پاتوق زیرزمینی ما

by Gordon Korman, جواد احمدی پیرمراد (Translator)

اگر مکان شگفت انگیزی پیدا کنید که به غیر از خودتان کسی از وجودش خبر ندارد چه می کنید؟
بعد از طوفانی که خرابی زیادی به بار آورده، پنج پسر نوجوان به نام های ایوان، جیسون، میچل، سی جِی و ریکی به جنگل می روند تا به پاتوق محقرشان سر بزنند اما طوفان پاتوق را ویران کرده است. ریکی هنگام جستجو در آن اطراف، یک پناهگاه زیرزمینی پیدا می کند که به طرز شگفت انگیزی مجهز به برق، مواد غذایی و حتی تلویزیون است. پسرها هم قسم می شوند که راز این پناهگاه را به کسی نگویند اما نگه داشتن راز کار سختی است، به ویژه اگه پای دو قلدر شرور در میان باشد.
این پاتوق زیرزمینی از یک مکان تفریحی تبدیل می شود به پناهگاهی امن برای بچه ها که از مشکلات روزمرۀ زندگی فرار کنند.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Audiobook, Friendship, Young Adult, Fiction, Abuse

236 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2022

About the author

Gordon 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.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do they know about how special it is--how rare--for a kid to have a place that's totally yours? And no matter what else is going on in your life--a divorce, a horrible stepfather, moving to a new town, school problems, or your parents abandoning you--you still have this thing, this place that's your escape from it.

Congratulations on book #100, Gordan Korman. Since 1979, you have gifted us with so many great middle school titles. You have probably won so many awards that you need an entire room to hold them. Maybe you should build an award shelter like the fort in this novel. It was a treat spending time with Evan, Ricky, C.J., Mitchell, and Jason. Each of the boys has their own burden and the fort is a catalyst for sharing. All of the 70's pop culture and canned food were a nostalgic trip to the past for this Gen Xer. The ending is spectacular. Thank you to you, Scholastic Press, and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[L A i N E Y (will be back) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Gordon Korman book and gotta say I'm quite impressed. Love the friendship dynamic, the characters' voices are distinctive and the jokes never fall flat with me. Guess I'm in for a long fun ride with the amount of his backlist!

If you get a chance to go the audio route, do it.
It is "full cast" a-m-a-z-i-n-g.



book#7 in Middle Grade March Readathaon 2023

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's such a fun and beautiful story of friendship!

Characters:
In Korman style, there are a lot of characters, butt you never get lost, and they are all so fun to read about!
Evan, Ricky, CJ, Jason, and Mitchell were all great guys and so fun to read about!
CJ, Mitchell, and Ricky might have been my favorites! But I enjoyed Jason and Evan's POVs as well!

Themes:
Friendship, family, and how we need to be there for each other through everything.

Language:
N/A

Romance:
Jason has a girlfriend, but they never kiss or anything.

Overall:
This was such a fun book about a set of friends who found a bunker from the Cold War and decided to use it as a secret fort! It's got some super funny parts and some touching and heartwarming ones as well!

Recommend for ages 12+ due to some of the content regarding one of the boy's step-father...trigger warning for abuse in that area.
And Evan's parents were rug addicts. So there's that for trigger warnings.

[Rizwan Khalil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding 5 out of 5 star read from Gordon Korman. Engrossing, breathtaking, heartbreaking, heartwarming, deeply thoughtful, intensely emotional. A timeless tale of friendship and brotherhood with five friends...trying to make a secret refuge as a literal sanctuary and safe haven from the outside dark world - a home away from home - and having each other's backs through every ugly hardship, no matter what. Simply astounding brilliance.

What do the adults know about how special it is—how rare—for a kid to have a place that’s totally yours? And no matter what else is going on in your life—a divorce, a horrible stepfather, moving to a new town, school problems, or your parents abandoning you—you still have this thing, this place that’s your escape from it.

'Friends. They make it easier.'
- Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden
['Grave Peril', The Dresden Files]

[Amina · Rating 4 out of 5]

✰ 4.25 stars ✰

“They took it away from us, but that doesn’t change the fact that we had it for a while. And when we did, it was awesome.”

With his 100th book The Fort, Gordon Korman proves once again to me why his middle grade books always resonate with me so very much. Told through the varying eyes of four childhood friends - Jason, Evan, Mitchell, C.J, and newcomer, Ricky, this is their story on after their makeshift clubhouse 'fort' gets permanently damaged, they accidentally stumble upon a hidden bunker that was made by one of their town's leading entrepreneurs in advanced preparation of any impending Cold War-related situations. What follows is how each of them is affected by this spectacular discovery - not only in enjoying it's many unique perks and privileges, but how it eventually caters to their own personal needs for the emotional turmoil that plague their own individual lives.

“What do they know about how special it is—how rare—for a kid to have a place that’s totally yours? And no matter what else is going on in your life—a divorce, a horrible stepfather, moving to a new town, school problems, or your parents abandoning you—you still have this thing, this place that’s your escape from it.”

And that's what it was - each of these boys had so many troubles that they were facing - that even though they were such close friends, they didn't have the heart to talk about it openly - in fear of discussing their own family problems with each other. 🥺🥺 But to have this special wonderful place that they could 'call their own', that could be their safe haven from the bullying and the lies and troubles and fears - they would risk anything to protect it - and themselves, when the time came for when they could no longer ignore what was happening to one of their own.

“And the idea that I could have been there for him, could have supported him, but I didn’t even notice it was happening—it’s so tragic, so shameful that I’m paralyzed for a moment. The only thing that snaps me out of it is one thought: It’s too late to help him then; I have to help him now. I get down on one knee. “It’s okay, man. We’ve got your back.”

My heart ached for all of them, but for C.J especially - how he fought so hard to stay silent, to protect his mother from further harm at the hands of his stepfather. But, when he no longer could cower in fear - when his friends suddenly saw what they had not been able to realize was such a heart-breaking but tender moment. 😢 How they united together to help him and his mother - how their friendship strengthened in time of adversity - GK has such a gift of bringing out the inner voice of a young boy - capturing their qualms and fears - their willingness to be a friend - it's such an uplifting and beautiful bond, because it truly captures the youth of it all.

With his unique sense of humor and a colorful cast of characters, GK made each of them stand out in their own special way - narrating the story through five pair of eyes that were completely different from one other - but were deeply connected through their love for all things that made their friendship the stronghold that it was. There was a little bit of something in each of them that I could relate to - something that would make me laugh, or shake my head, or even marvel at their ingenuity and quick thinking in the time of adversity that left me speechless. 🧡🧡 And to see how they matured as the story continued - as their families united together as one to see the strong camaraderie between the five of them made for such a delightful and engaging read that made me so happy that there are still middle-grade books that can capture my attention and heart so perfectly.

I did feel that the ending was a little too much of a chaotic convenience - ie in the falling action that ensued in the climax - everything was resolved a little haphazardly yet, conveniently, which made the build-up fall a little short of what I was expecting. However, if there is a lesson to all of this that made The Fort so special to the characters was that even with all the numerous difficult situations they were facing, this small group of friends learnt, albeit the hard way, that it was was always better to share their burdens with those close to you, rather than carry the weight of it alone - to know that you are not alone. And that's what made this such a hopeful and uplifting read - definitely one of Gordon Korman's finest books to date. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[Allyson Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! Each character was unique and well thought out and special in their own way. And they each needed the fort for their own reasons. It was so sweet! I loved it all!!

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, Gordon Korman's 100th book. Honestly, I thought he was already past 100. Secrets, this one is all about the secrets that five boys keep from each other and their community after they find a bomb shelter from the 1980s. Along with his mother, one of the boys is being abused by his step-dad. Another boy is keeping a secret from his girlfriend, one receives a threat from an unsavory older teen and one wants to keep the fort a secret from his older brother. How long can the boys keep their secrets? What will happen if their secrets come out?
IMO, this is also a story about dads and parents. There is a boy with no Dad, another being as a pawn used in a bitter divorce, one raised by grandparents after his parents split and never return and one with an abusive step-dad.
Geared a little older than some of Korman's books, give this one to his middle school, junior high or teenage fans. Teen me would have loved this story.

[Aleshanee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Der Untertitel "Das Geheimnis eines Sommers" hat mich sofort an Stephen Kings Stand by me erinnert ... auch hier gibt es eine Clique von Jungs, und auch hier gibt es einen älteren Bruder, der mit einem schlechten Einfluss zu kämpfen hat. Aber da hören die Gemeinsamkeiten schon auf. Auch wenn die Themen von Freundschaft, Vertrauen und Zusammenhalt ähnlich sind. Genauso wie die verschiedenen Eigenheiten und Probleme der Kids.

Die Kapitel sind aus den verschiedenen Sichtweisen geschrieben, was ich hier eine wirklich tolle Idee fand! So lernt man jeden der Jungs aus ganz persönlicher Perspektive kennen und kann die Gedanken und Handlungen perfekt nachvollziehen!

Mit Evan fängt es an. Er lebt mit seinem großen Bruder bei den Großeltern, nachdem es beide Eltern nach Jahren endlich in den Entzug geschafft haben - allerdings hat er seitdem nichts mehr von ihnen gehört. Sein Bruder rutscht seither leider immer mehr ab durch den schlechten Einfluss von Jaeger.
Evans Großmutter führt ein strenges Regiment und so kann er nicht widersprechen, als er sich nach einem verheerenden Hurrican Ricky annehmen soll, den Neuling in der Stadt, der bisher noch keine Freunde gefunden hat.
Mitchell hat Zwangsstörungen und geht in die "Sonderklasse". Seine Freunde gehen damit super um und er kann sich wirklich glücklich schätzen, bei ihnen auf so viel Verständnis zu stoßen und angenommen zu werden so, wie er ist. Er selbst hat allerdings große Probleme damit, Ricky plötzlich als "Neuen" zu akzeptieren.
Jason ist ein Scheidungskind und wird von seinen Eltern als Spielball benutzt, was er schwer verträgt. Er hat als einziger schon eine Freundin und wird deshalb von den anderen gerne aufgezogen, aber es wirkt nie böswillig oder neidisch.
C. J. wirkt oft in sich gekehrt und trägt ein Geheimnis mit sich, dass er sogar vor seinen Freunden verbirgt. Denn der allseits beliebte Stiefvater, der gerne teure Geschenke macht, ist cholerisch und gewalttätig, was der Junge hinter seiner draufgängerischen Art versteckt.

Sie alle haben ihre Probleme und finden in der Freundschaft mit den anderen eine Zuflucht. Das verstärkt sich noch als sie im Wald einen alten Bunker entdecken, der ihr Treffpunkt wird. Ihre Basis, ein Geheimnis das sie alle teilen und wo sie einen Ort haben, der nur ihnen alleine gehört und den sie mit allen mitteln vor der Entdeckung verteidigen.

Es war so schön mitzuerleben, wie sie dieses Abenteuer gemeinschaftlich durchleben, und wie jeder der Charaktere seine eigenen Gedanken zum Ausdruck bringt. Wie sie aufeinander achten und wie wichtig es ihnen ist, füreinander da zu sein und egal, wie verschieden sie sind, zusammen gewachsen sind und respektvoll miteinander umgehen!
Dabei spielen natürlich auch die einzelnen Probleme eine Rolle, die für das Lesealter in passender Form mit eingebracht werden, aber sehr gut zeigen, wie schwer es ist, damit zurecht zu kommen und wie wichtig gute Freunde sind. Auch die Scham, die Wahrheit zu sagen und alles offenzulegen, gerade weil diese Freundschaft der "Raum" ist, in dem man geschützt und ungezwungen ist, möchte man die Schrecken von außen nicht mit hineinlassen und scheut sich davor, über Dinge zu reden, die "nur die Familie betreffen".

Evans Bruder Luke und dessen Freund Jaeger sind allerdings hinter ihrem Versteck her und die Lage spitzt sich immer mehr zu, als C. J.s Verletzungen sich häufen. Während man anfangs noch das Leben all der Jungs kennenlernt steigert sich die Spannung im Verlauf immer mehr und am Ende gibt es auch ein entscheidendes Finale!

Ich fand es großartig, wie der Autor hier die verschiedenen Facetten der Jungs mit ihren Gedanken und Gefühlen mitteilt, ohne zu tief in die jeweiligen Situationen einzutauchen und die belastende Note über zu strapazieren. Gleichzeitig aber die Empfindsamkeit zu fördern und das Verständnis, wie jeder auf seine Art kämpfen muss und wie positiv sich der Rückhalt durch die Freunde auswirkt. Auch wenn es grundsätzlich oft an der Situation nichts ändert, sind Freunde so ein hohes Gut, um durch die tiefen Täler des Lebens zu schreiten und auch wieder herauszufinden!

Eine wunderbare, manchmal traurige oder erschreckende, aber Hoffnung spendende Geschichte über Bedeutung von Freundschaft und Vertrauen, sich gegenseitig zu akzeptieren und respektvoll miteinander umzugehen und dadurch immer einen Rückhalt zu haben, der einen stützt und weiterhilft.

Weltenwanderer

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

100 books, and Gordon Korman just keeps on keepin' on, doesn't he?!

Finding an amazing fort/hideout in the woods would be amazing, but these boys have bigger issues than who should and shouldn't be allowed in their special hideout. Loved how this ranged from petty issues (Clean up your trash!) to really serious things that affect kids, like divorce and abuse.

[Liz Friend · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story: Five kids--four old friends, one new hanger-on--find the world's best fort deep in the woods. Designed by a millionaire who was also slightly wacko, its existence has been completely forgotten until the boys lay claim to it, and everyone's sworn to secrecy. It has EVERYTHING! Except...the solution to Mitchell's OCD, to Evan's delinquent older brother, to CJ's abuse at the hands of his stepfather. But still! Can they all keep their mouths shut long enough to enjoy it to the full? Or will Janelle's police officer dad be shutting them down sometime soon?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG (parental abuse); sexual content G; Nudity G;
Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; Adult themes (abuse, delinquent behaviors, OCD--none of them graphic) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Since Mr. Korman himself sent me this signed copy, the least I could do is read it! If you're a fan of GK's books, this is a good one--true to his MS audience, but not afraid to tackle some of the hard problems facing that group of readers with his signature brand of humor. Good for all libraries serving grades 4-8.

[BooksNCrannies · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humorous and fun contemporary story about friendship and trust.

✏️ Review ✏️

About a year ago I read Restart, my first Gordon Korman novel. After laughing my way through that book, I knew I had found a new favorite author. Some of Korman's books are better than his others (the only one I wouldn't recommend is Whatshisface), but pretty much all of them have been super fun to read. And now several Gordon Korman books later, The Fort vies for a top place among my Gordon Korman reads.

I really enjoyed the plot of The Fort. It a humorous, fun, and thematically rich storyline, supplying just the right pacing. And was I a fan of the multi-POV? Absolutely! Each character's perspective provides a different and super fun dimension to the story (especially Mitchell's! Haha! 😆). Korman superbly executes this multi-POV to provide a story that stays fresh and enjoyable the whole way through.

And the characters: a diverse mixture of well-rounded personalities, intriguing quirks, and dynamic development. Mitchell is like sooo funny without even trying to be. Lol! 😄 And C.J.? Someone needs to give him a hug. 🥹 Not to mention that Jason and Janelle's "serious relationship" proved to be such a humorous addition to the storyline. I could go on about the rest of the characters but you get the idea — they're really what makes this story a engaging reading experience.

While most of Korman's stories contain many interesting themes below the surface of the humor, The Fort is the first one I've read in which Korman tackles more mature and sensitive topics. The tact and dexterity with which Korman addresses mature themes like domestic abuse in a way appropriate for his middle grade audience make The Fort a subtly deep and impactful story. Themes of friendship, trust, and the importance of unity deliver an even more memorable story. I appreciated the illustrative contrast between selfish, superficial friendships (Luke and Jaeger) with true, authentic friendships (the fort buddies) — such a smooth integration to the story that I didn't even think about it until the end.

The Fort is certainly enjoyable all the way through and the conclusion is both satisfying and touching. Why not add this book to your TBR?... With that I'll end my review.

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📊 A Quick Overview 📊

👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The plot — it's paced just right.
• The multi-POV narrative — it smoothly connects together and is super fun to read.
• The MCs — they're well-rounded and dynamic.
• The humor.
• The themes — adds further dimension to the storyline.

👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• (Can't think of anything atm.)

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❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓

— Would I recommend this book? Of course!*

— To whom? To those who enjoy contemporary middle grade fiction stories that contain a fun multi-POV narrative, well-rounded, dynamic MCs, a good dose of humor, and many important themes.

*(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.)

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📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 4/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 4/5
— 👥 Characters: 4/5

~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)

— 🤬 Language: 0/5

— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5

• A situation involving child/domestic abuse is a prominent element in this story; there are two on-page scenes that contain abusive actions but it's very brief and only minimally descriptive.

• A mildly descriptive stabbing scene (mentions blood).

— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5

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📣 Random Comments 📣

• Content note: While not stated explicitly in the story, it is obvious from some discussions that one of the MMC's parents were both drug addicts.

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💬 Favorite Quotes 💬

• (None)

[Jaiden Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh, this was so good! I enjoyed myself way too much!💖💖💖

Language: A few uses of h*ck, but that's it. And a few mentions of the older characters cursing, but not what they said only that they cursed. And they say "What the—" but never finish one or two times.

Violence: One of the MC's stepdad is abusive, he gets hit a few times but mostly it's off-page and the ones that are on page are only vaguely described. Very small mentions of blood. A teenager stabs an adult with a pocket knife in self defense, not gory, hardly described.

Magic: N/A

Man, this was sooooooo goodddddd!! Ahhh! I loved it so much! These characters were just the best! *hugs them all*💖 C.J. and Michele had to be my favorites tho! C.J. was such a dear and deserves all the hugs! His inner conflict and protective nature, just wow!💖 Plus his sarcasm was great too!💖😉 And Michele was so funny, he had me cracking up!! Man, I just really enjoyed his chapters, he was funny without meaning to be, and it was just great, and he was very relatable in ways too!💖
Evan was a sweety, and his inner struggles and always being there for his friends, just yes!💖🥰 Jason was very funny, he made me laugh and his relationship with Janelle was so cute, and very well done for thier age💖🥰 (Janelle was a sweety too, yet spunky, I really like her!💖) Ricky was great too, he was smart and fun! I really liked the growth of his and other boys friendship!💖👌
This was a super fun, yet raw and beautiful read! It goes from making you laugh, to making you want to hug the characters, to making you bite your fingernails in anticipation! What a thrilling ride it was with these boys!😀💖 Just the characters inner battles and outer battles and thier friendship was just perfect! Such a good theme of true friendship, found family, and learning to ask for help when you need it most. Really sums up what true friendship is, that if they walk away when you break down or things get rough then they aren't true friends. True friends stay with you no matter how bad, crazy, or even dangerous it gets. Also, that you don't have to like all the same things to be friends either, so true and so well displayed in this book!
Overall The Fort is a reall masterpiece in my opinion! If you like stories about friendship and found family with thrilling twists and nail biting adventure, then you should definitely give this one a read!💖😀👌

11+ (Parent/trigger warning: one of the characters struggles with thier abusive stepdad. And another one of characters parents were drug addicts, thier not in the book tho, only mentioned a few times.)

[Mitzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the outside, The Fort appears to be a story about 5 middle school boys who find a really cool 'place of refuge'. But Gordon Korman has woven in some very serious topics such as drug abuse, physical abuse, peer pressure and OCD. It's an engaging story where friends are not perfect but are the support that is so desperately needed when the chips are down. The Fort provides realistic hope for those that find themselves in similar situations. Highly recommend! By the way, if it tells you something about the popularity of Korman's stories, this is his 100th book!

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I actually DNF'd this bad boy at 60%. I just didn't care. I couldn't make myself care about these young teen boys and their problems. It could also be that I've read too much Korman lately and a book all about boys in a fort was one step too far. (I've been reading all these books looking for good books to use for a book group.) I finally just had to call it quits.

This book is about five boys who find an old "end of times" bunker built during the Cold War. They use it as a refuge to escape from their lives. One boy has an abusive step-father, another has no money, one is caught in a messy divorce, and another one had druggie parents that abandoned him. Only the kid from out of town seems to have a mostly good life. (Except for the fact that he had to move to a backwards small town!)

I think I would've liked this story better if it weren't for the two bullies, Luke and Jager (spelling??), Apparently they have nothing better to do than spy on a bunch of thirteen year olds. I just couldn't buy that and found them absurd and over-the-top. I think the story would've been more enjoyable without them.

Even though I didn't like this book, I think a lot of kids would. I'll always recommend Korman to young readers.

[Wendi Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I've loved every Gordon Korman middle grade book I've ever read. I was so excited to get approved for this ARC, and hands down, it's my favorite of all them. It gives me a Stand by Me vibe, complete with dangerous teenage creeps. It's about a fully kitted bomb shelter (really old cans of food, a VCR with ALL the best movies from the 70's and 80's) that a group of kids find, which is definitely fun at first, but it has a lot of thoughtful, well-handled scenes dealing with divorce, parental abandonment, domestic violence, and mental health issues. All of the main characters were believable and I cared about all of them deeply. But C.J.'s story got to me the most.

I will definitely get a copy of this book for my kids. Absolutely amazing.

[Almira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Gordon's 100th book, and it did not disappoint.

The Fort deals with bullying, and domestic violence, head on. Gordon offers resources for readers who might be victims of abuse at the end of the book.
Thank you, Gordon, for writing about a difficult subject with understanding, sympathy and compassion.

Five friends stick together to keep a long-lost secret "bomb shelter" from the rest of their community.
Each chapter is told in the voice of each one of the friends - giving various perspectives of the events unfolding.

[Kate McMurry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Painful amounts of onstage child abuse

Five eighth-grade boys discover an abandoned bomb shelter built sometime in the 1970s by a deceased billionaire, and they are determined to keep it secret from everyone, as their private clubhouse, which they call their "fort."

Evan's parents are drug addicts who are in jail because of criminal acts. He and his 16-year-old brother have been living with their grandparents for several years. Evan's brother has been hanging out with a 16-year-old, high-school dropout, who is a thief with violent tendencies. Throughout this novel Evan's brother and the intimidating friend keep trying to force Evan to steal for them. They state that, if caught, they would be tried as an adult at 16, but at 13, he would "only" go to juvie. Eventually they start persecuting the other boys as well.

Mitchell has OCD. His mom has to work three jobs and they are barely getting by.

Ricky is only befriended by Evan because his grandmother insisted upon it. Ricky is brilliant and skipped a year of school, so he is only 12. He previously went to a magnet school during his elementary years, but he is currently attending regular public school until he can qualify for a high-school-level magnet school. He is actually the one who found the bomb shelter, but for most of the book, Evan and his friends, who are more than happy to take over the bomb shelter as their fort, treat him disrespectfully.

CJ has an abusive stepfather. He hits CJ and his mother. There are multiple scenes of this physical abuse in this novel.

Jason's distinguishing characteristic is that he has a really loud voice. He has a girlfriend named Janelle whom he can't stand to keep secrets from, and he feels guilty not telling her about the fort. She is the daughter of the local sheriff.

There are some very strong trigger issues in this novel for any adult who might read this novel, screening it for their child or reading it to their child. And even if you don't have a specific trigger issue about child abuse, it is extremely painful reading about children being abused and having no responsible adult they feel they can count on throughout the majority of this novel. I realize it is standard practice in children's books and YA novels to "orphan" the main character, whether literally or figuratively, so that the story will not suffer from the deus ex machina of parents or school administrators stepping in to save them from their problems. However, I found it unbearable reading about abuse like this, even for the sake of fulfilling a standard trope of popular fiction.

I obtained the audiobook version of this novel through Hoopla. As is the case with many of this author's novels, this story is told from the POV of multiple characters, and the audiobook is narrated by multiple different voice talents. Some of the adult-male narrators, performing 13-year-old boys, whose voices would not have changed yet, have baritone voices that do not sound authentic for the characters.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evan, Jason, Mitchell, C.J., and newcomer, Ricky have a shared secret—the best possible fort, discovered in the woods near their homes. This deluxe hideaway becomes a shelter for not only game-playing and movie-watching, but for secrets far more serious. But friends can be allies in those, too. Author Gordon Korman has penned his 100th book for middle grade readers and, as always, they are engaging and kid-friendly, but with a message that is far deeper. While not all middle grade kids face divorce, abuse, being the new kid, dealing with OCD, or having parents who are in jail, all these are in his latest masterpiece and will hopefully leave readers with a little more understanding and/or inspiration and courage to face their own unique foes. Highly recommended for all in grades 4-8. Text is free of all profanity and sexual content and the violence endured by a mother and son is critical to the plot and not excessive.

Thanks for the digital arc, Edelweiss!

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fort is Gordon Korman's 100th book and definitely one of his best! This novel explores a wide range of topics, from an older brother who's hanging out with the wrong kind of crowd to avoiding an abusive stepfather.
The Fort tells the story of five 8th-grade boys who, while exploring their small town of Canaan after Hurricane Leo rips through it, discover an underground fort built by the late (and supposedly eccentric) Bennett Delamere during the Cold War. When they find the fort in the middle of the woods, it comes with electricity, a toilet, and even a TV! Eventually, C.J., Jason, Evan, Mitchell, and Ricky figure out this fort was built for protection in case a nucelar war ever occured and Bennett had to go into hiding. Of course, the Cold War has ended by that time and Bennett Delamere is long gone, so the boys take the opportunity to claim the fort as their own.
But soon, when C.J., Jason, Evan, Mitchell, and Ricky create a scheme selling silverware that they found in the fort, other kids, including Evan's older brother and his conniving friend, start getting suspicious. Eventually, the future of the fort might not be totally safe, so the boys take extra precautions to hide the fort from classmates and adults.
But then the friends discover that one of them is using a fort as a real escape from his abusive home life, and they all realize that this isn't about the fort: it's about having your friends be there for you.
This is one of my favorite Gordon Korman novels of all time! Korman tells this wonderfully heart-wrenching but satisfying tale with his classic sense of humor and unique cast of characters. Speaking of the characters, they have to be one of my favorite additions of this Korman classic. I love how each character has something going on in his life but no matter what, they stick together and support each other all the way to the resolution.
Another thing I love about this novel is the inclusion of the "old" movies, music, and other media. I'm an old soul, so I recognized almost everything the group watched or listened to, which helped me relate to this tale even more.
This book was a delightfully fun read that I relished in less than 2 days. The quick wit, intriguing action scenes, and character developement kept me invested until the end, and even after that, it made me beg for more. Great job, Gordon Korman, as always, and congratulations on your 100th book!

[Cris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five friends, one a new friend and four who have been friends forever find a hidden bunker in the woods. During their time in the bunker they learn it’s best to share to accomplishments and especially your struggles. When you share your struggles, there are more shoulders to carry your burden and it doesn’t seem so heavy.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure, at first, if I would like this because every chapter is from a different friends perspective. I soon realized I had nothing to worry about. I loved the friendship between the boys and how every boy had their own problems they were dealing with. I enjoyed the range of emotion it brought to me. Happiness, sadness, laughter and nostalgia. Such a wonderful book and I will be sure to read more.

[Avery Wendland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok so I sympathize for all the kids and what ever (except for Jaeger)(also who names there kid jaeger it literally sounds like a kid who’s gonna commit crimes or worse!) still I feel bad I do but it just wasn’t my kind of book it felt slow then fast the slow then fast and half the time I couldn’t keep track of what point of view. It was alright but just not my kind of book.

[Adelaide · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this in the summer between 5th and 6th grade……… I had an obsession with Gordon Korman books…….. and I really liked it so even though I can’t rember the details I recommend.

[Christine Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It’s on the 24-25 WAW 6-8th grade list. Five friends, each with their own struggles, stumble upon a secret underground bunker and quickly adopt it as their secret fort.
I love how this story is told from each of the boy’s perspectives, with hints about the other boys struggles sprinkled throughout.
TW: strong domestic violence, parental drug use, bullying
Topics: friendship, OCD, divorce, single parent

[LeserinLu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mit großer Begeisterung möchte ich meine Rezension zu Gordon Kormans Jugendroman "The Fort" teilen, der mich von Anfang bis Ende in seinen Bann zog. Die Erzählung nimmt den Leser mit auf eine emotionale Achterbahnfahrt, die durch die Verwüstung eines Hurricanes und die Entdeckung eines geheimen Bunkers ausgelöst wird.

Die Kleinstadt Canaan wird nicht nur durch die physische Zerstörung des Sturms heimgesucht, sondern auch durch die offenen Wunden und Geheimnisse, die die Jugendlichen Evan, Jason, Mitchell, C.J. und Ricky mit sich tragen. Der Bunker, den sie als ihr persönliches Fort adoptieren, wird zum symbolischen Rückzugsort vor den Stürmen des Lebens. Hier teilen sie nicht nur ihre Träume und Abenteuer, sondern nach und nach auch ihre tiefsten Ängste und Sorgen.

Die Spannung steigt, als Mitchells älterer Bruder und sein gewaltbereiter Freund das Fort bedrohen und die Freundschaft der Jungs auf die Probe stellen. Damit kommen auch Leser:innen, die Spannung und Action mögen, auf ihre Kosten.

Besonders beeindruckend fand ich aber, wie Korman die Vielfalt der familiären Hintergründe der Protagonisten einfängt. Von C.J., der vor seinem gewalttätigen Stiefvater Schutz sucht, bis hin zu Ricky, der aus einer Bilderbuchfamilie kommt, als Neuer aber ein Außenseiter ist, bietet jede Figur authentische Einblicke in familiäre Konflikte und die Suche junger Menschen nach dem eigenen Platz in der Welt. Die Charaktere bieten damit ein hohes Identifikationspotential für viele Leser:innen.

Insgesamt hat mich "The Fort" durch seine vielschichtigen Charaktere und die abwechslungsreiche Erzählweise aus der Sicht dieser Figuren gut unterhalten und am Ende auch sehr berührt.

[INMYBOOKIEERA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rezensionsexemplar

4⭐️

The Fort von Gordon Korman hat definitiv meine Erwartungen übertroffen. Das Cover und der Klappentext wirkten sehr geheimnissvoll und verrieten noch nicht viel. Das Buch lässt sich sehr leicht lesen. Die Kapitel haben eine gute Länge und die abwechselnden Erzählperspektiven bringen Schwung in die Geschichte. Zudem muss ich sagen, dass man nie den Überblick über die Jungs verloren hat. Der Autor hat es geschafft, dass man schnell dem Namen einen Charakter zuordnen konnte. Was auch daran lag, das jeder für sich besondere Eigenschaften hatte. Ich fand es sehr interessant, wie der Autor die Gedanken eines Jugendlichen mit Zwangsstörung beschrieben hat - das wirkte auf mich sehr authentisch. Und nachdem man zu Beginn der Geschichte alle kennengelernt hat, entwickelte sich diese in eine tiefgründige Geschichte, die zum Nachdenken anregt, womit ich zu Beginn nicht gerechnet hätte. Die Jungs, vor allem Ricky und Mitchell, sind mir schnell ans Herz gewachsen und ich habe am Ende wirklich mitgefiebert, wie sich alles entwickelt. Ich hatte auch ein paar Momente, wo ich schmunzeln musste. Alles in allem ein sehr erfrischendes Buch über Freundschaft mit letztlich unerwartet viel Tiefgang. Ich würde das Buch der Altersgruppe 13-16 empfehlen, da auch ernste Themen wie häusliche Gewalt behandelt werden.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take “The Sandlot” and replace the baseball field with a bomb shelter. Replace Hercules the Dog with actual horrific things like abuse and OCD and you’ve got “The Fort.” It’s a great story about growing up and realizing that your friends are all struggling with different things, but having a place to discuss those things, or simply get away from them all, is key.

Ricky finds The Fort after a hurricane. Since he’s new and nobody seems to like him, he figures he’s got ins with the guys if he shows it to them, right? But the guys—Evan, Mitchell, Jason and C.J. aren’t ready to accept him just yet. Even when they find out the bomb shelter Fort is really cool! It isn’t until their lives outside The Fort start to take a turn for the worse that the boys figure they all need each other…and maybe The Fort is a refuge for them.

An extra good portrayal of a kid with OCD is what really put this over the top for me. I loved Mitchell and how he wasn’t your “typical OCD character.” He does things wrong. He doesn’t always act nice. In fact, he is very rude at times! He’s grumpy, but also funny. Thank you. Thank you for Mitchell.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie’s Picks: THE FORT by Gordon Korman, Scholastic Press, June 2022, 256p., ISBN: 978-1-338-62914-9

“Yes we're gonna have a wingding
A summer smoker underground
It's just a dugout that my dad built
In case the Reds decide to push the button down”
– Donald Fagan, “New Frontier” (1982)

“It has been a long time since the threat of using nuclear weapons has been brandished so openly by a world leader, but Vladimir Putin has just done it, warning in a speech that he has the weapons available if anyone dares to use military means to try to stop Russia’s takeover of Ukraine.
The threat may have been empty, a mere baring of fangs by the Russian president, but it was noticed. It kindled visions of a nightmarish outcome in which Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine could lead to a nuclear war through accident or miscalculation.
‘As for military affairs, even after the dissolution of the USSR and losing a considerable part of its capabilities, today’s Russia remains one of the most powerful nuclear states,’ Putin said.”
– John Daniszewski, Associated Press (2/25/2022)

I would prefer that Gordon Korman’s latest engaging tale didn’t dovetail so readily with current world events. The fear of nuclear war, which had subsided after the drop-and-cover school drills many of us experienced in the early 1960s, has once again raised its ugly head.

But such worries are not part of THE FORT, a contemporary story told from multiple points of view, involving four male middle school buddies and the new kid in town. Together, they accidentally discover the “fort”: an underground bomb shelter in the woods, constructed decades ago by a well-known, wealthy, and now-deceased member of the community.

It’ll be a challenge to keep the fort’s existence a secret from siblings, girlfriends, and parents. But the friends are each facing challenges at home or school, or both, and their homey, well-stocked, new home-away-from-home will turn out to be a godsend for several of them.

Jason Brax:
“By this time, we’re starting to get hungry, which opens us a pretty major debate. There’s tons of food in the fort. The problem is it’s been here for at least forty years. Is it safe to eat?
Out come our phones for some serious web surfing. Not Mitchell, of course–his Samsung is out of commission until he can get the screen repaired. We all ask the same question and get four different answers, ranging from ‘totally safe’ to ‘prepare to die.’
We google around a little longer until a point of agreement starts to emerge from all the articles we find: Basically, canned food is safe forever–with a single warning. The can has to be in perfect condition. The slightest hole, the slightest bulge in the tin or breakage of the vacuum seal, and you might as well be eating cyanide.
Well, that’s the last thing you should ever say to a guy like Mitchell. He starts grabbing cans and examining them at such close range that it looks like he’s trying to penetrate them with his eyeballs. If there was an electron microscope in the fort, he would use that too.
C.J. pulls a tin of ravioli right out of Mitchell’s hand and tosses it in the air experimentally. ‘Looks okay to me.’ He plunges a can opener into it and turns the crank until the lid pops free. Then he plucks out a square of pasta and tosses it in his mouth.
We all stare at C.J. like we’re expecting him to explode.
He chews thoughtfully. ‘Not bad.’
‘How long is it going to take him to die?’ Mitchell asks the rest of us.
In answer, C.J. gulps down two more pieces.”

THE FORT delves into the lives of these lifelong buddies, and the new guy who is primarily responsible for discovering the bomb shelter. It will send some young readers off to check out Jaws and the other old movies on VCR that the friends find there. Plenty of readers will imagine finding or creating their own secret hideaway.

Gordon Korman takes up a couple of serious, tangentially related issues that I’ll let you discover on your own. I’m excited about the prospect of third- through eighth graders reading this very-believable story.

Richie Partington, MLIS
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[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve only read a few Gordon Korman books, but The Fort stands out as the most emotionally layered one so far. This story carries strong coming-of-age vibes, reminiscent of the classic millennial favorites Now and Then or Stand By Me.

The plot centers on a group of middle school friends who stumble upon an old fort once built by a doomsday prepper. But this isn’t just about secret hangouts or fun adventures. Each boy is quietly battling serious, real-world struggles—ranging from a nasty divorce, OCD, domestic abuse, and abandonment to bullying and poverty. They’re unsure how to open up, even to each other.

The fort becomes more than just a physical refuge; it’s a place where they slowly build trust, find courage, and learn how to face their problems—with the strength of friendship behind them. This was a moving and powerful story, and Korman handled the tough subjects with sensitivity and depth. A really well-done and memorable read.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan (who lives with his grandparents after his parents split), Jason (who has a GIRLFRIEND), CJ (who has the PERFECT step dad), and Mitchell (who battles OCD) are friends, friends who grew up together in the small town, Canaan. When Hurricane Leo ravages the town, the friends go out into the woods to check on the condition of their secret fort in the woods. Unfortunately, they have to take, Ricky, the uber smart seventh grader who moved to Canaan from magnet school and skipped seventh grade and whose house needs to be fixed, so Evan's grandma invites Ricky to stay with Evan at their house.

While checking their fort, Ricky finds an odd metallic trap door. When the boys get the trapdoor open, they realize they have stumbled upon a brand new fort, and underground bunker, created as they soon learn, by an eccentric millionaire business owner, that nobody ever knew about.

To find out what happens to these amazing kids on their journey, read THE FORT, the 100th book in the the career of GORDON KORMAN. You won't be sorry!