Ungifted

Plot

Donovan Curtis is definitely ungifted. He is the ultimate prankster and trouble-maker. But one day, he goes too far in causing a commotion. With a stick, he strikes the statue of Atlas (on the buttocks), sending the world to roll into the gymnasium, where a basketball game is taking place. No one is injured, but the gym is completely demolished.

The district superintendent Dr. Schultz is watching the game. He catches Donovan red-handed. However, when he jots down Donovan's name, he writes it on the list of candidates for the Academy for Scholastic Distinction, a school for extremely gifted students.

Donovan knows he will be busted. However, he finds the academy as a perfect hideout for the time being. In the academy, he influences the students there, to be more "normal" .

Awards and Achievements

Reception

Ungifted has received reviews from School Library Journal, Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), ALA Booklist, the National Post, Publishers Weekly, New York Times Book Review, the Horn Book Guide, Children's Literature, Junior Library Guild, and Kirkus Reviews. School Library Journal described the story as "unpretentious and universally appealing". Booklist labelled the conclusion as "satisfying". New York Times wrote that the novel is "brisk, heartfelt and timely". Children's Literature described the story as "unique" and the novel as "easily read", "nice" and "safe". Children's Lit also recommended it for "middle school students who don't feel they belong" and as an "ideal selection for classroom study" with "well-developed" characters and "many layers of 'drama'". Voice Of Young Advocates praised the novel by describing Ungifted as "humorous", "quirky", and "feel-good". The novel was also praised as "a gem for readers looking for a story", and the plot as "touching, without being overly sentimental". VOYA recommended Ungifted for "middle school readers who are looking for a funny and quick read".