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Snoop
From Gordon Korman, the bestselling author of Restart, the story of a boy who's stuck at home with two broken legs... and who starts using cameras and a drone to spy on his classmates, neighbors, and a possible criminal who's come to town.
If Carter hadn't been checking his phone, he might have seen his brother coming down the ski slopes in his direction. And if Carter had seen his brother in time and avoided the crash, he might not have two broken legs right now.
Oops.
Now Carter is stuck at home for weeks, with both his legs in casts. Bored, he starts checking out the live feeds from police cams around his town. Before he knows it, he's obsessed -- watching his classmates when they don't know he's looking, and discovering some other VERY STRANGE things going on that no one else is noticing.
But what happens when Carter is found out... and the people he's watching know where he lives?
If Carter hadn't been checking his phone, he might have seen his brother coming down the ski slopes in his direction. And if Carter had seen his brother in time and avoided the crash, he might not have two broken legs right now.
Oops.
Now Carter is stuck at home for weeks, with both his legs in casts. Bored, he starts checking out the live feeds from police cams around his town. Before he knows it, he's obsessed -- watching his classmates when they don't know he's looking, and discovering some other VERY STRANGE things going on that no one else is noticing.
But what happens when Carter is found out... and the people he's watching know where he lives?
208 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2025
200 people are currently reading
5090 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Korman
249 books4,417 followersGordon Korman is a Canadian author of children's and young adult fiction books. Korman's books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide over a career spanning four decades and have appeared at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
July 20, 2025
✰ 4.25 stars ✰
I don't know what it is about Gordon Korman, but… I love him. 💕 I love his flair for humor, his understanding of children's thoughts and emotions, and his ability to create believable enough scenarios that touch upon important social and cultural themes that feel both relatable and relevant. 🙂↕️
It's probably why I go a bit batty to get my hands on his latest works! 😂
He gets what it means to be a kid no matter the time, and there's nothing else kids these days care more about is their phones. take that away and it's defcon or the dark ages. 📵 Cue the emotional blackmail and hysteria of being devoid of their connection to the outside world, because you never can know what must-see video you'll miss out on if you're not online at the moment it's live. Seriously, you'd think it's the end of the world. 😆
For if twelve-year-old Carter hadn't been glued to his phone, aimlessly browsing his limitless supply and continuously updated feed of games and websites and apps, then, maybe he could have steered clear and avoided his eight-year-old brother Martin from crashing into him, and ending up with two broken legs. 😬 Clearly, going out is out of the question, and the phone. Well, he can forget it. 🙅🏻♀️
“She takes my phone right out of my hand and powers it down. Only a truly heartless person could do such a thing. It hasn’t been off since it was brand-new!”
It’s amazing what other digital enterprises can be available at your fingertips: local police live feeds? Who knew? I didn't!!! 😯 (No, but seriously, is it safe for the U.S. to have their public cameras so easily accessed? Even if it’s meant to prevent crime or What if someone tampers with it???? ) and it's amazing what goes one when people don't think anyone's looking - other than Carter that is. 👁️🗨️
When his casual curiosity into taking a vested interest in who the girl of his dreams is spending time with while he's bedridden for the foreseeable future (a couple of months), it also has his investigative eye taking on a more treacherous approach that may deal with illicit activities happening right around the corner, it might not be such a bad thing to be a Snoop. Or at the very least take a break from your phone every once and awhile. 👀👀
“Videos are awesome, but they’re make-believe. The cameras out there are the real thing!”
I had a really fun time with this. I think it had to do with the fact that a) it was only told through the eyes of one character, our intrepid yet heart in the right place as the protagonist, who’s feeling the burn of The Great Disconnect—Day One. 😱 As well as Carter's agony (sounds so cruel, but it added to the humor! 😆) at trying in vain to keep his friendships intact, keep his presence still known in the social school circle (out of sight, out of mind), whilst also suffering at the hands of Zoom meeting, that whilst he enjoys the liberties of multi-tasking, it's also a reminder of just how much time school would consume his everyday life. 🥺
If it wasn't his banter with his best friend forever, Ethan that had me grinning like an idiot, it was how he never failed to make his younger brother feel guilty for what had happened - it’s kind of the gift that keeps on giving. It humorously captured such a loving brotherly bond, that was further strengthened when Martin so graciously offered him his own iPad which their mom confiscated Carter's phone again when he'd maybe bitten off more than he could chew. 🙂↕️
Bless Martin's heart at that scene. I think I shed a tear. 🥹🫂
“You wouldn’t believe what goes on in other people’s lives. It’s just that most of the time, we’re too preoccupied with our own stuff to notice it.”
There's not much I can share about the mystery, but it was a solid, interesting one that steadily and believably picked up, with enough surprises to entertain and amuse. 👍🏻 How addictive it became for Carter to delve deeper into the darker side, the efforts he took to get the truth across, how he stumbled and fumbled his way through his subterfuge challenges, his tsunami of blunders, and his muddled and grumbles of trying to do the right thing - when he's perhaps cried wolf, maybe a little too many times to being taken seriously. 🥲
To me, this was quintessential Gordon Korman. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 The author who captured my heart as a teen, and even now knew how to sell on the subtle humor. never overdone, never over the top, just seamlessly landing banger after banger. 💯 Carter's woebegone despair, the panicked way he tackled his foes, his attitude, his voice was just so candid and laughable - not quite at his expense, but the delivery of the jokes. Pure joy of chuckles and laughs, for how seamlessly each landed - very difficult to wipe off the smile from my face. 😁
“That’s how snooping gets to you. It’s all out there, waiting for you—everything under the sun. Everything except the secret of how to quit.”
The irony over Carter's plight is also a well-intended and meaningful one. amidst the troubles he encountered and the lives he saved, he also came to appreciate the things he didn't quite appreciate enough whilst trying to emulate the chop or making sure he's streamed all gazillion videos aired. it's to go out and live life! 🌳🛹 Breathe the fresh air and be more interactive in the real world. Learning to consume digital content in moderation, while taking note of the things we take for granted every day is the balance we all should hope to achieve. just not the way Carter did, of course. 😌
“Something is going on in this town. And I refuse to stop until I get to the bottom off it.”
I don't know what it is about Gordon Korman, but… I love him. 💕 I love his flair for humor, his understanding of children's thoughts and emotions, and his ability to create believable enough scenarios that touch upon important social and cultural themes that feel both relatable and relevant. 🙂↕️
It's probably why I go a bit batty to get my hands on his latest works! 😂
He gets what it means to be a kid no matter the time, and there's nothing else kids these days care more about is their phones. take that away and it's defcon or the dark ages. 📵 Cue the emotional blackmail and hysteria of being devoid of their connection to the outside world, because you never can know what must-see video you'll miss out on if you're not online at the moment it's live. Seriously, you'd think it's the end of the world. 😆
For if twelve-year-old Carter hadn't been glued to his phone, aimlessly browsing his limitless supply and continuously updated feed of games and websites and apps, then, maybe he could have steered clear and avoided his eight-year-old brother Martin from crashing into him, and ending up with two broken legs. 😬 Clearly, going out is out of the question, and the phone. Well, he can forget it. 🙅🏻♀️
“She takes my phone right out of my hand and powers it down. Only a truly heartless person could do such a thing. It hasn’t been off since it was brand-new!”
It’s amazing what other digital enterprises can be available at your fingertips: local police live feeds? Who knew? I didn't!!! 😯 (No, but seriously, is it safe for the U.S. to have their public cameras so easily accessed? Even if it’s meant to prevent crime or What if someone tampers with it???? ) and it's amazing what goes one when people don't think anyone's looking - other than Carter that is. 👁️🗨️
When his casual curiosity into taking a vested interest in who the girl of his dreams is spending time with while he's bedridden for the foreseeable future (a couple of months), it also has his investigative eye taking on a more treacherous approach that may deal with illicit activities happening right around the corner, it might not be such a bad thing to be a Snoop. Or at the very least take a break from your phone every once and awhile. 👀👀
“Videos are awesome, but they’re make-believe. The cameras out there are the real thing!”
I had a really fun time with this. I think it had to do with the fact that a) it was only told through the eyes of one character, our intrepid yet heart in the right place as the protagonist, who’s feeling the burn of The Great Disconnect—Day One. 😱 As well as Carter's agony (sounds so cruel, but it added to the humor! 😆) at trying in vain to keep his friendships intact, keep his presence still known in the social school circle (out of sight, out of mind), whilst also suffering at the hands of Zoom meeting, that whilst he enjoys the liberties of multi-tasking, it's also a reminder of just how much time school would consume his everyday life. 🥺
If it wasn't his banter with his best friend forever, Ethan that had me grinning like an idiot, it was how he never failed to make his younger brother feel guilty for what had happened - it’s kind of the gift that keeps on giving. It humorously captured such a loving brotherly bond, that was further strengthened when Martin so graciously offered him his own iPad which their mom confiscated Carter's phone again when he'd maybe bitten off more than he could chew. 🙂↕️
Bless Martin's heart at that scene. I think I shed a tear. 🥹🫂
“You wouldn’t believe what goes on in other people’s lives. It’s just that most of the time, we’re too preoccupied with our own stuff to notice it.”
There's not much I can share about the mystery, but it was a solid, interesting one that steadily and believably picked up, with enough surprises to entertain and amuse. 👍🏻 How addictive it became for Carter to delve deeper into the darker side, the efforts he took to get the truth across, how he stumbled and fumbled his way through his subterfuge challenges, his tsunami of blunders, and his muddled and grumbles of trying to do the right thing - when he's perhaps cried wolf, maybe a little too many times to being taken seriously. 🥲
To me, this was quintessential Gordon Korman. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 The author who captured my heart as a teen, and even now knew how to sell on the subtle humor. never overdone, never over the top, just seamlessly landing banger after banger. 💯 Carter's woebegone despair, the panicked way he tackled his foes, his attitude, his voice was just so candid and laughable - not quite at his expense, but the delivery of the jokes. Pure joy of chuckles and laughs, for how seamlessly each landed - very difficult to wipe off the smile from my face. 😁
“That’s how snooping gets to you. It’s all out there, waiting for you—everything under the sun. Everything except the secret of how to quit.”
The irony over Carter's plight is also a well-intended and meaningful one. amidst the troubles he encountered and the lives he saved, he also came to appreciate the things he didn't quite appreciate enough whilst trying to emulate the chop or making sure he's streamed all gazillion videos aired. it's to go out and live life! 🌳🛹 Breathe the fresh air and be more interactive in the real world. Learning to consume digital content in moderation, while taking note of the things we take for granted every day is the balance we all should hope to achieve. just not the way Carter did, of course. 😌
March 19, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Carter is on a ski trip to Colorado with his father and younger brother Martin, but is really more interested in watching the viral "Chattanooga Chop" videos on his phone than in experiencing the great outdoors. When his father leaves him watching Martin on the bunny slope while he tackles a harder run, Carter is so absorbed in his phone that he doesn't see Martin barreling right towards him. The resultant collision leaves Carter with two broken legs! Back home with his mother, who has custody of the boys since the parents are divorced, Carter has to attend Zoom school, but has little else that he is able to do, since even getting in and out of bed in the morning is a struggle. He turns to his favorite pasttime, screens, and becomes entranced by the video surveillance cameras up around town. At first, he uses them primarily to spy on his crush, Lacey, and her boyfriend, unpleasant popular kid Maddox, who has a group that does pranks around town, Chairmen of the Bored. Carter's friend Ethan occasionally visits, and the two even figure out how to break into the closed circuit cameras in the frozen yogurt shop that Lacey and Maddox visit. The more he watches, though, the more things stand out to Carter as troublesome. A man who seems to be casing a local art store where Carter's mother has a print for sale. (She works in photography, taking pictures of construction sites, often using drones.) A pregnant mother in the park struggles with her toddler every day. There's a suspicious red Maserati parked in the same place every day. And strangest of all, Carter keeps seeing red pandas, bonobos, and other unusual and endangered animals around town. What's with the Zipy Delivery Vans always around town? And the smell in the abandoned courthouse slated to be demolished? This makes him very distracted in school, although he does notice that his teacher, Mr. Grimes, doesn't seem to be doing well. Carter calls the police several times, but is eventually told to stop wasting their time. When Carter finally pieces everything together (and saves some classmated from an errant snow leopard!), will he be able to convince the police to help?
While this was an excellent mystery with fun and unusual elements, what I really liked about this book was Carter's screen addiction. Korman has addressed this before in books like Unplugged (2021) and Slacker (2016), but I loved how integral Carter's struggles were to his life. Screens caused his accident, made it hard to focus in school, and sent him down a weird yet ultimately productive rabbit hole. I don't want to spoil too much of the mystery! Carter knows he has a problem, which is more than some of my students, but still can't seem to tear himself away. He does manage to turn down Martin's kind offer of his iPad mini when Carter's mother takes away all his screens, which was encouraging and realistic.
The other great inclusion was Carter's crush on Lacey, and his antithetical relationship with Maddox and the Chairmen of the Bored that causes the entire class, including his best friend Ethan, to avoid him. Middle school relationships can be a very delicate balance. I also enjoyed Carter's family relationships. His father doesn't live nearby, and his mother is very busy with her work. Carter borrows her drone for his surveillance, and is worried about damaging it... which doesn't stop him. He even has a good relationship with Martin, even though it has rocky moments. I'd love to see more sibling relationships in middle grade literature.
Korman does a great job of putting a fresh spin on everyday middle grade experiences with heart and humor. It's also hard to suggest read alikes for Korman; maybe Singleton's The Curious Cat Spy Club, Kittscher's The Wig in the Window or Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy, if anyone still reads that title (which is as old as I am!). Of course, there's always another answer... just read more Korman!
Carter is on a ski trip to Colorado with his father and younger brother Martin, but is really more interested in watching the viral "Chattanooga Chop" videos on his phone than in experiencing the great outdoors. When his father leaves him watching Martin on the bunny slope while he tackles a harder run, Carter is so absorbed in his phone that he doesn't see Martin barreling right towards him. The resultant collision leaves Carter with two broken legs! Back home with his mother, who has custody of the boys since the parents are divorced, Carter has to attend Zoom school, but has little else that he is able to do, since even getting in and out of bed in the morning is a struggle. He turns to his favorite pasttime, screens, and becomes entranced by the video surveillance cameras up around town. At first, he uses them primarily to spy on his crush, Lacey, and her boyfriend, unpleasant popular kid Maddox, who has a group that does pranks around town, Chairmen of the Bored. Carter's friend Ethan occasionally visits, and the two even figure out how to break into the closed circuit cameras in the frozen yogurt shop that Lacey and Maddox visit. The more he watches, though, the more things stand out to Carter as troublesome. A man who seems to be casing a local art store where Carter's mother has a print for sale. (She works in photography, taking pictures of construction sites, often using drones.) A pregnant mother in the park struggles with her toddler every day. There's a suspicious red Maserati parked in the same place every day. And strangest of all, Carter keeps seeing red pandas, bonobos, and other unusual and endangered animals around town. What's with the Zipy Delivery Vans always around town? And the smell in the abandoned courthouse slated to be demolished? This makes him very distracted in school, although he does notice that his teacher, Mr. Grimes, doesn't seem to be doing well. Carter calls the police several times, but is eventually told to stop wasting their time. When Carter finally pieces everything together (and saves some classmated from an errant snow leopard!), will he be able to convince the police to help?
While this was an excellent mystery with fun and unusual elements, what I really liked about this book was Carter's screen addiction. Korman has addressed this before in books like Unplugged (2021) and Slacker (2016), but I loved how integral Carter's struggles were to his life. Screens caused his accident, made it hard to focus in school, and sent him down a weird yet ultimately productive rabbit hole. I don't want to spoil too much of the mystery! Carter knows he has a problem, which is more than some of my students, but still can't seem to tear himself away. He does manage to turn down Martin's kind offer of his iPad mini when Carter's mother takes away all his screens, which was encouraging and realistic.
The other great inclusion was Carter's crush on Lacey, and his antithetical relationship with Maddox and the Chairmen of the Bored that causes the entire class, including his best friend Ethan, to avoid him. Middle school relationships can be a very delicate balance. I also enjoyed Carter's family relationships. His father doesn't live nearby, and his mother is very busy with her work. Carter borrows her drone for his surveillance, and is worried about damaging it... which doesn't stop him. He even has a good relationship with Martin, even though it has rocky moments. I'd love to see more sibling relationships in middle grade literature.
Korman does a great job of putting a fresh spin on everyday middle grade experiences with heart and humor. It's also hard to suggest read alikes for Korman; maybe Singleton's The Curious Cat Spy Club, Kittscher's The Wig in the Window or Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy, if anyone still reads that title (which is as old as I am!). Of course, there's always another answer... just read more Korman!
December 22, 2025
এই বয়সে এসেও করম্যান একের পর এক উপন্যাস লিখে চলেছেন। তার যে কোনো বইয়ের মতোই snoop আদ্যোপান্ত উপভোগ্য, আর শেষটা তো দুর্দান্ত! মনে হচ্ছে, আবার ২০২২ এর মতো করম্যান পড়তে থাকি একের পর এক।
October 6, 2025
"It's one thing to keep an eye on the town around you because you're stuck in the house with two broken legs. But if you look around long enough, you're going to start seeing the darker side of life. The lawbreaking side."
✏️ Review ✏️
Snoop delivers another enjoyable and humorous story by Gordon Korman. I had fun reading this one and was surprised to find that it's told in a single-POV narrative, which isn't Korman's unusual approach. The plot is funny, a bit mysterious, satisfying, and smoothly paced. Super fun! 😊
Making this story even better is the smooth and natural writing style. The narrative voice sounds just like the MC telling this story. His thoughts, his observations, his feelings — they all seem just as if they're occuring at that very moment. Thumbs up for the realistic writing. 👍🏼
And a Gordon Korman book wouldn't be complete without a varying and quirky cast of characters. The MC is both equally realistic and relatable (perhaps more so relatable for me because I know what it's like to be stuck in a wheelchair — no fun! ☹️). Oh, and the minor characters bring a good bit of humor and tension to the storyline. And, like, poor Martin; it honestly wasn't his fault for breaking Carter's legs. Carter should've been paying attention instead of on his phone. But I think Carter learned his lesson. Lol! 😁
I really had a fun time reading Snoop. It's a humorous read that shows just how much technology can distract us from seeing what's going on around us — if only we took the time to notice.... Happy snooping! 👀 Just don't let it become an obsession. 😉
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The plot — it's satisfyingly constructed and smoothly paced.
• The writing style — it realistic and natural, sounding just like the MC's telling the story.
• The characters — they're quirky and have varied personalities.
• The teaching point on how much technology can be a distraction to us.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• (Can't think of anything rn.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Of course!*
— To whom? To those who enjoy humorous contemporary middle grade stories featuring quirky characters, a realistic writing style, and a smoothly paced plot.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 4/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 4/5
— 👥 Characters: 3.5/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 1/5
• One use of "g**z" and two uses of "heck."
— ⚔️ Violence: 0/5
— ⚠️ Sexual: 1/5
• One of the minor married male characters is thought to be "cozying up to another lady who isn't [his wife]."
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• (None)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
✏️ Review ✏️
Snoop delivers another enjoyable and humorous story by Gordon Korman. I had fun reading this one and was surprised to find that it's told in a single-POV narrative, which isn't Korman's unusual approach. The plot is funny, a bit mysterious, satisfying, and smoothly paced. Super fun! 😊
Making this story even better is the smooth and natural writing style. The narrative voice sounds just like the MC telling this story. His thoughts, his observations, his feelings — they all seem just as if they're occuring at that very moment. Thumbs up for the realistic writing. 👍🏼
And a Gordon Korman book wouldn't be complete without a varying and quirky cast of characters. The MC is both equally realistic and relatable (perhaps more so relatable for me because I know what it's like to be stuck in a wheelchair — no fun! ☹️). Oh, and the minor characters bring a good bit of humor and tension to the storyline. And, like, poor Martin; it honestly wasn't his fault for breaking Carter's legs. Carter should've been paying attention instead of on his phone. But I think Carter learned his lesson. Lol! 😁
I really had a fun time reading Snoop. It's a humorous read that shows just how much technology can distract us from seeing what's going on around us — if only we took the time to notice.... Happy snooping! 👀 Just don't let it become an obsession. 😉
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The plot — it's satisfyingly constructed and smoothly paced.
• The writing style — it realistic and natural, sounding just like the MC's telling the story.
• The characters — they're quirky and have varied personalities.
• The teaching point on how much technology can be a distraction to us.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• (Can't think of anything rn.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Of course!*
— To whom? To those who enjoy humorous contemporary middle grade stories featuring quirky characters, a realistic writing style, and a smoothly paced plot.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 4/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 4/5
— 👥 Characters: 3.5/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 1/5
• One use of "g**z" and two uses of "heck."
— ⚔️ Violence: 0/5
— ⚠️ Sexual: 1/5
• One of the minor married male characters is thought to be "cozying up to another lady who isn't [his wife]."
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• (None)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
September 7, 2025
Even after 105 books, Gordon Korman (Linked, Restart, Old School, Slugfest, Faker and so, so many more) keeps creating interesting scenarios that kids find relatable, entertaining and thought-provoking.
After being glued to his phone screen results in two broken legs, being forced to relocate to the ground floor of his home and attend school via Zoom, some would think that the glowing glass of a phone, ipad, or computer might lose a bit of its appeal. Not for Carter Peregrine, on the contrary, he finds a new compulsion on his devices-all the public access security cameras placed around town. Watching his neighbors go about their daily lives, oblivious to the fact that anyone can go online, click on the live action cameras and see what they are up to. But really what ARE they up to? Carter begins to notice odd things happening and as one would expect from a middle grade novel from the king of twists author, not everything is as it seems.
Readers will be hooked as Carter tries to figure out if his crush is really going with his arch-nemesis, tries to thwart a robbery, learns way too much about a food war happening nearby and more. Certainly someone from the cast of characters will connect with each of them-There’s the popular Lacey, the class clown/meanie Maddox, faithful friend Ethan, warm and concerned Mr. Grimes who may not be as wonderful as he appears and others.
Terrific book for readers in grades 4-8 with no profanity, sexual content or significant violence. Difficult to determine race of main characters due to lack of physical descriptions and none pictured on the cover, but personalities are well-developed and will have universal appeal. Added tidbit—Several endangered species keep popping up in Carter’s online snooping providing a bit of education about various animals.
Thanks for the e-ARC, Edelweiss.
After being glued to his phone screen results in two broken legs, being forced to relocate to the ground floor of his home and attend school via Zoom, some would think that the glowing glass of a phone, ipad, or computer might lose a bit of its appeal. Not for Carter Peregrine, on the contrary, he finds a new compulsion on his devices-all the public access security cameras placed around town. Watching his neighbors go about their daily lives, oblivious to the fact that anyone can go online, click on the live action cameras and see what they are up to. But really what ARE they up to? Carter begins to notice odd things happening and as one would expect from a middle grade novel from the king of twists author, not everything is as it seems.
Readers will be hooked as Carter tries to figure out if his crush is really going with his arch-nemesis, tries to thwart a robbery, learns way too much about a food war happening nearby and more. Certainly someone from the cast of characters will connect with each of them-There’s the popular Lacey, the class clown/meanie Maddox, faithful friend Ethan, warm and concerned Mr. Grimes who may not be as wonderful as he appears and others.
Terrific book for readers in grades 4-8 with no profanity, sexual content or significant violence. Difficult to determine race of main characters due to lack of physical descriptions and none pictured on the cover, but personalities are well-developed and will have universal appeal. Added tidbit—Several endangered species keep popping up in Carter’s online snooping providing a bit of education about various animals.
Thanks for the e-ARC, Edelweiss.
August 8, 2025
Snoop by Gordon Korman (2025)
4h 52m narrated by Matt Godfrey, 208 pages
Genre: Middle Grade, School Story
Featuring: Screen Time, Sterling, Charlotte, North Carolina; Colorado, Siblings, Family Dynamics, Divorced Kids, Temporarily Disabled, Surveillance, Zoom, Crime, Distance Learning, 7th Graders, Ostracized, Community Happenings
Rating as a movie: PG
Books and Authors mentioned: Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⛷️🤳🏼👨🦽👨💻🦥🚁
My thoughts: 📱67% 3:16:10 Chapter 20 - I swear these kids get on my nerves the way they have no accountability. Anyway, we are enjoying this one. I wasn't surprised by the twist and I'm starting to see a pattern, but I'm not mad about it.
We finished! My son thought it was okay, which means he liked it. For me, it was very predictable, particularly the second half, but although I enjoyed the story I was very frustrated because I get annoyed when characters do not call the police or share information I don't care what the reason is. And I get that most books would be over in 10 minutes if people did that but still it just annoys me to no end. I feel frustration instead of suspense.
Recommend to others: Yes, especially if you're under 14. I think this story would make a great road trip family read for all ages.
4h 52m narrated by Matt Godfrey, 208 pages
Genre: Middle Grade, School Story
Featuring: Screen Time, Sterling, Charlotte, North Carolina; Colorado, Siblings, Family Dynamics, Divorced Kids, Temporarily Disabled, Surveillance, Zoom, Crime, Distance Learning, 7th Graders, Ostracized, Community Happenings
Rating as a movie: PG
Books and Authors mentioned: Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⛷️🤳🏼👨🦽👨💻🦥🚁
My thoughts: 📱67% 3:16:10 Chapter 20 - I swear these kids get on my nerves the way they have no accountability. Anyway, we are enjoying this one. I wasn't surprised by the twist and I'm starting to see a pattern, but I'm not mad about it.
We finished! My son thought it was okay, which means he liked it. For me, it was very predictable, particularly the second half, but although I enjoyed the story I was very frustrated because I get annoyed when characters do not call the police or share information I don't care what the reason is. And I get that most books would be over in 10 minutes if people did that but still it just annoys me to no end. I feel frustration instead of suspense.
Recommend to others: Yes, especially if you're under 14. I think this story would make a great road trip family read for all ages.
November 18, 2025
Read this book w Carson for his school book club. So I’m counting this as a read for me.
2.5 stars. It was OK ish. I feel like there are lots of better books they could’ve picked for 5th graders.
There were a few twists in here so kept it okay. Carson liked the book well enough tho. Ending was nice bc they wrapped up each piece.
2.5 stars. It was OK ish. I feel like there are lots of better books they could’ve picked for 5th graders.
There were a few twists in here so kept it okay. Carson liked the book well enough tho. Ending was nice bc they wrapped up each piece.
November 14, 2025
This book kept me on the edge the entire time with unsuspecting twists and turns. You should definitely read it!
Read
January 26, 2025Rear Window, but make it a silly MG book.
👀
Carter is obsessed with his phone, constantly on various apps & games. When his distraction causes his younger brother to ski right into him, breaking both his legs, Carter is forced to be homebound, attending school via Zoom. Bored out of his mind, Carter starts snooping on the local police camera feed to spy on his crush and arch nemesis as they start dating. This leads to Carter noticing some very strange things happening around town. No one believes him, but he’s out to prove he’s right.
🤳
Korman is hit or miss for me. I absolutely adored Restart and Linked, but other times he writes the silliest stories that don’t seem to have deeper meaning, which would be fine if I didn’t know what he is truly capable of. This one was a swing and a miss for me. Out July 1.
CW: accident, hospitalization, medical content, infidelity
👀
Carter is obsessed with his phone, constantly on various apps & games. When his distraction causes his younger brother to ski right into him, breaking both his legs, Carter is forced to be homebound, attending school via Zoom. Bored out of his mind, Carter starts snooping on the local police camera feed to spy on his crush and arch nemesis as they start dating. This leads to Carter noticing some very strange things happening around town. No one believes him, but he’s out to prove he’s right.
🤳
Korman is hit or miss for me. I absolutely adored Restart and Linked, but other times he writes the silliest stories that don’t seem to have deeper meaning, which would be fine if I didn’t know what he is truly capable of. This one was a swing and a miss for me. Out July 1.
CW: accident, hospitalization, medical content, infidelity
July 18, 2025
Another great Gordon korman read. A screen-addicted kid breaks both his legs and is stuck at home in casts in a wheelchair with nothing but screens to entertain him.
But even that gets boring after a while and he turns to the towns security cameras to track the comings and goings of the town.
A little bit of snooping and a whole lot of mystery and secrets to uncover
But even that gets boring after a while and he turns to the towns security cameras to track the comings and goings of the town.
A little bit of snooping and a whole lot of mystery and secrets to uncover
October 31, 2025
This is the first Gordon Korman book I’ve read with my kids (ages 8 and 11) and they loved it. The mystery with the endangered animals was engaging and the discussions about overuse of technology and how you shouldn’t assume things are true when you really don’t know the details were great topics for family conversations.
December 12, 2025
Carter breaks his legs in a skiing accident which leaves him stuck at home where he spies on neighbors and friends causing all sorts of problems. He uncovers a mystery in the neighborhood meanwhile learning that he’s addicted to devices and solving mysteries can lead to the wrong conclusions. In the end he does the right thing in a unique twist at the end.
September 18, 2025
4.5
A really fun, short read! I personally really like Gordan Korman as an author, and he didn't fail!
A really fun, short read! I personally really like Gordan Korman as an author, and he didn't fail!
November 16, 2025
This was a cute read with a funny first person narrator within addiction to screen time, and in an unfortunate situation with two broken legs which leads to him doing some snooping. Snooping both get him in trouble and helps save the day. My daughter chose to says her independent read and she gives it four stars even though it took her a rather long time to read it. I’m only giving three because I felt like I got a little bored sometimes.
August 14, 2025
It wasn't my favorite Korman but I will be book-talking it all year
March 12, 2025
Delightful! Gordon Korman books always are. I love that my students can see themselves and their classmates in the characters Korman writes. I love that there are always redeemable qualities in even the most antagonistic middle schoolers. This gem will most certainly be added to my classroom shelves.
October 9, 2025
Carter is addicted to his devices, so while on a skiing trip with his father and little brother Martin, an avoidable accident occurs. Martin plows into Carter on the slopes and breaks both legs. Now Carter is back home in North Carolina in a wheelchair spending his school days at home learning through Zoom. Two legs in casts means limited outdoor excursions. Of course, he becomes bored.
So while his teacher and classmates go through the lessons, Carter figures out a way to hack into security video systems throughout town. Which leads to some very unusual and possibly illegal doings. He decides to use his mother’s (very expensive) drone to figure out the mystery of endangered animals, his teacher’s suspicious activities, and his so-called friend’s devious pranks.
Which gets Carter into a whole lot of trouble himself. Filled with humor, clues, and unlikely events, Snoop is a fast-paced, quick read for tweens.
So while his teacher and classmates go through the lessons, Carter figures out a way to hack into security video systems throughout town. Which leads to some very unusual and possibly illegal doings. He decides to use his mother’s (very expensive) drone to figure out the mystery of endangered animals, his teacher’s suspicious activities, and his so-called friend’s devious pranks.
Which gets Carter into a whole lot of trouble himself. Filled with humor, clues, and unlikely events, Snoop is a fast-paced, quick read for tweens.
August 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC.
This is the first time I've read a book by Gordon Korman, but it surely won't be the last. This will also be going on my order list for my school library.
Snoop tells the story of Carter, a boy who breaks both of his legs on a ski trip, and becomes obsessed with spying on his community via surveillance cameras, and eventually, his mom's drone.
The writing was top tier, and I loved how everything came full circle; including Carter realizing that his obsession with and addiction to screens went too far. Not only did it hurt him physically, but put his reputation in jeopardy, and became a social barrier.
This is the first time I've read a book by Gordon Korman, but it surely won't be the last. This will also be going on my order list for my school library.
Snoop tells the story of Carter, a boy who breaks both of his legs on a ski trip, and becomes obsessed with spying on his community via surveillance cameras, and eventually, his mom's drone.
The writing was top tier, and I loved how everything came full circle; including Carter realizing that his obsession with and addiction to screens went too far. Not only did it hurt him physically, but put his reputation in jeopardy, and became a social barrier.
December 30, 2025
Listened to this on audio with my kids, and they really liked it! (Even my 7yo, who tends to zone out of audiobooks) It’s like a “Rear Window” for kids, but updated to include drones and Internet access. They loved hearing Carter race against time to solve his “mystery”, but sadly I think the lesson of “put down your devices” was lost in them (it kinda got lost/abandoned in the book as well). It made me hope I never break both my legs, yikes.
October 9, 2025
2.5. Probably my least favorite from GK so far. He averages about 3.5 There is a similar character he tries to develop in almost all his books, it seems. i think I have read about 6 or 7. restart was my favorite so far so start there
October 19, 2025
A rare Gordon Korman book that's not multiple POV. It's fun but not his best.
I'm in a very bad reading slump, so I'm turning to my ol' reliable. This is fast-paced, fun, and easy to get into. Haven't finished a full book in a day for so long, so this was great for that.
I'm in a very bad reading slump, so I'm turning to my ol' reliable. This is fast-paced, fun, and easy to get into. Haven't finished a full book in a day for so long, so this was great for that.
December 7, 2025
This book was funny and had an original storyline. I didn't find Carter as interesting as some of Gordon Korman's other characters, and I ended up guessing one of the plot twists, but I still found the story enjoyable. 3.5 stars.
October 23, 2025
3.5 STARS
A really fun romp of a story, even if a few parts stretched credulity. Korman is still a master story crafter.
A really fun romp of a story, even if a few parts stretched credulity. Korman is still a master story crafter.
December 3, 2025
Just OK. This story didn't grab my interest the way other Korman books have. It's not bad, perhaps my expectations didn't match this work.
September 14, 2025
It was a nice light fast read.
December 20, 2025
Gordon Korman is a go-to for me. While this wasn’t my favorite, I do think kids will like the main character and his struggles. There are some family issues, friend drama, unrequited love, and trouble with the cops! I’ll look forward to hearing what kids say about it.
August 23, 2025
Had this on in the car and my grandson asked me to keep it on. He enjoyed the narration and plot as much as me! First time grandson has had interest in an audiobook. Gordon Korean still knows how to hook new readers!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2025
Gordan Korman was one of the authors I found when teaching upper elementary! He has great themes to teach kids and very applicable stories ages 10-15 could relate to!
A fun, easy read about a boy and his screen time addiction 📵
A fun, easy read about a boy and his screen time addiction 📵
November 19, 2025
Not my favorite Gordon Korman, but my kids enjoyed it! I feel like his other books have better themes and lessons applicable to students!
July 11, 2025
While on a ski-trip with his father, Carter (13) has both his legs broken when his little brother slams into him. Maybe if Carter hadn't been obsessed with videos of a thew newwest dance craze the accident could have been avoided, but not back home in North Carolina, he's stuck in two casts, a wheel chair, and having to join school through Zoom. Bored out of his mind - and grounded from being able to use his phone, tablet, play video games, or use his computer oustide of school - Carter discovers he can access the police's local security cams on their website and with a little ingenuity, snoop through some other camera's as well. He sees odd things - like endangered species, such as a red panda, that have no place in his home town, a guy in his sports car just parking and staring all over town, and more. Things get to where they make even less sense as more endangered species start sparking on the cameras and that Lacey, his crush, is totally into obnoxious Maddox? Though the book has its funny moments and is filled with mystery and creative ways for Carter to try to figure things out, I couldn't get past being able to access police street views for free on their website. The middle school drama, even with Carter stucket at home, delves into first crushes, bullies, and friendships that are fracturing, but my disbelief for this book just wasn't strong enough.
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