like it could have been written about me, so I easily identified with all of the characters. It is always a treat to see Korman's characters change throughout the events in the novel. Readers will enjoy this one!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of the book, Old School. I loved it. I have read several of Gordon Korman's books over the years and this one is one of my favorites. I think that students will enjoy this book. I'd love to see students go to local nursing homes or care facilities after reading this book and forge new friendships.

A novel that shows appropriate appreciation for our older citizens and the joy of relationship with people of all ages…finally! This story is so well written. I cannot wait to share it with my students!

I've long been a fan of Gordon Korman, so when I saw this book I knew I needed to read it ASAP. It did not disappoint. The premise is fun and super relatable for young readers. The characters are well fleshed out, the plot fun, and the adventure non-stop. Fantastic realistic fiction with quirky characters makes this a 5 star read for me.

When 12 year old Dexter is sent to public school for the first time, there is understandably drama. Dexter was raised by his grandmother in a retirement village and sees things with a unique perspective. The kids at school don't know what to make of a boy who dresses like an 80 year old. And he doesn't understand the appeal of public school. I loved Dexter and Leo's relationship. Loved the connections across age divides and the solid news reporting. I hope my kids will love this as much as I do.

This was a fun, quick read about a boy who was raised in a retirement village and now has to attend public school with the rest of his peers. Korman captures an authentic middle-grade voice paired with a heartwarming story. You can't go wrong recommending a Korman book.

I love, love, love Gordon Korman’s books! This one was no exception. His characters are so real and believable and authentic. I can’t wait to get this for my students! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this ARC!

Once again Gordon Korman does not disappoint! It is an excellent book for a classroom read-aloud or individual readers. I loved all the characters - Dexter, Gianna, Ronny, Jackson, etc. I really liked the interaction of students and residents at The Pines retirement home. I liked how the author showed the residents had plenty to share with the middle school students. They could, and DID, learn a lot from the older generation.
A must-have addition for all libraries with Gordon Korman books!

@gordonkorman #gordonkorman #OldSchool #NetGalley #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #PublicLibraries #PublicLibrarians #ReadABook #Books #Read #MGReads MGBooks #MGLit #ElemLit #KidLit

You cannot go wrong with a Gordon Korman book! Dexter is homeschooled at his grandmother's retirement community until he must attend public school or be considered truant from school. I loved the characters and the whole retirement community!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to preview eARC in exchange for a review.

A super fun read. Touching and funny, OLD SCHOOL is full of classic middle school drama with a twist -
senior citizens. Told in multiple points of view, Dexter's transition from home schooler to middle schooler to something
in between is surprisingly relatable. Lots of good characters, a bit of school rules drama, and a nice surprise at the end, this book is
a humorous, kind read - for young and old.