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Sleepless
The story of five kids who are up all night every night... and desperate to find out why. There's not enough time in the day. How often have Mickey, Skye, Levi, Cyrus, and Thea thought that? Well, now they have plenty of extra time... because they no longer need to sleep. None of them know why this is happening to them. All they know is that they have to keep it a secret from their families and their friends. And while they keep it a secret, they can use their extra hours to become better than everyone else. Each of them thinks they're alone in their sleeplessness. But once they find each other, they know it can't be just an accident. Suddenly they're forced to address the root mystery - what's keeping them awake at night?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2026
About the author
Gordon Korman
236 books4,641 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 36 reviews
February 11, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for the arc!
This is the second Gordon Korman book I’ve read, and it doesn’t disappoint. My last read, Restart, centered on the question: what would you do if you woke up and realized you were a terrible person? How would you change? Can people change? In the frame of a traumatic head injury and severe amnesia, Korman guides readers through those questions, gently showing some of the philosophical implications associated.
This book centers on a different question, and one that has a more sci-fi feel: what would you do if you didn’t have to sleep? Through a mysterious set of allergy shots, five (eventually six) kids discover that they don’t need to sleep anymore. Again, Korman lightly brushes on the philosophical aspect here, but not necessarily in reference to the original question. The philosophical points focus more on medical ethics: informed consent, experimental research, patient self-determination and autonomy, acting in the patient’s best interest, do no harm, etc. (And, interestingly, a bit of Frankenstein: should man toy with nature? What happens when man plays God?)
These are big questions for middle grade readers, and I think Korman opens the discussion in an accessible manner that lets young readers tackle the questions for themselves. Classroom discussions would be extremely interesting! Could be a great foundation for persuasive writing.
There were minor mentions of two characters getting into a relationship, without any other elaboration. It sort of made me wish it wasn’t in there, because it felt unnecessary. Although I assume its intended use was to add another element of suspense and tension, the conflict that the characters anticipate doesn’t really pan out and left me feeling like the whole relationship could be cut without impacting the story at large.
I will admit that the pacing felt a little funny—the kids confront the “villain” quite early on—but not too egregious.
I also had a small quibble with the idea that one of the characters finds the best use of his extra hours to be posting excessively on social media, basically being a troll, with the goal of getting millions of followers. Although realistic, it clashes with the idea that the sleepless kids were chosen for the sleepless experiment because of their potential and productivity. I don’t think any adult would look at the social media activity of this kid and think, “huh. He’s really making a difference. We should give him endless hours of this.” Especially in light of all the revelations (lol, for lack of a better term) about the harm caused by social media, especially on young people, it’s a little tone deaf. It reads as aspirational, a worthy goal for someone to pursue, when we should really be encouraging kids to spend the majority of their time off of social media. If this kid was doing some kind of charity or advocacy work, it might (MIGHT) be different, but he’s not. He’s posting memes and trolling from four separate accounts. Consider me unimpressed.
Overall, this was well-written, suspenseful, intriguing, and entertaining. Asks good questions that students can really chew on. Would recommend (although if I had to guess, they would not spring for extra hours and no need to sleep! Would love it if they were productive like the kids in the book but that’s probably just a pipe dream 🤣).
This is the second Gordon Korman book I’ve read, and it doesn’t disappoint. My last read, Restart, centered on the question: what would you do if you woke up and realized you were a terrible person? How would you change? Can people change? In the frame of a traumatic head injury and severe amnesia, Korman guides readers through those questions, gently showing some of the philosophical implications associated.
This book centers on a different question, and one that has a more sci-fi feel: what would you do if you didn’t have to sleep? Through a mysterious set of allergy shots, five (eventually six) kids discover that they don’t need to sleep anymore. Again, Korman lightly brushes on the philosophical aspect here, but not necessarily in reference to the original question. The philosophical points focus more on medical ethics: informed consent, experimental research, patient self-determination and autonomy, acting in the patient’s best interest, do no harm, etc. (And, interestingly, a bit of Frankenstein: should man toy with nature? What happens when man plays God?)
These are big questions for middle grade readers, and I think Korman opens the discussion in an accessible manner that lets young readers tackle the questions for themselves. Classroom discussions would be extremely interesting! Could be a great foundation for persuasive writing.
There were minor mentions of two characters getting into a relationship, without any other elaboration. It sort of made me wish it wasn’t in there, because it felt unnecessary. Although I assume its intended use was to add another element of suspense and tension, the conflict that the characters anticipate doesn’t really pan out and left me feeling like the whole relationship could be cut without impacting the story at large.
I will admit that the pacing felt a little funny—the kids confront the “villain” quite early on—but not too egregious.
I also had a small quibble with the idea that one of the characters finds the best use of his extra hours to be posting excessively on social media, basically being a troll, with the goal of getting millions of followers. Although realistic, it clashes with the idea that the sleepless kids were chosen for the sleepless experiment because of their potential and productivity. I don’t think any adult would look at the social media activity of this kid and think, “huh. He’s really making a difference. We should give him endless hours of this.” Especially in light of all the revelations (lol, for lack of a better term) about the harm caused by social media, especially on young people, it’s a little tone deaf. It reads as aspirational, a worthy goal for someone to pursue, when we should really be encouraging kids to spend the majority of their time off of social media. If this kid was doing some kind of charity or advocacy work, it might (MIGHT) be different, but he’s not. He’s posting memes and trolling from four separate accounts. Consider me unimpressed.
Overall, this was well-written, suspenseful, intriguing, and entertaining. Asks good questions that students can really chew on. Would recommend (although if I had to guess, they would not spring for extra hours and no need to sleep! Would love it if they were productive like the kids in the book but that’s probably just a pipe dream 🤣).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central
**Spoiler alert!**
If you intend to read the book, you might not want to read the review. There are lots of twists and turns, but they occur early, so I couldn't really write a review that doesn't mention them. You've been warned!
Mickey is bored because he doesn't sleep. He and his hairless dog, Baldie, because of his bad allergies. They often go out at night, because his parents are working a lot after losing money in a bad real estate deal. With nothing better to do, he takes up running. Skye, on the other hand, uses her sleepless time for art projects, knitting, and reading. Levi, who has asthma, has several different social media accounts, and claims that some of them live in other countries, since he's posting in the middle of the night. Thea gets tired of sitting at the peanut free table but loves theater, and practices singing in a sound proofed treehouse, and Levi invents things. After Skye beats Mickey at the local science fair, the two meet when Baldie sneaks under Skye's fence. The two kids compare notes about their sleep, and eventually meet Levi when is out walking his dog, Bub. Mickey tries out for the football team once he's good at running, and after saving a game (and irritating Carlo, a teammate who bullies him), he stays out all night with the team and sees Thea outside in the week hours of the morning. Levi has posted a video of Thea singing, and she manages to flush him out by posting a Sodoku puzzle on social media. Once the five kids all know about each other, they convene, and try to figure out what they all have in common. It turns out that all five get allergy shots from the same man, Dr. Malachi. Since Skye has an appointment, all the kids go, and ask the doctor what has caused their sleeplessness. Malachi admits to giving them a special shot, but says that it is for the good of humanity, so that they can have an Uninterrupted Life and do great things. Everyone but Thea wants to stay on the shots, but Thea is adamantly opposed. When Dr. Malachi's office is empty, the group tries to hunt him down. They find an address, but there is a rather angry man there who yells at them about Spindle-Top. This turns out to be a luxury apartment building, but the doctor is gone. They go back to the former apartment and find out that the angry man is Dr. Malachi's son, James. When someone tries to break into the tree house, Mickey identifies the culprit as Beans, another member of the football team. He admits to getting the shots, and the kids sneak out to try to confront Dr. Malachi. He's gone again, but at least James, who has met the children there, is taken away and gets some psychological help. The kids have found the serum, but have to decide whether or not to have it analyzed so they can keep taking it, and eventually decide to destroy it, dumping it on the tree. Mickey and Skye are worried that they won't get to spend time together, since Skye's mother was the real estate agent whose actions caused Mickey's parents to lose their money, but Mickey's parents tell him that none of that is Skye's fault. The children still don't sleep for a while, but eventually the serum wears off. The tree at Thea's house, however, is permanently changed by the serum!
Strengths: First of all, this is a great premise, and more realistic than the somewhat similar Midnighters by Scott Westerfeld or The Eighth Day series by Salerni. Told from multiple perspectives, we see how the different children use their extra time. I would totally be like Skye, who even starts to learn Greek and Latin! The children all have different challenges to work around so they can do things undetected, but this is done in a way that makes perfect sense. Mickey's parents work at night. Thea has a soundproofed tree house. Levi has to evade his older sister, and uses Bub as an excuse for being out. I love that attention to detail. I picked up pretty quickly that they all had allergies, maybe because I took allergy shots for six years; I'm just sad mine never gave me extra hours in the day. The hunt for Dr. Malachi took the book in a different direction, and added an element of suspense. This is a fun book with absolutely solid writing. Korman should give master classes on writing middle grade fiction.
Weaknesses: I'm not personally a fan of multiple points of view, so would rather have had this from a third person omniscient perspective, but it wasn't confusing the way it was written. Just a preference.
What I really think: Korman just keeps getting better and better. Faker, Snoop, and Sleepless are probably my three favorite books that he has written, even though Restart will probably be considered his finest work. My condolences to him on the death of his friend, Barry Pekilis, to whom the book is dedicated.
**Spoiler alert!**
If you intend to read the book, you might not want to read the review. There are lots of twists and turns, but they occur early, so I couldn't really write a review that doesn't mention them. You've been warned!
Mickey is bored because he doesn't sleep. He and his hairless dog, Baldie, because of his bad allergies. They often go out at night, because his parents are working a lot after losing money in a bad real estate deal. With nothing better to do, he takes up running. Skye, on the other hand, uses her sleepless time for art projects, knitting, and reading. Levi, who has asthma, has several different social media accounts, and claims that some of them live in other countries, since he's posting in the middle of the night. Thea gets tired of sitting at the peanut free table but loves theater, and practices singing in a sound proofed treehouse, and Levi invents things. After Skye beats Mickey at the local science fair, the two meet when Baldie sneaks under Skye's fence. The two kids compare notes about their sleep, and eventually meet Levi when is out walking his dog, Bub. Mickey tries out for the football team once he's good at running, and after saving a game (and irritating Carlo, a teammate who bullies him), he stays out all night with the team and sees Thea outside in the week hours of the morning. Levi has posted a video of Thea singing, and she manages to flush him out by posting a Sodoku puzzle on social media. Once the five kids all know about each other, they convene, and try to figure out what they all have in common. It turns out that all five get allergy shots from the same man, Dr. Malachi. Since Skye has an appointment, all the kids go, and ask the doctor what has caused their sleeplessness. Malachi admits to giving them a special shot, but says that it is for the good of humanity, so that they can have an Uninterrupted Life and do great things. Everyone but Thea wants to stay on the shots, but Thea is adamantly opposed. When Dr. Malachi's office is empty, the group tries to hunt him down. They find an address, but there is a rather angry man there who yells at them about Spindle-Top. This turns out to be a luxury apartment building, but the doctor is gone. They go back to the former apartment and find out that the angry man is Dr. Malachi's son, James. When someone tries to break into the tree house, Mickey identifies the culprit as Beans, another member of the football team. He admits to getting the shots, and the kids sneak out to try to confront Dr. Malachi. He's gone again, but at least James, who has met the children there, is taken away and gets some psychological help. The kids have found the serum, but have to decide whether or not to have it analyzed so they can keep taking it, and eventually decide to destroy it, dumping it on the tree. Mickey and Skye are worried that they won't get to spend time together, since Skye's mother was the real estate agent whose actions caused Mickey's parents to lose their money, but Mickey's parents tell him that none of that is Skye's fault. The children still don't sleep for a while, but eventually the serum wears off. The tree at Thea's house, however, is permanently changed by the serum!
Strengths: First of all, this is a great premise, and more realistic than the somewhat similar Midnighters by Scott Westerfeld or The Eighth Day series by Salerni. Told from multiple perspectives, we see how the different children use their extra time. I would totally be like Skye, who even starts to learn Greek and Latin! The children all have different challenges to work around so they can do things undetected, but this is done in a way that makes perfect sense. Mickey's parents work at night. Thea has a soundproofed tree house. Levi has to evade his older sister, and uses Bub as an excuse for being out. I love that attention to detail. I picked up pretty quickly that they all had allergies, maybe because I took allergy shots for six years; I'm just sad mine never gave me extra hours in the day. The hunt for Dr. Malachi took the book in a different direction, and added an element of suspense. This is a fun book with absolutely solid writing. Korman should give master classes on writing middle grade fiction.
Weaknesses: I'm not personally a fan of multiple points of view, so would rather have had this from a third person omniscient perspective, but it wasn't confusing the way it was written. Just a preference.
What I really think: Korman just keeps getting better and better. Faker, Snoop, and Sleepless are probably my three favorite books that he has written, even though Restart will probably be considered his finest work. My condolences to him on the death of his friend, Barry Pekilis, to whom the book is dedicated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2026
I started reading Gordon Korman books with my son in 2019. That first one was a gift from a teacher at the end of the school year. Each student received a copy with a personal note, after we finished reading Restart, my son and I each picked the other books by him I picked up the eBooks, and we planned to work through them all. Last year I finished reading all of the published book by Korman, and have plans to go back and reread a few of them. My son still has about 30 of the 111 to go. But we were both excited about this new title that released in 2026. This was Korman’s latest release published in the summer of 2026.
But back to this specific volume; Sleepless like many volumes by Korman is told is a series of first-person narratives from different characters perspectives. The chapters in this volume are:
One: Mickey Prima
Two: Skye Berenger
Three: Levi Mackenzie
Four: Mickey Prima
Five: Cyrus Teitelbaum
Six: Thea Davidson
Seven: Mickey Prima
Eight: Skye Berenger
Nine: Mickey Prima
Ten: Levi Mackenzie
Eleven: Cyrus Teitelbaum
Twelve: Thea Davidson
Thirteen: Mickey Prima
Fourteen: Levi Mackenzie
Fifteen: Skye Berenger
Sixteen: Mickey Prima
Seventeen: Levi Mackenzie
Eighteen: Mickey Prima
Nineteen: Thea Davidson
Twenty: Cyrus Teitelbaum
Twenty-One: Skye Berenger
Twenty-Two: Mickey Prima
Twenty-Three: Cyrus Teitelbaum
Twenty-Four: Thea Davidson
Twenty-Five: Mickey Prima
Twenty-Six: Skye Berenger
Twenty-Seven: Mickey Prima
Twenty-Eight: Cyrus Teitelbaum
Twenty-Nine: Mickey Prima
Epilogue: Thea Davidson
About The Author We Are Informed:
“GORDON KORMAN wrote his first novel, This Can’t Be Happening at MacDonald Hall, when he was thirteen years old. Since then, he’s written over a hundred other books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Restart; Linked, a Sydney Taylor Honor Book; Slacker; Mixed Up; Faker; and Snoop. He lives on Long Island with his family and can be found online at site.”
This was an excellent story. It reminded me of a character from the 1985 movie ‘Real Genius’. There is a character Jordan Cochran played by Michelle Meyrink, who is a nonsomniac, she never sleeps. She is eccentric, fast-talking prodigy with a hyperactive personality and has the ability to function perfectly without any rest. In this story a group of kids experience the same thing but artificially. I had always hopped to develop it, there are so many books to be read. But after reading this volume, It is a little less appealing.
It was fascinating to read how each of the youths discovered they could not sleep, and how they choose to fill their time. Some turned to sports, some the arts, some focused on academics and some invention. As they slowly realized that they were not alone and discovered each other their questions only grew. As they try and figure out what makes them different they make a discovery and it changes everything.
This is another wonderfully written story by Korman. I absolutely loved it, and have already recommended it to my son, and my nephew, and some friend’s kids. All I can say is wow what a story! I can easily recommend it.
But back to this specific volume; Sleepless like many volumes by Korman is told is a series of first-person narratives from different characters perspectives. The chapters in this volume are:
One: Mickey Prima
Two: Skye Berenger
Three: Levi Mackenzie
Four: Mickey Prima
Five: Cyrus Teitelbaum
Six: Thea Davidson
Seven: Mickey Prima
Eight: Skye Berenger
Nine: Mickey Prima
Ten: Levi Mackenzie
Eleven: Cyrus Teitelbaum
Twelve: Thea Davidson
Thirteen: Mickey Prima
Fourteen: Levi Mackenzie
Fifteen: Skye Berenger
Sixteen: Mickey Prima
Seventeen: Levi Mackenzie
Eighteen: Mickey Prima
Nineteen: Thea Davidson
Twenty: Cyrus Teitelbaum
Twenty-One: Skye Berenger
Twenty-Two: Mickey Prima
Twenty-Three: Cyrus Teitelbaum
Twenty-Four: Thea Davidson
Twenty-Five: Mickey Prima
Twenty-Six: Skye Berenger
Twenty-Seven: Mickey Prima
Twenty-Eight: Cyrus Teitelbaum
Twenty-Nine: Mickey Prima
Epilogue: Thea Davidson
About The Author We Are Informed:
“GORDON KORMAN wrote his first novel, This Can’t Be Happening at MacDonald Hall, when he was thirteen years old. Since then, he’s written over a hundred other books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Restart; Linked, a Sydney Taylor Honor Book; Slacker; Mixed Up; Faker; and Snoop. He lives on Long Island with his family and can be found online at site.”
This was an excellent story. It reminded me of a character from the 1985 movie ‘Real Genius’. There is a character Jordan Cochran played by Michelle Meyrink, who is a nonsomniac, she never sleeps. She is eccentric, fast-talking prodigy with a hyperactive personality and has the ability to function perfectly without any rest. In this story a group of kids experience the same thing but artificially. I had always hopped to develop it, there are so many books to be read. But after reading this volume, It is a little less appealing.
It was fascinating to read how each of the youths discovered they could not sleep, and how they choose to fill their time. Some turned to sports, some the arts, some focused on academics and some invention. As they slowly realized that they were not alone and discovered each other their questions only grew. As they try and figure out what makes them different they make a discovery and it changes everything.
This is another wonderfully written story by Korman. I absolutely loved it, and have already recommended it to my son, and my nephew, and some friend’s kids. All I can say is wow what a story! I can easily recommend it.
July 16, 2026
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!)
Overall:
I liked the characters, but the ending felt very anticlimactic. The question this book is centered on — what would happen if you didn’t need to sleep? — is interesting. The book, despite being short, felt slow at times.
Characters:
Mickey uses his extra hours to work out with his dog, Baldie. He gets very fast and is recruited to his school’s football team.
Skye uses her extra hours to become the perfect, most productive student and win student of the month. She reads, knits, studies, and completes art projects during the night.
Levi uses his extra hours to become a social media influencer. He creates 4 different accounts: Rio from Hawaii, Tomato Red, Gripester, and Dog Biscuits.
Cyrus uses his extra hours to invent things. He creates a retractable dog cone, a motion-detecting camera, and a lock pick.
Thea uses her extra hours to practice for her school’s play, Annie. She converts her treehouse to a soundproof practice room.
Setting:
The town of Shagbark, the nearby city, and a nearby town called Wilson
Plot:
What would you do if you didn’t need sleep? The book is focused on this question. Mickey, Skye, Levi, Cyrus, and Thea have all mysteriously stopped sleeping. They use their extra eight hours to become better than everyone else. They hide this from their parents. They soon find each other and investigate what is causing their sleeplessness. They realize it is caused by the shots that their allergist, Dr. Malachi, gives them. The five confront Dr. Malachi, who goes into hiding. They try to find him and along the way find James Malachi, who is later revealed to be Dr. Malachi’s son. James Malachi is mentally disturbed from the faulty sleepless shots that his father gave him. Thea no longer wants to be sleepless after discovering what happened to James Malachi. The five realize they are being spied on. The spy is revealed to be Beans, a fellow student who is also sleepless. They follow Beans to Dr. Malachi’s rental house. The five create a plan to break into Dr. Malachi house to steal the sleepless serum. They successfully break into the house and steal the beaker of serum. James Malachi and Dr. Malachi show up to the house separately. James calls the police. The five return to Thea’s treehouse. Thea does not want anything to do with the serum. The others also decide to destroy it. They smash it onto the roots of a tree. The tree never loses its leaves, even in the winter when it snows. The five go back to sleeping and being ordinary.
I generally liked this book! It was good, despite a few flaws. Definitely recommend!!!
Overall:
I liked the characters, but the ending felt very anticlimactic. The question this book is centered on — what would happen if you didn’t need to sleep? — is interesting. The book, despite being short, felt slow at times.
Characters:
Mickey uses his extra hours to work out with his dog, Baldie. He gets very fast and is recruited to his school’s football team.
Skye uses her extra hours to become the perfect, most productive student and win student of the month. She reads, knits, studies, and completes art projects during the night.
Levi uses his extra hours to become a social media influencer. He creates 4 different accounts: Rio from Hawaii, Tomato Red, Gripester, and Dog Biscuits.
Cyrus uses his extra hours to invent things. He creates a retractable dog cone, a motion-detecting camera, and a lock pick.
Thea uses her extra hours to practice for her school’s play, Annie. She converts her treehouse to a soundproof practice room.
Setting:
The town of Shagbark, the nearby city, and a nearby town called Wilson
Plot:
What would you do if you didn’t need sleep? The book is focused on this question. Mickey, Skye, Levi, Cyrus, and Thea have all mysteriously stopped sleeping. They use their extra eight hours to become better than everyone else. They hide this from their parents. They soon find each other and investigate what is causing their sleeplessness. They realize it is caused by the shots that their allergist, Dr. Malachi, gives them. The five confront Dr. Malachi, who goes into hiding. They try to find him and along the way find James Malachi, who is later revealed to be Dr. Malachi’s son. James Malachi is mentally disturbed from the faulty sleepless shots that his father gave him. Thea no longer wants to be sleepless after discovering what happened to James Malachi. The five realize they are being spied on. The spy is revealed to be Beans, a fellow student who is also sleepless. They follow Beans to Dr. Malachi’s rental house. The five create a plan to break into Dr. Malachi house to steal the sleepless serum. They successfully break into the house and steal the beaker of serum. James Malachi and Dr. Malachi show up to the house separately. James calls the police. The five return to Thea’s treehouse. Thea does not want anything to do with the serum. The others also decide to destroy it. They smash it onto the roots of a tree. The tree never loses its leaves, even in the winter when it snows. The five go back to sleeping and being ordinary.
I generally liked this book! It was good, despite a few flaws. Definitely recommend!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What worked:
This plot answers the question, “What if there were more hours in a day?” The characters not only don’t need sleep; they never get tired. It’s interesting to consider their five different viewpoints, as they’re presented in alternating chapters. Mickey is tired of being bullied at school, so he starts running and lifting weights at three o’clock in the morning. Levi likes to make posts on social media, so he creates multiple personas for different time zones around the world. Skye is already an outstanding student, but she uses her extra time to expand her learning and develop impressive projects. Cyrus uses the night hours to create new inventions, and he starts by trying to perfect his family’s toaster.
Readers will notice that the characters all use the same allergist before they do. This revelation leads to the main conflict in the plot. Most of the characters don’t view sleeplessness as a problem, but one of them thinks it’s cheating. Her position reminds readers that there are always multiple ways to view a situation. The characters eventually discover there are other sleepless kids, and it’s a relief to share their experiences and feelings. They eventually get together to question Dr. Malachi about how this happened, but his answers aren’t what they expect.
Readers who enjoy Gordan Korman books may enjoy the story’s mysterious twist. Sleeplessness is treated as a huge secret, so the kids don’t tell their parents or friends. The early chapters will have readers wondering how it happened, but the answer may be more troubling. Then, they begin to notice clues indicating someone else knows about their secret. Who is this person, and what do they want? Is it a stalker out to harm them? Again, the answer only creates more questions.
What didn’t work as well:
A conflict involving Mickey and Skye develops, and its resolution comes out of the blue. Even Mickey is shocked when it happens. Even though it seems plausible, it feels like a step is missing from the process.
The final verdict:
Fans of the author will be pleased, and the alternating chapters sharing the characters’ five points of view provide a familiar format. I recommend all readers give it a shot.
This plot answers the question, “What if there were more hours in a day?” The characters not only don’t need sleep; they never get tired. It’s interesting to consider their five different viewpoints, as they’re presented in alternating chapters. Mickey is tired of being bullied at school, so he starts running and lifting weights at three o’clock in the morning. Levi likes to make posts on social media, so he creates multiple personas for different time zones around the world. Skye is already an outstanding student, but she uses her extra time to expand her learning and develop impressive projects. Cyrus uses the night hours to create new inventions, and he starts by trying to perfect his family’s toaster.
Readers will notice that the characters all use the same allergist before they do. This revelation leads to the main conflict in the plot. Most of the characters don’t view sleeplessness as a problem, but one of them thinks it’s cheating. Her position reminds readers that there are always multiple ways to view a situation. The characters eventually discover there are other sleepless kids, and it’s a relief to share their experiences and feelings. They eventually get together to question Dr. Malachi about how this happened, but his answers aren’t what they expect.
Readers who enjoy Gordan Korman books may enjoy the story’s mysterious twist. Sleeplessness is treated as a huge secret, so the kids don’t tell their parents or friends. The early chapters will have readers wondering how it happened, but the answer may be more troubling. Then, they begin to notice clues indicating someone else knows about their secret. Who is this person, and what do they want? Is it a stalker out to harm them? Again, the answer only creates more questions.
What didn’t work as well:
A conflict involving Mickey and Skye develops, and its resolution comes out of the blue. Even Mickey is shocked when it happens. Even though it seems plausible, it feels like a step is missing from the process.
The final verdict:
Fans of the author will be pleased, and the alternating chapters sharing the characters’ five points of view provide a familiar format. I recommend all readers give it a shot.
July 8, 2026
But it's pretty amazing how good you can get at something when you've got all the time in the world to practice.
What could you do with uninterrupted time?
How much more would you accomplish if you did not have to take time to sleep?
In this new title from Gordon Korman, a group of 12-year-olds find themselves lying awake at night. Rather than stay in bed, they begin to move through the world and perfect a craft.
🏃♂️Mickey takes his dog out and they start running and running and working out. Before long he is excelling on the football field AND finding time for homework.
👧Skye is student of the week at her exclusive private school, paints a mural, and more. She has plenty of time for those details.
💻Levi improves his social media game. Staying up all night allows him to post as different users around the clock and his follower count is through the roof.
👩🦰 Thea gets the lead in the school production of 'Annie' and has plenty of time to practice her singing in the backyard treehouse.
🧰Cyrus loves to tinker and now he can finally perfect the inventions he has dreamed about building. And the toaster is finally going to evenly toast their bread!
🐱👤There is a mysterious figure who seems to be spying on them. Could he or she be SLEEPLESS like they are.
❓As the kids discover there are more of them out there, they are soon collaborating to figure out WHY and WHAT to do about it. The person behind their condition is ultimately shown to be the villain we would expect to hatch such a plot.
😴The question that needs to be answered is this: Would we live without sleep if we could?
Happy Publication Day (July 7) to another entertaining and thought-provoking read from the desk of Gordon Korman. I am always up for one of his titles! Thank you to Scholastic Press and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What could you do with uninterrupted time?
How much more would you accomplish if you did not have to take time to sleep?
In this new title from Gordon Korman, a group of 12-year-olds find themselves lying awake at night. Rather than stay in bed, they begin to move through the world and perfect a craft.
🏃♂️Mickey takes his dog out and they start running and running and working out. Before long he is excelling on the football field AND finding time for homework.
👧Skye is student of the week at her exclusive private school, paints a mural, and more. She has plenty of time for those details.
💻Levi improves his social media game. Staying up all night allows him to post as different users around the clock and his follower count is through the roof.
👩🦰 Thea gets the lead in the school production of 'Annie' and has plenty of time to practice her singing in the backyard treehouse.
🧰Cyrus loves to tinker and now he can finally perfect the inventions he has dreamed about building. And the toaster is finally going to evenly toast their bread!
🐱👤There is a mysterious figure who seems to be spying on them. Could he or she be SLEEPLESS like they are.
❓As the kids discover there are more of them out there, they are soon collaborating to figure out WHY and WHAT to do about it. The person behind their condition is ultimately shown to be the villain we would expect to hatch such a plot.
😴The question that needs to be answered is this: Would we live without sleep if we could?
Happy Publication Day (July 7) to another entertaining and thought-provoking read from the desk of Gordon Korman. I am always up for one of his titles! Thank you to Scholastic Press and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
How many times have you thought If only I had a few more hours in a day, I could finally get everything done? What if you no longer needed to sleep? This is what Levi, Mickey, Skye, Thea, and Cyrus ask. The four each think they are the only ones who no longer sleep, until they find each other. While they all agree no one else can know about this, they also use the time to become better than everyone else at things. Levi, a big social media guy, starts making posts from different accounts around the world. Cyrus the creator uses his time to invent new things, Skye, the great student, uses her time to become even smarter, and Thea practices songs from the upcoming play she is in. Mickey is tired of being bullied, so he starts running and lifting weights. It is a chance encounter on one of Mickey's runs when his running partner and best friend, his dog Baldy, gets loose, and Mickey follows to get him back, and that is when they start coming together and find they are not alone. But the real mystery they need to solve is what caused their sleep to stop.
I'm not sure where the author keeps getting his ideas, but I hope it doesn’t stop anytime soon. This is another wonderful book that makes you stop and think, "What would I do?" Would I even like it? I really liked this book, told from the different viewpoints of the kids and what they are really thinking about it all, especially after it has been going on for a while, as they start to see the moral dilemma and decide how to deal with it. This is a great book for middle-grade, reluctant readers, and would make an awesome classroom read. Maybe even read it when you can get to sleep.
Review copy provided by Netgalley
I'm not sure where the author keeps getting his ideas, but I hope it doesn’t stop anytime soon. This is another wonderful book that makes you stop and think, "What would I do?" Would I even like it? I really liked this book, told from the different viewpoints of the kids and what they are really thinking about it all, especially after it has been going on for a while, as they start to see the moral dilemma and decide how to deal with it. This is a great book for middle-grade, reluctant readers, and would make an awesome classroom read. Maybe even read it when you can get to sleep.
Review copy provided by Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review based on advance copy from publisher.
Told from 5 different perspectives, this middle grade story asks its readers to think about the question: what would you do if you didn’t need to sleep?
Mickey, Levi, Skye, Thea and Cyrus are all middle schoolers who suddenly no longer need sleep. At first, they don’t know why it’s happening to each of them (or that it’s happening to each other). They know it’s not normal, and they need to keep it a secret from their families. So they each decide to use those night hours to become the best at their passions: workouts, social media, academics, singing, and inventing. But when they discover each other, AND the one thing they have in common, this group of 5 must decide if being sleepless is worth having an Uninterrupted Life.
What I liked:
- I’m a sucker for middle grade stories from multiple perspectives.
- Length was accessible (228 pages) and chapters were usually under 10 pages.
- Fast paced.
- Great for discussion with middle grade readers about code of ethics and morality of decision-making (I’m being vague to avoid spoilers!)
Not so sure about:
- Ending seemed abrupt and unresolved. IE: Will this happen again to another group of kids in another community? What exactly happened/will happen to James? (details left out due to not wanting to spoil).
- What seemed to be a big issue between Mickey & Skye was resolved way too easily without knowing/understanding the backstory.
Told from 5 different perspectives, this middle grade story asks its readers to think about the question: what would you do if you didn’t need to sleep?
Mickey, Levi, Skye, Thea and Cyrus are all middle schoolers who suddenly no longer need sleep. At first, they don’t know why it’s happening to each of them (or that it’s happening to each other). They know it’s not normal, and they need to keep it a secret from their families. So they each decide to use those night hours to become the best at their passions: workouts, social media, academics, singing, and inventing. But when they discover each other, AND the one thing they have in common, this group of 5 must decide if being sleepless is worth having an Uninterrupted Life.
What I liked:
- I’m a sucker for middle grade stories from multiple perspectives.
- Length was accessible (228 pages) and chapters were usually under 10 pages.
- Fast paced.
- Great for discussion with middle grade readers about code of ethics and morality of decision-making (I’m being vague to avoid spoilers!)
Not so sure about:
- Ending seemed abrupt and unresolved. IE: Will this happen again to another group of kids in another community? What exactly happened/will happen to James? (details left out due to not wanting to spoil).
- What seemed to be a big issue between Mickey & Skye was resolved way too easily without knowing/understanding the backstory.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In SLEEPLESS, Gordon Korman’s latest middle grade book, a group of five kids are hiding a secret. None of them need to sleep anymore—at all! While they’re not quite sure of what is behind this change in their sleep patterns, the extra time awake allows them to explore their special interests in great depth and develop some impressive skills and talents. Eventually, the kids discover that they’re not alone. Once this happens, they work together to unravel the mystery of the common link that is behind this new phenomenon.
The book is told from multiple perspectives, giving readers lots to ponder about the pros and cons of being sleepless. Each of the characters reflects on the moral issues around unlimited time from their own experiences. There is also a through line related to medical ethics that may raise issues that middle grade readers have not yet considered. The distinct personalities and interests of the narrators will help this book to appeal to many different readers. While the story features adventure and mystery, the authentic friendships that develop between the group are what drive the story forward—and there’s even a tiny hint of first crushes for readers looking for this in their books. Like many other Korman books, I think this will be enjoyed by many of my school’s middle grade readers.
The book is told from multiple perspectives, giving readers lots to ponder about the pros and cons of being sleepless. Each of the characters reflects on the moral issues around unlimited time from their own experiences. There is also a through line related to medical ethics that may raise issues that middle grade readers have not yet considered. The distinct personalities and interests of the narrators will help this book to appeal to many different readers. While the story features adventure and mystery, the authentic friendships that develop between the group are what drive the story forward—and there’s even a tiny hint of first crushes for readers looking for this in their books. Like many other Korman books, I think this will be enjoyed by many of my school’s middle grade readers.
April 1, 2026
Thank you to Scholastic and NetGalley for the ARC. Our story starts with Micky who cannot sleep and hasn't slept in months. Rather than toss and turn all night, he decides to start running with his dog, Baldy and work on weight training. Micky has allergies and goes in occasionally for allergy shots. It is easy for Micky to sneak out since his parents lost a lot of money in a real estate deal and now work basically 24/7. Meanwhile, a girl named Sky is also sleepless and uses her time for art, reading, etc. Levi, another sleepless boy uses the time for his social media accounts, Thea practices her singing. Cyrus invents things. Eventually, the kids meet in the night and realize they are all sleepless. How did this happen? Why them?
How does Gordon Korman keep cranking out fabulous, original books that students want to read? I love the multiple perspectives and students do too, plus I hope that if there is an audiobook, that there will be a different narrator for each kid. I enjoyed the nighttime adventures, the hunt for Dr. Malachi, and the debates about whether this was ethical or not.
With the short chapters, different viewpoints, skill sets of each kid, and great MS length, this book is a winner. I cannot wait to book talk this when it's published!
How does Gordon Korman keep cranking out fabulous, original books that students want to read? I love the multiple perspectives and students do too, plus I hope that if there is an audiobook, that there will be a different narrator for each kid. I enjoyed the nighttime adventures, the hunt for Dr. Malachi, and the debates about whether this was ethical or not.
With the short chapters, different viewpoints, skill sets of each kid, and great MS length, this book is a winner. I cannot wait to book talk this when it's published!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What would you do if you suddenly were unable to sleep at night, night after night, and not even be tired from not sleeping? What if it went on for months? As five middle schoolers found out, it actually could be pretty cool! They could excel at their academics, learn a new sport, become a superstar actress and singer, have multiple social media personalities, and best of all, have hours of unsupervised time after their parents go to sleep.
In this book, Korman uses the voices of all five characters to tell their stories, from when they each stopped sleeping to when they find out why. And then finally how each one struggles with the ethics behind why they aren’t sleeping.
My one criticism was more from the format of the ebook, because I did not catch that it was told in 5 voices–that each chapter was a new kid. The way my Kindle transferred the data smushed it so it wasn’t obvious, so I did have to go back and re-read the first few chapters. Other than that, I thought this was a fresh plot and another winner from Korman. Recommended for upper elementary and middle school.
In this book, Korman uses the voices of all five characters to tell their stories, from when they each stopped sleeping to when they find out why. And then finally how each one struggles with the ethics behind why they aren’t sleeping.
My one criticism was more from the format of the ebook, because I did not catch that it was told in 5 voices–that each chapter was a new kid. The way my Kindle transferred the data smushed it so it wasn’t obvious, so I did have to go back and re-read the first few chapters. Other than that, I thought this was a fresh plot and another winner from Korman. Recommended for upper elementary and middle school.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One at a time five middle school students discover that they no longer need to sleep. Not only do they not need to, but they can't. So each one finds a way to maximize their extra hours. Thea works on her songs to get the lead role in Annie. Levi runs multiple social media accounts and strives to be an influencer. Skye studies in order to become the best student. Cyrus invents cool gadgets, and Mickey starts working out and goes from non-athlete to the fastest guy on the football team. Since all of the extra work takes place at night, the five eventually find each other and become best friends. They also discover the reason for their new sleepless status.
The group faces some adventures, some danger, and an ethical dilemma that each one has to decide for him or herself. The author did a great job of exploring the possibilities available to us if we didn't have to sleep each night. He also presented readers with the question: Would this be a good thing for humanity? For each individual? I think my students will love it for the friendships, the adventures, and the questions it will raise for them and help them consider. This will make a great class or small group discussion book.
The group faces some adventures, some danger, and an ethical dilemma that each one has to decide for him or herself. The author did a great job of exploring the possibilities available to us if we didn't have to sleep each night. He also presented readers with the question: Would this be a good thing for humanity? For each individual? I think my students will love it for the friendships, the adventures, and the questions it will raise for them and help them consider. This will make a great class or small group discussion book.
July 7, 2026
Korman is a master of the multi-character stories, and this book is no exception! Each character we focus on is fully fleshed out, whether it is Mickey who wants to get better at sports, Skye who is so intelligent I’m jealous, Thea who is born to be a star, Levi who is absolutely realistic in his desire to rule social media, or Cyrus who focuses on improving our world through inventions. Each character is unique, and yet they fall together seamlessly into their group of sleepless individuals. I do think there were parts that may not have been necessary- for example, the drama about Mickey and Skye being together is actually no big deal, but the emphasis on it made it feel like there should have been more pushback, but overall, I enjoyed reading about the night time adventures of this ragtag group of middle schoolers. They felt realistic while also giving readers an example of someone they could look up to (after all, they all use their evening hours for good, not evil). I would highly recommend this book to those who love a character focused story with a unique twist in the plot!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Written from 5 different character perspectives- Mickey, Skye, Levi, Thea & Cyrus. They no longer sleep, but they don’t know why. The story is about them finding each other and figuring out how they became sleepless and what to do about it. They also become friends. I found it a little hard to follow along with 5 different characters. There are several not morally good instances- lying to parents, staying out all night, stealing, breaking and entering. Some of the details of the story feel like they need to be fleshed out more. (For example- when Mickey, Skye and Cyrus meet- it doesn’t seem like a smooth transition from keeping everything to themselves, to then admitting they’re sleepless.) I was completely flabbergasted that this all happened to them without their parent’s permission or knowledge! And the fact that nobody went to jail for it left me feeling at odds.
Recommend for grades 5-7, for fans of Gordon Korman.
Recommend for grades 5-7, for fans of Gordon Korman.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When you think of Middle Grade authors, Gordon Korman should be at the top of your list. He never fails to entertain, and in Sleepless, he strikes again. Using his signature style of switching character perspectives in different chapters, he’s able to tell a well rounded story. I will admit, the premise of Speechless is a little far fetched (a group of kids never sleeping for months without having any horrid side effects), However, it’s important to remember that this book is intended for a middle grade audience who aren’t as encumbered by reality as adults. It’s okay to suspend disbelief sometimes. The book is fast paced and won’t leave you bored. The characters (especially Baldy the dog) are relatable and lovable. I’ll definitely be purchasing a copy or two for my classroom library to share with my students.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Sleepless by Gordon Korman, 240 pages. Scholastic JULY 2026. $19
Content: G (mild threats)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
They are all 12yo and all five of them don’t need any sleep. None. Instead, each of the five is using that extra time to perfect talents and interests - until they start discovering each other. Now there’s a bigger mystery for them to solve. Why are they all sleepless? They have an idea of what has happened to them and who did it, but do they want this sleeplessness turned off? Maybe they won’t be so special any more.
Korman has such a knack for taking these little ideas and making them so compelling to read all the way to the end. It would be great to read aloud and then discuss what kids would pursue in those extra hours and would they be willing to give them up or not.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
Content: G (mild threats)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
They are all 12yo and all five of them don’t need any sleep. None. Instead, each of the five is using that extra time to perfect talents and interests - until they start discovering each other. Now there’s a bigger mystery for them to solve. Why are they all sleepless? They have an idea of what has happened to them and who did it, but do they want this sleeplessness turned off? Maybe they won’t be so special any more.
Korman has such a knack for taking these little ideas and making them so compelling to read all the way to the end. It would be great to read aloud and then discuss what kids would pursue in those extra hours and would they be willing to give them up or not.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
Read
April 16, 2026Another fun read from Gordon Korman! Sleepless is a little bit different than his usual writing but just as good as his realistic fiction books. This one has some science fiction medicine happening. Korman still captures the various characters different personalities.
This book would be a great read aloud for an upper elementary or middle school classroom. Classes could discuss the science behind it and the moral dilemmas that may come up in the story.
A definite must-have title for all libraries, especially if you already have Gordon Korman titles.
#GordonKorman #Sleepless #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #PublicLibraries #PublicLibrarians #ReadABook #ReadThisBook #Books #Read #MGReads #MGBooks #MGLit #KidLit #ElementaryBooks #ElemReads #NetGalley #Goodreads
This book would be a great read aloud for an upper elementary or middle school classroom. Classes could discuss the science behind it and the moral dilemmas that may come up in the story.
A definite must-have title for all libraries, especially if you already have Gordon Korman titles.
#GordonKorman #Sleepless #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #PublicLibraries #PublicLibrarians #ReadABook #ReadThisBook #Books #Read #MGReads #MGBooks #MGLit #KidLit #ElementaryBooks #ElemReads #NetGalley #Goodreads
July 14, 2026
Another Gordon Korman winner. As an adult, I had to suspend disbelief on the impact of not needing sleep on the lives of the kids in this book. However, my 10-year-old son was giddy with the forbidden notion of staying up all night without parents knowing and without consequences for their nocturnal activities. He loved the perspective of changing points of view throughout the book, and he really engaged with the friendships that were formed over the kids' shared experiences. This was his first Korman book, and now he wants to read them all. Consider this book a perfect entry point into Korman's catalog for middle grade readers—and a great excuse to stay up past bedtime.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I read this book with my 10 year old daughter together. It was a great story that raised a lot of good conversation between the two of us. I loved that all of the characters were so different and had different interests and skills, I think that makes the book very relatable to different types of kids. The book was thought provoking and also had a good level of maturity for the age group, not too childish, but appropriate for the middle school crowd. I would recommend this book and will be recommending our library purchase a copy. I recommend this book for ages 9-12.
July 8, 2026
The premise of this book was really interesting: what would you do if you stopped needing to sleep? The characters were interesting, though I’m not sure if we needed Levi’s POV, since I don’t think it added much. I was curious where this book was going to go, since the action didn’t start to pick up until the middle of the book once the allergist went missing. While I enjoyed the book, it wasn’t nearly as compelling as some of Korman’s others, like Untouchables, Linked, and Restart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In "Sleepless," Gordon Korman introduces five kids who suddenly discover they no longer need to sleep, initially using the extra time to get ahead in life. However, what feels like a superpower quickly turns into a dark mystery as the group realizes they are part of something much larger and more dangerous.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Well written and thought provoking for the middle grader. Will definitely have some great discussions with kids on "What would you do, if you didnt need sleep." Lots of fun with plenty of twists and turns. Characters are likeable and interesting and plenty of action for both the reluctant reader and those who love to read. Korman really has a gift for engaging all kinds of readers.
June 20, 2026
I love all of Gordon Korman’s novels for my middle school students. This one isn’t my favorite, but I still enjoyed the multi pov and storyline. Parts were predictable, and other parts went off the rails to where I had no clue where the story was going. Those parts weren’t my favorite. There need to be more of a concrete resolution for me to give a higher rating.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Five middle school kids no longer need sleep and while this sounds great (think of all the extra time there would be in every day), the reason behind this sleeplessness is a mystery they will need to solve! Korman's fans - new and old - will love this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Trademark Korman, always a fun read. Five middle schoolers have completely stopped sleeping, and they have no idea why, but they each find remarkable ways to make use of their newfound time. Sure to be a hit with Korman's many fans.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters and I really wanted to see what happened to them. I did figure out the connection between them pretty early on, but it didn't take away from the story at all. I liked the growth that happened with them and this had a satisfying ending.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This truly talented author has done it again- created a cast of characters with unique situations and turns of events that hooks readers through to the very last page. This author is an “auto-buy” for me!
This truly talented author has done it again- created a cast of characters with unique situations and turns of events that hooks readers through to the very last page. This author is an “auto-buy” for me!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Korman can do no wrong. He is amazing. As someone who suffers from insomnia this book spoke to me. Thank you for opportunity. He is one of my favorite authors and this book lived up to all my expectations of a Gordon Korman masterpiece.
July 10, 2026
All the great things you expect from contemporary Gordon Korman: Resourceful and remarkable kids find themselves in a jam and work their way out of it. A small element of dystopia and mild sci-fi. Along the lines of the MASTERMINDS trilogy and MIXED UP and OPERATION DO-OVER.
July 15, 2026
This is a classic Korman middle grade book. A group of middle schoolers must solve a mystery that binds them together, then decide if they want to continue their life of sleeplessness or not. I hope to add this to my middle school library since his books are always popular with my students.
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