The Unteachables

What happens when the worst teacher in the school meets the worst class? Mr Kermit has decided not to teach anymore after a cheating scandal that wasn't his fault. He just takes the roll, sits at the front of the room and does a crossword while the kids just do what they like. In Room 117, the kids are the "Unteachables", they have learning or language difficulties or problems at home and the school has neatly tucked them away in a back room together so the other teachers and classes can get on with their work and not be interrupted and get good grades. Into this class comes Kiana, who is new and instead of enrolling properly, just turns up to the class one day and keeps coming. (This will be a problem later) After Mr Kermit stands up show more for the class against the school principal, the class decide to help him out by stealing all the vuvuzelas that have been bought by the school to support the sports team. They also enter a Science competition and do much better than everyone expects.
A lovely story that teachers will enjoy as much as kids. show less

After a cheating scandal in his early days, Mr. Zachary Kermit gave up and stolidly does as little as possible to get through his teaching and get to retirement. He's almost there, but the principal who originally hung him out to dry is now the superintendent and he has other ideas... starting with giving him Room 117. Also known, unofficially, as the Unteachables.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints of the students, as well as Mr. Kermit and other teachers, as he originally plans to change nothing about his life, but then finds himself forced to reconsider. He's not the only one either, as he slowly learns about his students, they come to know each other as well, and find out that they do have possibilities after all.

Kiana isn't show more an unteachable - she's a bright student, forced to stay (temporarily, she's sure) with her dad, Stepmonster, and annoying baby brother. She accidentally joins the Unteachables and decides to stick around, eventually finding a place she fits in and close friends. Parker has never quite managed to learn to read, but between driving his grandmother around and delivering for the farm, he's busy enough that it's never mattered. Or has it? And just to set the record straight, he's fourteen. Yeah, he knows he's short and nobody expects to see him driving a pickup truck.

Aldo has a little, ok a big, anger problem. Barnstorm doesn't belong on the Unteachables - he's a sports star! But once he's injured and no longer bringing in the trophies, his academic shortcomings loom a lot larger than ever before. These and other misfits come together in their own ways. As they learn more about each other, and Mr. Kermit himself comes out of his shell, they slowly become a team and he begins to remember the teacher he was and hoped to be.

Of course, this is pretty stereotyped and there are a lot of "helpful" coincidences, like the daughter of Kermit's ex-fiancee being his next-door teacher. It's hard to see Parker's reading disability going unnoticed until 8th grade, or the actual harmlessness of Elaine "brings the pain" who's just big and clumsy. Nevertheless, this is ultimately a deeply satisfying story. Kids, whether or not they're "troublemakers" want to believe in redemption, and this is all about kids and adults finding themselves. If it leans a little more towards an adult audience, with frequent digressions into Mr. Kermit's lonely middle-aged life and regrets at the choices he's made, well, kids can easily skip those parts.

Being Korman, there's plenty of funny to liven things up, from the theft of noisemakers to wise-cracking kids.

Verdict: Not, perhaps, the best of Korman's work, but an amusing, solid title that teachers will enjoy recommending and kids won't mind reading. I put this in my YA section, since I'm working on building up my middle school titles, but it's perfectly acceptable for younger kids to read as well.

ISBN: 9780062563880; Published 2019 by Balzer and Bray; Purchased for the library show less

The Unteachables are a notorious class of misfits, delinquents, and academic train wrecks. Like Aldo, with anger management issues; Parker, who can’t read; Kiana, who doesn’t even belong in the class—or any class; and Elaine (rhymes with pain). The Unteachables have been removed from the student body and isolated in room 117.
Their teacher is Mr. Zachary Kermit, the most burned-out teacher in all of Greenwich. He was once a rising star, but his career was shattered by a cheating scandal that still haunts him. After years of phoning it in, he is finally one year away from early retirement. But the superintendent has his own plans to torpedo that idea—and it involves assigning Mr. Kermit to the Unteachables.
The Unteachables never show more thought they’d find a teacher who had a worse attitude than they did. And Mr. Kermit never thought he would actually care about teaching again. Over the course of a school year, though, room 117 will experience mayhem, destruction—and maybe even a shot at redemption. show less

In 2019, Gordon Korman, who is one of God's gifts to the genre of middle-grade fiction, surpassed himself once again with "The Unteachables." The story features a small class of utterly incorrigible 8th-graders and a teacher who is both burned out and (justifiably) bitter. Their interactions, and their development, make for a book that is both heartwarming and hilarious — two words that I tend to use very sparingly.

Very highly recommended.

Digital audiobook performed by a full cast

From the book jacket: The Unteachables are a notorious class of misfits, delinquents, and academic train wrecks. Their teacher is Mr Zachary Kermit, the most burned-out teacher in all of Greenwich. He was once a rising star, but his career was shattered by a cheating scandal that still haunts him. After years of phoning it in, he is finally one year away from early retirement. The Unteachables never thought they’d find a teacher who had a worse attitude than they did. And Mr. Kermit never thought he would actually care about teaching again.

My reactions:
This was a fun, enjoyable middle-grade book about kids – and at least one teacher – who need a little extra help and a hefty dose of show more understanding and empathy. The two central students are Kiana, a temporary transfer from California who’s living with her Dad and Stepmom while her mother (an actress) is on location, and Parker, a local student who still can’t read, though he CAN drive. The rest of this special class of eighth graders is made up of kids with a variety of issues and special gifts: anger-management, dyslexia, an injured former star-athlete with limited academic success, a gifted artist, a student whose large size makes everyone assume aggression, etc.

I loved how the kids came to understand one another, and how they came to understand their teacher and his struggles. I cheered at their efforts to right the wrongs they witnessed. And I was glad that some of the adults stepped up to the plate to admit past mistakes and try to right past injustices that may have resulted.

I think that young teens and middle-grade students will particularly like the focus on what the kids CAN do. Put down and bullied, they are clearly NOT helpless victims. Bravo!

The audio version is performed by a full cast: Sarah Beth Goer, Oliver Wyman, Josh Hurley, Tristan Morris, Chris Gebauer, Sean Welsh Brown, Pete Larkin, Fred Berman, Jennifer Nittoso. Though I’m not certain which actor voices which character, I can say that they all do a marvelous job. show less

Mr. Kermit is one year away from early retirement when he gets assigned to teach the Unteachables class. He knows this is the superintendent's way to drive him to quitting before retirement. Mr. Kermit doesn't intend to let anything get in the way of collecting his pension so he plans to breeze his way through the school year. However, the best laid plans always go awry.

I found The Unteachables to be hilariously funny with a depth of character and themes that spoke deeply to my heart. At times I found it to be charming and other times remarkably sad, It brought to the forefront that everyone counts. Everyone is teachable – even the teacher!

This book reminds us to look past society’s labels, to get to know the real person right in front of you for who they really are. To not let others define you but to search and find out who you are and what you want to be. This book is truly an inspiring book for all ages!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Mr. Kroman, Balzer + Bray publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read show more and review this book. show less