Sleepless

by Gordon Korman

From the #1 bestselling author of RESTART, 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 keeping them awake at night?

Genres: Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Friendship, Young Adult, Chapter Books, Mystery

233 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2026

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

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3 stars ✰

“How come we’ve got all the time in the world, but no time to just be ourselves?”

I always thought that the complaint that I never had enough time to do all the things I wanted to do was a yearning that I had acquired over the years when I felt time slipping through my fingers as I grew older. But I never realized that such a notion could even occur when you were just twelve years old and so much could be done when you literally did not need to sleep! ⏰

Such is the case for the quintet of 7th graders of Gordon Korman's latest middle grade read, each bound by their special talent of spending unusual and unexplained Sleepless nights in their quiet, normal (or is it?? 👀👀) neighborhood of Shagbark, where they're able to get so much done - so far ahead—only to discover the unhealthy reckoning that could follow if they pursue never getting a good night's rest. 😣

“Sleeplessness is so weird that you can’t imagine what it’s like if it isn’t happening to you.”

It is interesting how facets of each student resonate so well with even adults; breaking barriers only because rest is for the weak when there is so much to attain in those granted hours. 🥺 But the adverse effects that follow are a harsh awakening. A strong cautionary tale of what could go horribly wrong when you start to see it as a gift, rather than a curse.

The reminder that just as much as it's important to live, it is even wiser and kinder to interrupt it - a concept that slipped my mind, that I took for granted. 😴 But the casualties and dangers that GK firmly reprimanded his audience with his usual frank candidness, were effective.

“There is so much to do—to accomplish—and the only resource that matters is time.”

It did take quite a dark, heavy turn, and I did miss the humor. And I guess I do have to accept that gone are those days when he was able to navigate multi-povs with ease. The emotional onslaught was harsh, but maybe that was intentional to instill fear. And I do think Baldie being on the cover is misleading, since he wasn't even experiencing insomnia, but, sure, why not? ​🙆🏻‍♀️

But I also do think it would make a great read for educational purposes in class activities. 📖 For if its target audience can learn something from these kids who faced a rotten but tough, important decision about their future well-being, then maybe it was well worth the sacrifice of a few hours of my own time to read it. 🫩

[BooksNCrannies · Rating 4 out of 5]

"[S]leep is something I used to do but don't anymore. It's annoying and it's boring and it's very, very frustrating. But as time goes by, it becomes something else too: scary.
This is just not normal. What is happening to me?"

✏️ Review ✏️

Sleepless delivers another fun and enjoyable story by Gordon Korman, featuring his signature humor, well-rounded characters, smooth writing style, seamlessly woven multi-POV, and satisfying storytelling. This contemporary tale is mixed with a unique yet very believable sci-fi dilemma. It's just the right balance: not too much sci-fi but just enough to make for a unique, mysterious, and thoroughly intriguing storyline.

I loved the characters! They're dynamic, realistic, and memorable, and the characters' diverse and quirky characterizations greatly compliment each other's and add depth to the story. (#alltoastersarelousy 😆) And once again I'm impressed at Korman's expert handling of the multi-POV approach, which is seamlessly meshed together and lends a distinct voice and personality to each character.

Blending a contemporary setting of well-rounded characters with a sci-fi twist, Sleepless offers a adventurous, humorous, and mysterious read for all ages. I had a great time buddy reading it with my sister and know for sure that Gordon Korman has found a place on the list of my favorite contemporary authors.

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📊 A Quick Overview 📊

👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The plot — a balanced blend of intrigue, adventure, and mystery.
• The characters — well-rounded, realistic, and dynamic.
• The multi-POV — it's seamlessly woven together and each character's perspective has a distinct voice.
• The writing style — it's super easy to read yet very smooth, conversational, and full of clean humor.
• The ending — although it leaves some minor details up to the reader's imagination, it nonetheless provides a satisfactory conclusion to the story.

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

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❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓

— Would I recommend this book? Of course!*

— To whom? To those who enjoy middle grade contemporary tales that have an intriguing element of sci-fi.

*(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: 4.5/5
— 👥 Characters: 4/5

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

— 🤬 Language: 0/5

• (Two uses of "heck.")

— ⚔️ Violence: 0/5

— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5

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📣 Random Comments 📣

• Content notes: (1) When deciding about recommending Sleepless to younger readers, due be aware that it contains a bit more emphasis on a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship than is found in Korman's other stories. (2) Evolutionary timelines and concepts are briefly mentioned on a couple of occasions.

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💬 Favorite Quotes 💬

• (None)

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun story about five 7th grade students who previously didn't know each other but ended up coming together to solve a mystery about something they all shared; the fact that none of them had been able to sleep for even one minute for the last few months. All 5 of them were awake 24 hours a day. I loved the different and very distinct personalities of the five kids and what they used all their extra time and sleeplessness to accomplish when they stayed awake and active all night long when their families were asleep, (and thinking they were too!). But then I thought, how is this all going to end? And when will it end? Does it end? How long can this go on? And how is it possible that the same thing is happening to these five kids who all live in the same town? Finding out the answers to these questions became their new shared goal at night when the rest of the town was sleeping soundly. I loved how they banded together and became close friends who were there for each other. They never gave up searching for the truth. I cheered when they triumphed in the end. Another terrific middle school story from Gordon Korman!

[Leah B · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 🤣).

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five different narrators who are all 7th graders living in the same town…and none of them need to sleep. At first they all try to sleep, but eventually give up and start putting their extra 8 hours a day to use. Mickey starts running and getting in shape. Skye reads, knits, and works on school projects. Cyrus tinkers and invents. Thea practices her singing. Levi creates several social media accounts and becomes a prolific poster. What would you do with an extra 8 hours a day? And what does going sleepless forever mean?

It’s like a mix of The Double Life of Danny Day, The Experiment, and Tuck Everlasting. I think kids will enjoy the story and pondering what they would do with 8 more hours. Ethical implications can also be discussed.

The five kids all end up meeting each other, which gives them a good support network. They discover their allergist has been dosing them without their consent, and confront him. Four of the kids decide they want to keep getting the shots, but then the doctor disappears. While tracking him down they discover one of his first patients, who has serious issues (and ends up being his son!). Then they discover a sixth kid who is spying on them and conspiring with the doctor. But the doctor escapes AGAIN, and the kids end up with a final bottle of serum. They all decide not to use it and dump it out.

[Henry Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[hajar (free palestine) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars
DUDE THE ENDING WAS SO RUSHED WHAT ON EARTH
NO LIKE SERIOUSLY IT WAS SO RUSHED
this was so cute tho

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Emme Lovecchio · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!!!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Jordan E. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. I already love it just because of the author, but I also enjoyed the book itself.

I would love to not have to sleep-- I could read more books and only put them down when I finish them, not because it's time for bed. But having someone like Dr. Malachi give me a shot to make sleeplessness happen-- a shot that sounds hard both mentally and physically when I already have Medical PTSD with normal appointments and needles? No, thank you. If ever humans reach a point where they don't need sleep, it should be because God makes it possible, not because people pay to be injected with it in such a painful way.

I loved what it did for each of the children-- Cyrus got to invent more, Levi reached social media stardom, Mickey and Skye became a couple, Thea deepened her talent for singing and theater, and they all became friends. But in the end, they were right to dispose of the serum, not only because it was unhealthy but also because they were being deceived and it's hard to want something when it was given to you by someone who betrayed your trust.

All in all, this story was amazing, and except for only two of Mr. Korman's books, I expected nothing less from him. Like I said: When the right way to get this comes along, I would like to indulge in it. But I would rather be told about it up-front and have it be something God had planned than take it without knowin, especially after reading about James's experience with the darker side of Dr. Malachi's injections that he gave to adults before the book took place.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Shannon Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[WKPL Children's/YA Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Lori loves reading anything Gordon Korman writes! His latest book, Sleepless, is another winner for those who enjoy humor, kids in "kind of hard to believe situations", and a moral at the end of the story.
A group of kids in a small town eventually find out that each of them can't/don't sleep at all anymore. As they get to know one another, they find the common denominator to their sleeplessness and have to decide whether it is worth it to continue the sleeplessness. Each of them have the extra hours at night when they aren't sleeping, to become proficient in things that are giving them a bit of notoriety at school, ie. practicing more at singing and rehearsing lines for a show, running and exercising to become better at sports, reading and studying more to maintain top grades. Hijinx ensue but do they want to continue not sleeping or are they losing more than sleep by staying up 24 hours a day?

Middle school readers and their parents should read this and ALL Mr. Korman's books.

[Aliceson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Michelle]

Another 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​

[Kate Schoedinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun to see Gordon Korman launch this book at Gibson’s, NH’s independent bookstore, and get signed copies for our amazing librarian at the 5/6 school in Bedford, NH. He talked about asking himself “What if….?” all the time for plot ideas and this was no exception: What if we didn’t need sleep at all and had no side effects? Great premise and made for a terrific story. And as always, an excellent ending. Extra special to the event was when an audience member who was a committee member on Great Stone Face of NH, awarded Gordon GSF for his book FAKER. He was so moved! Fabulous questions from kids in the packed audience. A great night!! He always delivers and surely knows his middle grade audience!

[Agd]

7.30.26. 4+. Clean. Dtown-->Concord-->cape eliz

How would you spend your bonus time if you no longer had to sleep? 5 middle schoolers suddenly find out. Mickey: exercising and becoming football star. Skye: extra studying & school work. Cyrus: inventing. Levi: social media stardom. Thea: singing & acting practice to become star of Annie. But it kind of feels like cheating, so each one tells no one. That is, until they find each other. Now, they're working together to figure out why they no longer have to sleep. And when they do figure it out, the bigger question becomes do they want to remain sleepless.

Shifting POVs. SciFi element worked in. Mickey & Skye relationship adds complexity since families have bad blood and only way spend time together is when others sleeping

[Adam Turney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good Gordon Korman book and was eager to listen to Sleepless. It starts out really intriguing, with an interesting premise and fun characters. But it seems to lose its way about halfway through. The second half has a rushed feeling and the stakes are almost non-existent. Worst of all, the characters become uninteresting and generic. It felt like Korman had a fun idea but didn't know where to go halfway through, so he just gave up. Then, the book just ends with no real resolution. The characters are just sitting around waiting for something to happen and the book ends. It was such an unsatisfying read after the halfway point. Not nearly as good as his many other excellent books like Linked or Restart.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Told in multiple voices, a small group of 7th graders mysteriously become unable to sleep. This gives them the competitive edge that gives them advantages others envy. When they find each other and the source of their sleeplessness, they are faced with a conundrum. Is sleeplessness desirable? Is it worth the lying, the deception, the rewards? What does it really give them? And what should they do for the greater good?

Although not my favorite Korman book, I think middle grade kids will throughly enjoy it. It just seems too far fetched that a doctor would experiment on middle schoolers so unabashedly. And that the necessity of sleep isn’t more directly addressed.