The Fort

Evan, C.J., Mitchell, and Jason have been best friends forever. They each have problems they are dealing with, some pretty bad. They have a fort in the woods that no one knows about, but after a big storm, Evan’s grandmother makes Evan take Ricky, a new kid in town, with him when he’s supposed to meet his pals at the fort. It’s fortunate Ricky is there because he finds an old bomb shelter with electricity, TV, VCR, great old tapes, lots of canned food, and more. The boys make it their new fort, but when they pawn some silver they find in the shelter, their newfound wealth causes even more problems for them. Soon their secret is out, and things get very scary.

Gordon Korman’s one hundredth book is simply terrific. Told from the points of view of the five boys, readers get real insights into the problems middle graders face, and some of the things these boys have to face are difficult. The characters are believable, the story is complex and rich, and the writing is conversational and accessible. This is a satisfying story of friendship and loyalty, one that readers will love and remember. Don’t miss it.