The Superteacher Project

The Superteacher Project

Gordon Korman

HarperCollins, January, 2023

304 pages

Grades 4-8

Science Fiction

Multiple points of view convey the story of a typical middle school with a new very atypical teacher. The students of Brightling Middle School are surprised when a new teacher enters their classroom accompanied by an older student teacher. Mr. Aidact is like no other educator the students have ever had. He is able to catch a spitball in midair, can explain things in different ways to make even the most unconventional students understand, doesn't mind taking on extra duties, and does not seem to need to eat lunch. Mr. Aidact seems to pick up information, slang, and song lyrics after only hearing it once and starts to become more and more like his students. Stuck running detention, it soon becomes a popular spot for delinquents and star students alike. When the field hockey team needs a coach, it's Mr. Aidact to the rescue. The fact he doesn't know anything about the sport does not prevent him from bring the team to the state championship. He seems a bit too good to be true, but there are some mysterious holes. Why is that strange "student teacher" always with him? When the class pranksters follow the new teacher home, they see that not only does he live with the student teacher, but he is most definitely not what he seems. Is the new star teacher even human?

Does it seem like I read every Gordon Korman book that comes down the pike? That is because I do! His books are just so readable and kid friendly. This one got me at the concept and I had to see where it was going to go. I figured out Mr. Aidact's identity pretty early on--and young readers will as well. Since the readers will be in on the plot twist, it is just a matter of sitting back and waiting for the chaos to ensue once the greater world discovers Mr. Aidact's secret. Korman adds his characteristic humor to the proceedings and the pranks and hijinks (especially the stunt involving a Big Wheel) will have kids as riveted as I was. There are a lot of characters, but everyone was written distinctly and the chapters are headed by the featured narrator at the top of every short chapter. The kids in the school, though all very different, must ban together at the end to save their favorite teacher. They turn out to be smarter and more open-minded than their parents, which young readers will applaud, and end up outsmarting the adults and saving the day. In the current climate of parents going to extremes to control what their children are exposed to, it feels like the actions in this book are rather timely. A fun book that even reluctant readers will enjoy that does not depend on comic-like pictures to keep readers turning pages.