Swindle+by+Gordon+Kormon

[|Book Talk fom Scholastic] Ethan

Watch this video on how Gordon Kormon got his start. [|Gordon Korman Talking about "How he got his start?"] This video only works at home and not school. This is a picture of a Doberman, just like Luthor. (Eray) This is a picture of Gordan Korman.Eray Brett: Notes for 3 and 4 : Griffin gets $120.00 for the card spilts it with Ben. He Finds out the card could be sold for $1,000,000 from when S. Wendell Palomino is on the news. S. Wendell is going to put the card at an auction. Griffen was cheated. It was very unfair, it shows how little power kids have. It also shows that some people are very cheap and lie about valuable things, to get them.

Austin: That is so cheap that S. Wendell ripped Griffin off. I also think that if S. Wendell would not have ripped Griffin off, money from the card wouldv'e solved his parents money problems, because they are struggling finacially.If Darren is the shool bully, he might steal the card from Griffin for himself (the money).

Eray: If I were one of the kids invited to go in the house, I would never go because I would probably be too scared (unlike Ben).

I made a page about the characters in __Swindle__ the page is called __//Characters in Swindle.  //__//Excellent page - who put this one together? Put your first name after what you wrote. (Mrs. C.) //

Jack: Here is a page I found on scholastic.com that gives a great bio on Gordon Korman [|Gordon Korman Bio]. It sort of shows how he does things. Also, I think that Griffen should have checked on the internet, or gone to a library to make sure the card was real and valuable, because when you are talking about $1,000,000, you can't trust anybody. Plus in the silhouette it shows S. Wendell Palimino has beard and all, but in the book it says he is young.

Taylor: I could tell that Ben was scared to be in the old Rockford house with Griffin. If iwere invited to go to the old Rockford house i wouldnt go because it would be really scary if i woke up and they were just about to knock down the house.

Jack: (Chapter #5) I think that this is the most stressing time for Griffen because he knows that he was holding a path to a better life in his own hands before it was swindled away! Plus, (previous chapter thoughts) I did not understand why Griffen could not have sued Wendell because his sign said Best Prices Guaranteed, but he didn't. Plus, he would have the whole situation on tape if since he is considered the high-tech person because he would have security cameras to take to the court.

This is an aswer to Jack: Griffin couldn't sue Swindle because after he bought it, it was //his// property, not Griffin's//. (austin)//

I wonder if Darren just made up the excuse to get out of going to the old Rockford house. Also, I wonder how Griffan will persaude Ben to go along with his plan.(Andy)

I think Darren did made up an excuse not to go because he was maybe scared because that is what some bullies are like in other stories. and answer to Jack, S.wendell might of delete the part when Griffin sold him the card so then the police will have no prof Griffin sold him the card.{Ashley}  I actually think that Darren did make up an excuse because he was scared but if anything i would make up an excuse to not go to because i would be a scaredy cat to go in the old Rockford House that was going to be demolished the next morning. (Taylor)

I agree with Ashley that S. Wendell Palomino would do that because he is that kind of person, and if i were a person like S. Wendell Palomino then i would do the same thing but im not him and i would never do that. The thing is wouldnt you look for how much a very old Babe Ruth basball card is before you go out and take a deal for it? Because i think that anyone would rather trade a valuable antique for $1,000,000 then just for $120. What do you guys think? (Taylor)

Chapter 6: in chapter six Griffin told Ben that Griffin was moving because of his families money problem and Ben didnt know that so Griffin told Ben the whole story about why Griffin was moving and about why he wanted to get the rare Babe Ruth baseball card back from S. Wendell Palomino (Swindle). Now since Ben understands the whole consept Griffin is the Man With a Plan and Griffin and Ben are on this mission together.(Taylor)

Chapter 7: in chaper seven it really didnt give to much information but i do know that Griffin and Ben were trying to see how to get in right after they saw the assistant manager leave Palomino's Emporium so they walked up to the fence that is around Palomino's locked Emporium with a burglar alarm but it doesnt work out that good.(Taylor)  When Ben and Griffin tried to climb the fence and the dog came out of nowhere I think that s. Wendell keeps the dog there day and night and he might get savanna to help calm the dog down so they can get in. (Ashley) I agree with you. Thats is why Savvanah is on the team. I also think that Pitch will be used to climb the fence.(Andy) Chapter 8: In chapter eight Griffin and Ben went to palomino's emporium and tried figuring out the code for the safe where the rare baseball card is. They think the code is one, four, zero, one or one, seven, zero, one and they are pretty sure its the second one because the serial number number of the USS Enterprise was NCC 1701 and S. Wendell has alot of Star Trek things (from the uss enterprise).(Taylor)

Chapter Nine: Both Griffin and Ben asked Savannah (dog whisperer) to whisper to Luthor (the guard dog in the front of S. Wendell's Emporium) and when Savannah was trying to whisper to the dog she almost got bit by him. Once Savannah found out that Griffin and Ben wanted her to whisper to the dog for stealing a rare basebell card back she got mad and was like i have treated the dog wrong and she also was like im going to tell your parents, the cops, and S. Wendell and etc. (Taylor)  Notes for 8 and 9:I woulder if Luthor willl only obey Savannah? I woulder if they will need to get Savannah back on the robbery if Luthor only trustes her? Will Ben and Griffen ever get Savannah's trust again?(Brett)

I think that Griffan will somehow get Savannah to join the team again or why would she be that important. Also, I wonder f they are going to see if Mellsia will join the team next?(Andy)    I think that Savannah knows how to talk to animals because she loves animals and she might know a lot about them and knows what they like or dont like. (Ashley)

Chapter 9- Savannah got really mad at Luthor and said he should go to Alpha Centauri and ben and Griffin was shocked at her of the way she acted to the Luthor when he almost bit her. (Ashley)  <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(157,6,157);">I think when she yelled at them it was a little funny and surprising.(Kelly)

Chapter 10&11: It was really desvastating to find out that the safe was not there and that Ben had slept in the crate for the whole night. I wonder how they will find out where the card will be. (Jack) This i a biography on Gordan Korman:Eray

11: Ben and GRiffin sucseccefully got into Palomino's Emporium. <span style="color: rgb(0,0,0);">Gordon Korman was born October 23, 1963 in Montreal, Quebec in Canada. He wrote his first book, //This Can't be Happening at Macdonald Hall// when he was 12 years old for a coach who suddenly found himself teaching 7th grade English … he later took that episode and created a book out of it, as well, in the //Sixth Grade Nickname Game//, where Mr. Huge was based on that 7th grade teacher. <span style="color: rgb(0,0,0);"> His first book found a home with Scholastic, who also published his next 20 or so books, including six more Bruno and Boots titles, and several award winning young adult titles, among them my personal favorite, //Son of Interflux.// Scholastic still publishes many of Gordon's titles, though Hyperion Press is also now printing some of Gordon's stories. Gordon eventually made one of his homes in New York City, where he studied film and film writing. While in New York, he also met his future wife, and they eventually married -- they now have three children. He now lives on Long Island, outside of New York City, has approximately 55 books to his credit, and is currently contracted for several more, including the six volume On the Run adventure series, and new young adult and childrens' titles. //Toronto Star, 12/14/86// • mentions pirated Chinese copies of Gordon's books, and Gordon's amusement (rather than anger) //Newsday, 7/26/87// • born in Montreal in 1963, lived there until 1970. Went to public high school and got a “regular high school diploma” • Favorite authors are Kurt Vonnegut, Joseph Heller, Robert Cormier, Paul Zindel <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[Have to confess to being a Harry Potter fan, lately. Other fave kidsbook writers -- Jerry Spinelli, Cris Crutcher, Jack Gantos -- GK] • Says first book didn't come out in US until 1983 [I think this is a mistake --; I know I read one before then] <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[Books were on book clubs before then, but never on permanent list where they could be ordered by stores -- GK] • Says he writes out stories first in long hand and then types them into a computer <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[Old news, I'm a Microsoft Word guy now. What would I do without that annoying paperclip guy in the top corner of the screen to kibitz me? -- GK] • Paul in //Don't Care High// is “almost autobiographical” • Rob in //No Coins, Please// is based on “my friend Hal who was a counselor on the real trip” <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[Friend's name is Howard (lives in Southern California now) -- GK] • Mom wrote Erma Bombeck-style column in Montreal • Doesn't work steadily -- tries to write every day, though. Writes mainly in afternoons and late nights <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[I'm kind of a nine-to-fiver now. Everything is based around my son's daycare schedule. I //will// occasionally put in a late-night marathon, though -- GK] • Takes about 6 months to write a book. <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[For a new novel, yeah. The series books are quicker once I'm in the groove -- no new characters or settings to dream up -- 4 months, approximately -- GK] Used to take 3 months while he was in school. Has taken up to 10 months. • Was a B+ student • Favorite books as a kid were the “Great Brain” series //Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/28/92// • new English teacher required all students in 7th grade class to write a novel over course of the semester, which became //This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!// • Gordon's books have been translated into French, Swedish, Norwegian & Cantonese • Gordon always has “tons of ideas” -- just has to pick the right one • //Don't Care High// reflected his own Canadian school experience with some of his NY experience thrown in • Named one character from a name he heard from a caller who dialed a wrong number <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[Samuel Wiscombe (//Don't Care High//) -- GK] //The Baltimore Sun, 4/8/92// • got a B+ on //This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!// • teacher who required him to write novel in 7th grade was a track & field coach -- he taught English because they didn't have enough English teachers at his school <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[Mid semester replacements are not uncommon in schools. Mr. Hamilton (1st book is dedicated to him) was a really nice guy, so I feel bad that some of these stories make him the butt of this joke. He was a terrific teacher, he just hadn't taught language arts before that. -- GK] //Richmond Times-Dispatch, 8/26/92// • Gordon travels more than 40,000 miles each year to promote his books & talk to kids //Newark Star-Ledger, 12/10/92// • 50% of what Gordon writes is something that really happened, and 50% is imaginary • “cracks himself up” while writing -- laughs at his own jokes • humor and fun his only considerations -- never tries to illustrate a particular moral [I would disagree with this myself -- I think //Son of Interflux// makes a statement!] <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[No, I agree. Many of them do. But if you compare my books to the sledgehammer preachiness of most kidsbooks, I feel that people get a more accurate sense of what I do when I say that I write my books to be enjoyed, period -- GK] • Doesn't have a favorite amongst his books • Has considered writing adult books, has an interest in writing screenplays <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[I still feel that way, but a lot of time has gone by and I still haven't acted on any of those impulses -- GK] //Toronto Star, 10/23/93// • social relevance not a priority in his books -- wants to entertain //Toronto Star, 11/20/93// • books have sold over 4.5 million copies <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[Current stat is 7 million -- GK] • went to high school in Thornhill, Ontario • got his BA in Fine Arts from NYU in 1985 • travels 70 days a year, speaking & reading -- approx. 20 in Canada <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[These days that figure is more like 40, with just a handful in Canada -- GK] • visits Toronto every month or so <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[Now more like several times per year -- GK] //Buffalo News, 4/7/98// • parents named Gordon after Gordie Howe • favorite sport as a child was hockey -- favorite hockey star was Bobby Orr <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[I'm now a Mario Lemieux fan -- GK] • dedicated //This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall// to his English teacher, Mr. Hamilton • writing “//Stars From Mars//” <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[That's done, naturally -- GK] • writes at his parents' home <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[not anymore, I'm not there as much as I used to be -- GK] and at his office in his house • took one year to write //Losing Joe's Place// • enjoys plays, movies & TV, plus hiking, bicycling & walking //Toronto Star, 12/19/98// • Lockwood Films is developing 13 episode TV series on Bruno & Boots <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[No, this project is dead, but options are in place on other books including //The Twinkie Squad//, the //Island// trilogy, and oldie but goodie //No Coins, Please// -- GK] • some episodes based on books, others brand new • • Disney Channel series “The Jersey”, based on Gordon's Monday Night Football books (Eray)

10 and 11 notes: Ben and Griffen Finally made it into Swindle's store the plan was going perfectly well until they realized that the safe wasn't there. It was to good to be true. Now they have to do the heist again. Maybe that was why it was taking Dufferin so long? (Brett)

If the plan works when they try it again, how will Griffen's dad feel when he finds out he helped them get the code for a robbery?(Kelly)

I think that his dad might feel kind of mad at first then get really mad at Griffin and Ben for duing this and he might think of something like I should of known they would do this.(Ashley)

I think that S. Wendall knew that they were going to try to steal the card, so he took it to his house. I wonder if he knows that they will probably try again and he will make more security things to stop them.(Andy)

[|The Official Website of Gordon Korman (Caroline)] The safe is in S. Wendell P.'s house!(austin) Also, I wonder if one of the team members will try to get the card alone. (austin)

==<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(255,221,0); font-family: Georgia,serif; background-color: rgb(0,47,255);">The sequel to Swindle is //__ZooBreak__// coming in Fall 2009. <span style="color: rgb(255,221,0); font-family: Georgia,serif; background-color: rgb(0,47,255);"> (Ashley) ==

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">
==<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">10+11: Griffin and Ben did get into S. Wendell's Emporium and the plan was going the way they wanted it to except the safe wasnt there and they have to do the plan either over again or they will find a different way.(Taylor) ==

==I agree with Andy but didnt S.Wendell ask Griffin or Ben to try to lift up the safe so they know thats it would be hard to lift it so they cant steal it, so how did S.Wendell move the safe with the card in it?(Taylor)==

S. Wendall never said that it was heavy, he just said it was bolted to the floor. I wonder if they are going to use that window for getting in or if they are going to find another way.(Andy)

True sorry i forgot. (Taylor)

12,13+14: In chapter 12 its mainly about Griffin and Ben talking about another heist and what different things they came up with and so on... In chapter 13 Griffin and Ben made up the second heist (plan) and went to the Cedarville Town hall to get the Blueprints for S. Wendells house because thats where they think the card is except Mrs. Annablle Abernathy said that the town hall didnt have the blueprints for that house but that they did have the blueprints for 1414 Lakewood Rd. which is the same layout as Swindle's house. But i personaly think that Mrs. Abernathy is onto Griffin and Ben for asking her for blueprints for Swindle's house because they said that they needed it for a "project"... In chapter 14 Griffin and Ben went to 1414 Lakewood Rd. to go see the inside of the house so they would have an idea of how Swindle's house is layed out. So they acted out that Ben had supposivley fell off his bike and Griffin rang on the doorbell of 1414 Lakewood Rd. and told the lady inside that Ben was hurt so while Ben was washing off Griffin looked/snooped the house to have an idea, and when they were done cleaning it off the lady inside of the house said do you want to call your mom but Ben said no that he doesnt want to call her because he doesnt want his mom to get worried but he really didnt want to call his mom because then she would find out about this whole robbery. (Taylor)

Who agrees that this book has turned out to be really well so far. I do(Kaitlin)
<span style="color: rgb(0,0,0); background-color: rgb(255,255,255);">I do too.(Ashley)

15, 16 +17: In chapter 15 Griffin and Ben leave a note for the whole team on a little piece of paper to go to the ballroom at 3:30 so Griffin and Ben can talk to them about the heist. In chapter 16 the team went to the ballroom and Griffin and Ben told them and everyone said "yes" to it and even Savannah because she felt bad for Luthor the dog and Darren Vader found out about the heist so he wanted a part to it so he also gets part of the money too. In chapter 17 the team begins the heist and Logan started his acting and Melissa and Griffin were trying to hack into his email and they got in and they were thinking of a way to distract Swindle so they can get the card. So they had an idea of putting a Rangers (perfessional hockey team) ticket to distract him and then they can get the card. ~Taylor Belongia

Chapters 18, 19, and 20 //In these chapters Swindle gets the hockey ticket and goes to the game allowing the heist to take place. Logan distracts Eli Mulroney and Mellisa shuts down a street light. Then Antonia lets everyone onto the roof to the skylight for the break in. (Ethan)//

Chapters 18,19 + 20~ In all of these chapters the heist is going how it is suppose to be and S. Wendell does get the Rangers ticket (S. Wendell's favorite team) and goes to the game but while he is at the game Logan distracts Eli Mulroney with a package that has the game backgammon which is the only game he will play. While Logan distracts Eli Mulroney Mellisa shuts down one of the street lights and Antonia let everybody get in from on the roof and are ready to get the card back. (Taylor)

22, 23, 24 and 25: In these chapters it was a real turning point for the team Darren doulbe crossed the team. Ben try to get the card back after he woke up! He manged to trip him but the card got in a tall tree. Griffen goes back to his house to get the smart pick<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">® to try and race to get the card before Darren. They get the card but Darren calls for help. Also the guy getting the card comes the German Sheperd attacks him and he runs into the basment same with Savanah but she runs upstairs.(Brett)

21,22,23,24+25~ To put these chapters all together i would have to say it would turn out like this~ So far the heist was going as it planned except when pitch hurt her foot when the team was getting inside S. Wendells house and when the team got into S. Wendells house and found the safe they opened it and the card wasnt there and there were two dogs not ONE (Luthor)!!! then once the group found the card Darren doubble crossed the team(which Griffin kind of known that Darren would have done that)! but then he used the SmartPick to get the card out of the tree. Then when Logan was playing Eli Mulroney in backgammon Eli Mulroney noticed that there was alot of rucus going on in 531 Park Avenue Extension and called the police to go over there. So an SUV went over there and checked out the house but the team didnt get caught but they still have there most prized posestion. (Taylor) <span style="color: rgb(255,140,0); background-color: rgb(0,0,0);"><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(243,73,211); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; background-color: rgb(49,38,38);">h ere is a picture of a honda element (Ashley)

I can't believe that darren double-crossed them and stole the card. Griffan was very smart when he thought of the SmartPick to get the card from the tree. (Andy)

I agree with you Andy! Darren is so stupid for stealing the card. But I also can't believe that Pitch would climb the tree to get the card, even with her sprained foot! (austin) German Shepherd (austin)

I like that the card was given back to the original owner and that a skate park was added to the museum!(Alex)

I can't believe Darren was accually related to the Rockford's! (austin)