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Linked
An unforgettable novel from the New York Times bestseller Gordon Korman
Link, Michael, and Dana live in a quiet town. But it's woken up very quickly when someone sneaks into school and vandalizes it with a swastika.
Nobody can believe it. How could such a symbol of hate end up in the middle of their school? Who would do such a thing?
Because Michael was the first person to see it, he's the first suspect. Because Link is one of the most popular guys in school, everyone's looking to him to figure it out. And because Dana's the only Jewish girl in the whole town, everyone's treating her more like an outsider than ever.
The mystery deepens as more swastikas begin to appear. Some students decide to fight back and start a project to bring people together instead of dividing them further. The closer Link, Michael, and Dana get to the truth, the more there is to face-not just the crimes of the present, but the crimes of the past.
With Linked, Gordon Korman, the author of the acclaimed novel Restart, poses a mystery for all readers where the who did it? isn't nearly as important as the why?
Link, Michael, and Dana live in a quiet town. But it's woken up very quickly when someone sneaks into school and vandalizes it with a swastika.
Nobody can believe it. How could such a symbol of hate end up in the middle of their school? Who would do such a thing?
Because Michael was the first person to see it, he's the first suspect. Because Link is one of the most popular guys in school, everyone's looking to him to figure it out. And because Dana's the only Jewish girl in the whole town, everyone's treating her more like an outsider than ever.
The mystery deepens as more swastikas begin to appear. Some students decide to fight back and start a project to bring people together instead of dividing them further. The closer Link, Michael, and Dana get to the truth, the more there is to face-not just the crimes of the present, but the crimes of the past.
With Linked, Gordon Korman, the author of the acclaimed novel Restart, poses a mystery for all readers where the who did it? isn't nearly as important as the why?
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2021
590 people are currently reading
6349 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Korman
249 books4,433 followersGordon 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,035 reviews
September 8, 2021
I hope this makes it on to some required reading lists because it should be read by everyone. This book digs into the need for tolerance, different perspectives, remembrance, change... I could go on. Read (or listen) to this dang book.
July 14, 2021
Chokecherry, Colorado has a swastika problem. They are popping up all over the school and no amount of tolerance training seems to be capable of stopping the perpetrator. It also seems to be impossible to catch the culprit in the act. What are they to do? They need some serious morale boosting. Then they decide to start making a paper chain. Their goal is to make it 6 million links to commemorate every Jewish life lost in the Holocaust. Link Rowley is in the middle of the effort and is at the same time studying for his bar mitzvah. It is an uphill battle as he just discovered he was Jewish through his grandmother, a recently revealed Holocaust survivor, after the first swastika appeared. Told through the perspective of several of the students, this story reminds us of the need to support each other and embark on a lifelong process of valuing those around us.
A paper chain can be done when it reaches a number of links. But tolerance is a project you always have to keep working at.
Thank you to Scholastic and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
A paper chain can be done when it reaches a number of links. But tolerance is a project you always have to keep working at.
Thank you to Scholastic and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2023
9/4/23 I liked this as much the second time as the first time and still think it's Gordon Korman's best work to date. Much like the first time, once I started reading I couldn't stop turning the pages as I wanted to know who or what was behind the swastikas and became invested in the lives of all the characters who take turns telling the story.
11/8/21 When a swastika appears at Link's middle school, what does it really mean? Was it a prank or something more sinister? No matter what it means, it will bring the community of Chokecherry, Colorado together. This is a timely and important book by Gordon Korman that would be great for introducing the Holocaust, Klu Klux Klan and white supremacy to students, children or anyone.
11/8/21 When a swastika appears at Link's middle school, what does it really mean? Was it a prank or something more sinister? No matter what it means, it will bring the community of Chokecherry, Colorado together. This is a timely and important book by Gordon Korman that would be great for introducing the Holocaust, Klu Klux Klan and white supremacy to students, children or anyone.
Read
July 7, 2025Middle School Fiction Novel
The author/book does an outstanding job of promoting "stand up against hate". Set in a very small town in Colorado, swastika's begin appearing on school walls and the like for a period of time. The school with 600 kids are shocked. The principle and police are having a difficult time in finding out who is doing this, but... the school rebels. A project is started by the kids and as it snowballs, the media gets a hold of this and the town, state, and country all buy in.
I rate this book a 5.0 for its theme and its topics.
Who doesn't love a happy ending. Jury is out on this one.
In today's climate, in my opinion only, I find this ending unrealistic. I do understand its fiction, but cant assume all kids will perceive the message of the ending in the same way.
The author/book does an outstanding job of promoting "stand up against hate". Set in a very small town in Colorado, swastika's begin appearing on school walls and the like for a period of time. The school with 600 kids are shocked. The principle and police are having a difficult time in finding out who is doing this, but... the school rebels. A project is started by the kids and as it snowballs, the media gets a hold of this and the town, state, and country all buy in.
I rate this book a 5.0 for its theme and its topics.
Who doesn't love a happy ending. Jury is out on this one.
In today's climate, in my opinion only, I find this ending unrealistic. I do understand its fiction, but cant assume all kids will perceive the message of the ending in the same way.
June 12, 2021
Richie’s Picks: LINKED by Gordon Korman, Scholastic Press, July 2021, 256p., ISBN: 978-1-338-62912-5
“Almost two-thirds of young American adults do not know that 6 million Jew were killed during the Holocaust, and more than one in 10 believe Jews caused the Holocaust, a new survey has found, revealing shocking levels of ignorance about the greatest crime of the 20th century.
According to the study of millennial and Gen Z adults aged between 18 and 39, almost half (48%) could not name a single concentration camp or ghetto established during the second world war.
Almost a quarter of respondents (23%) said they believed the Holocaust was a myth, or had been exaggerated, or they weren’t sure. One in eight (125) said they had definitely not heard, or didn’t think they had heard, about the Holocaust.”
-- The Guardian (9/16/2020)
“A tall, thin man wearing a hood and a mask was caught on a security camera plastering Nazi stickers on a Jewish museum in Alaska’s largest city early Tuesday.
He drove a scooter to the Alaska Jewish Museum, placed one sticker on the door and jumped to place three more stickers of hate on windows before driving off...About 45 minutes later, another sticker was placed on the main entrance door to Mad Myrna’s, a gay bar in downtown Anchorage.”
-- Mark Thiessen, “Man seen on security camera placing swastika stickers on Jewish museum in Anchorage” Anchorage Daily News (5/28/21)
“How can people be so heartless?
How can people be so cruel?
Easy to be hard
Easy to be cold”
-- MacDermot, Rado & Ragni (1967)
Michael Amorosa [who snuck back into school in the evening to retrieve the phone he forgot in his locker]:
“I shut my locker and turn to leave.
Only I don’t leave. I freeze.
I blink and blink again, struggling to wrap my mind around what I’m seeing.
It’s spray-painted in red on the blank expanse of wall about the staircase leading to the second story--that large X with each arm continued at a right angle.
I stare at it in horror in horror and disbelief, hoping that my eyes are deceiving me and this ugly red symbol is something other than what I know it is.
A swastika.”
Dana Levinson [A relatively new student, daughter of an archaeologist, and the only Jewish student, at Chokecherry Middle School]:
“The main atrium is more crowded than usual. Mr. Brademas, the principal, is urging everyone to move on to their lockers, but nobody’s budging. They’re all gazing up at a gigantic beige tarp that’s been duct-taped to the wall. Two custodians are perched on the stairs, working furiously behind the billowing sheet with long-handled mops. Red-stained water is trickling down and puddling on the floor.
I blurt,’ Is that blood?’
Andrew Yee, and eighth grader whose mother works with Dad at the dinosaur dig, takes my arm and starts leading me out of the atrium. ‘Come on, Dana. Nothing to see here.’
I shake him off. ‘Are they putting up a mural?’
‘Nah,’ he replies. ‘They’re just cleaning.’
At that moment, the duct tape separates from the plaster and the tarp peels away and drops to the floor. I stare at the wall that’s now revealed.
I gawk. I goggle.
The lines have been blurred by the custodians’ mops, but it’s very clear what someone has painted up there. As I gaze in shock at the swastika in the atrium, it occurs to me that I’ve never seen one firsthand before.”
Principal Brademas [speaking at a hastily-called school-wide assembly]:
“We don’t know who did it, and we don’t know what that individual’s motive might have been. But I felt it was important for us to get together as a school community and clear the air before the rumors get out of hand.’
You’d think we’re in an empty room. That’s how silent it is.
‘People might tell you,’ the principal goes on, ‘that the swastika on our wall is an ancient symbol, a kind of cross, that has had many meanings over the centuries. Don’t believe it. Today the swastika has only one meaning: pure hatred. Most notoriously, it is the symbol of Nazi Germany, an evil regime that killed millions. It screams not just anti-Semitism, but every other kind of racism and intolerance.’”
Who is responsible for the hateful act perpetrated at Chokecherry Middle School? Will the administrators or the police succeed in getting to the bottom of it? What will come of the principal’s plan for a school-wide toleration education project?
Through the eyes and statements of six students, we observe the repercussions of this hate crime in a fictional Colorado town. The principal narrator is Lincoln Rowley, a popular- and generally despicable jock and troublemaker who, at first glance, will likely be included on any reader’s shortlist of suspects. Was this another of Link’s antics, one that’s a million miles over the line?
Over the course of this surprising story, we learn some ugly historical truths about this small Colorado town, situated four hours outside of Denver. The town starts receiving unwelcome online notoriety when it turns out that the swastika incident at the school is not going to be a one-and-done affair. Not even close.
LINKED is a first-rate whodunnit; a notable introduction to Nazis, white supremacists, and the Holocaust; and a dynamite coming of age story. It’s well suited for 8-14 year olds.
As he has done with previous books focused on significant issues, Gordon Korman engages readers with a light touch and relatable tween characters.
The 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust outnumber the current population of Colorado. It’s still impossible to wrap my head around that number, but this book helped.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
“Almost two-thirds of young American adults do not know that 6 million Jew were killed during the Holocaust, and more than one in 10 believe Jews caused the Holocaust, a new survey has found, revealing shocking levels of ignorance about the greatest crime of the 20th century.
According to the study of millennial and Gen Z adults aged between 18 and 39, almost half (48%) could not name a single concentration camp or ghetto established during the second world war.
Almost a quarter of respondents (23%) said they believed the Holocaust was a myth, or had been exaggerated, or they weren’t sure. One in eight (125) said they had definitely not heard, or didn’t think they had heard, about the Holocaust.”
-- The Guardian (9/16/2020)
“A tall, thin man wearing a hood and a mask was caught on a security camera plastering Nazi stickers on a Jewish museum in Alaska’s largest city early Tuesday.
He drove a scooter to the Alaska Jewish Museum, placed one sticker on the door and jumped to place three more stickers of hate on windows before driving off...About 45 minutes later, another sticker was placed on the main entrance door to Mad Myrna’s, a gay bar in downtown Anchorage.”
-- Mark Thiessen, “Man seen on security camera placing swastika stickers on Jewish museum in Anchorage” Anchorage Daily News (5/28/21)
“How can people be so heartless?
How can people be so cruel?
Easy to be hard
Easy to be cold”
-- MacDermot, Rado & Ragni (1967)
Michael Amorosa [who snuck back into school in the evening to retrieve the phone he forgot in his locker]:
“I shut my locker and turn to leave.
Only I don’t leave. I freeze.
I blink and blink again, struggling to wrap my mind around what I’m seeing.
It’s spray-painted in red on the blank expanse of wall about the staircase leading to the second story--that large X with each arm continued at a right angle.
I stare at it in horror in horror and disbelief, hoping that my eyes are deceiving me and this ugly red symbol is something other than what I know it is.
A swastika.”
Dana Levinson [A relatively new student, daughter of an archaeologist, and the only Jewish student, at Chokecherry Middle School]:
“The main atrium is more crowded than usual. Mr. Brademas, the principal, is urging everyone to move on to their lockers, but nobody’s budging. They’re all gazing up at a gigantic beige tarp that’s been duct-taped to the wall. Two custodians are perched on the stairs, working furiously behind the billowing sheet with long-handled mops. Red-stained water is trickling down and puddling on the floor.
I blurt,’ Is that blood?’
Andrew Yee, and eighth grader whose mother works with Dad at the dinosaur dig, takes my arm and starts leading me out of the atrium. ‘Come on, Dana. Nothing to see here.’
I shake him off. ‘Are they putting up a mural?’
‘Nah,’ he replies. ‘They’re just cleaning.’
At that moment, the duct tape separates from the plaster and the tarp peels away and drops to the floor. I stare at the wall that’s now revealed.
I gawk. I goggle.
The lines have been blurred by the custodians’ mops, but it’s very clear what someone has painted up there. As I gaze in shock at the swastika in the atrium, it occurs to me that I’ve never seen one firsthand before.”
Principal Brademas [speaking at a hastily-called school-wide assembly]:
“We don’t know who did it, and we don’t know what that individual’s motive might have been. But I felt it was important for us to get together as a school community and clear the air before the rumors get out of hand.’
You’d think we’re in an empty room. That’s how silent it is.
‘People might tell you,’ the principal goes on, ‘that the swastika on our wall is an ancient symbol, a kind of cross, that has had many meanings over the centuries. Don’t believe it. Today the swastika has only one meaning: pure hatred. Most notoriously, it is the symbol of Nazi Germany, an evil regime that killed millions. It screams not just anti-Semitism, but every other kind of racism and intolerance.’”
Who is responsible for the hateful act perpetrated at Chokecherry Middle School? Will the administrators or the police succeed in getting to the bottom of it? What will come of the principal’s plan for a school-wide toleration education project?
Through the eyes and statements of six students, we observe the repercussions of this hate crime in a fictional Colorado town. The principal narrator is Lincoln Rowley, a popular- and generally despicable jock and troublemaker who, at first glance, will likely be included on any reader’s shortlist of suspects. Was this another of Link’s antics, one that’s a million miles over the line?
Over the course of this surprising story, we learn some ugly historical truths about this small Colorado town, situated four hours outside of Denver. The town starts receiving unwelcome online notoriety when it turns out that the swastika incident at the school is not going to be a one-and-done affair. Not even close.
LINKED is a first-rate whodunnit; a notable introduction to Nazis, white supremacists, and the Holocaust; and a dynamite coming of age story. It’s well suited for 8-14 year olds.
As he has done with previous books focused on significant issues, Gordon Korman engages readers with a light touch and relatable tween characters.
The 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust outnumber the current population of Colorado. It’s still impossible to wrap my head around that number, but this book helped.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
June 26, 2024
Really good! Love Gordon's books
December 6, 2024
Hi, local Jewish gal here, always looking for good Jewish contemporary fiction. To be honest, this book didn't look that interesting, but I decided to pick it up anyway and I'm so glad I did!
It's almost like a case study showing how hate starts and grows, that anti-Semitism is more than just a Jewish issue, a town coming together for positive action, the role (and sometimes predatory nature) of the news in such situations, and how we can make amends for the past while not shying away from it.
If that sounds boring, it really isn't! It's told through multiple POVs of the local middle schoolers, and the story ends up being suspenseful, dynamic, and moving. (I even cried a little!)
I recommend this book to teachers and parents wanting to share an age-appropriate view of tolerance and history with the children in their lives.
It's almost like a case study showing how hate starts and grows, that anti-Semitism is more than just a Jewish issue, a town coming together for positive action, the role (and sometimes predatory nature) of the news in such situations, and how we can make amends for the past while not shying away from it.
If that sounds boring, it really isn't! It's told through multiple POVs of the local middle schoolers, and the story ends up being suspenseful, dynamic, and moving. (I even cried a little!)
I recommend this book to teachers and parents wanting to share an age-appropriate view of tolerance and history with the children in their lives.
August 4, 2021
Incredible middle grade book by Gordon Korman, a perennial favorite in my school.
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✅ complex story about tolerance, identity, and the importance of remembrance
✅ Jewish protagonists, modern story, bar mitzvah preparation
✅ multiple perspectives
✅ great readalike to RESTART (popular kid has an awakening and changes his ways)
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.
.
Must buy, must read! Kids will be inspired and intrigued by this mystery that intertwines the Holocaust, the KKK, and viral social media.
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.
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Book 26 for #30booksummer
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#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla
.
.
.
✅ complex story about tolerance, identity, and the importance of remembrance
✅ Jewish protagonists, modern story, bar mitzvah preparation
✅ multiple perspectives
✅ great readalike to RESTART (popular kid has an awakening and changes his ways)
.
.
.
Must buy, must read! Kids will be inspired and intrigued by this mystery that intertwines the Holocaust, the KKK, and viral social media.
.
.
.
Book 26 for #30booksummer
.
.
.
#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla
July 16, 2022
The Gordon Korman problem- an attempt to handle social issues in a meaningful way, only to completely drop the ball because he is an old white dude. Genuinely, this book could have done great, and I like the concept. But I can’t defend the the awkward and harmful elements of the story. Korman is consistent in this problem. This one is one of the most egregious I have seen.
July 8, 2025
Never make the mistake of thinking that one of Korman's book is going to be simple because it's just for kids. Or that it is, in fact, "just for kids." This is a fabulous, nuanced book that feels so real I double checked that it wasn't based on a true story. The attention that it got when it first came out was well deserved, and it should continue. My daughter read it for a class, and I think that it should continue to be required reading!
October 11, 2021
Every time I read one of Korman’s books a part of me wants to slug the protagonist. I guess that’s the point? Link is awful and while he works hard to redeem himself, he’s still the kid who destroyed a truck by putting lard on a public street. That’s not “boys will be boys.” That’s malicious and potentially fatal. On the other hand the book has some really good discussions on racism, social media, nurture vs nature, and on unity.
January 10, 2022
I don't know if I am in a reading slump, but this is another book that I definitely liked, but for some reason it didn't WOW me as much as it should have or I expected it to. I will absolutely recommend it to my middle schoolers. This book has great characters, some surprising moments, HUGE life lessons, and the history brings you to tears.
February 20, 2024
I listened to this audible but kept forgetting to add it because my listening time was so spread out...lol...it took me 16 days to finish because I kept forgetting to listen or work required too much brain power to able to listen and work. But this story was so good.
Characters:
Michael is fun... he's funny and the president of the art club (I think my sister will like that).
Dana was fiery and sweet, and I loved her!
Link was great! I loved his arc through the story!
Caroline cracked me up!
Mr. Talk got on my last nerve...*glares at him*
Themes:
It was a book on tolerance and hate, but deep down, it was really about why history matters, why we should all ban together, and the importance of people knowing the truth of the past. The holocaust was real, and it was tragic for Jews and for the non-Jewish who died as well. It is part of history, and it's important that the truth is told so that it is never repeated.
Language:
N/A
Romance:
N/A
Overall:
I enjoyed the story and the heart behind it. The ending surprised me and just...wow...Gordon Korman has wrote another great book with a beautiful message behind it.
Recommend ages 10+
Characters:
Michael is fun... he's funny and the president of the art club (I think my sister will like that).
Dana was fiery and sweet, and I loved her!
Link was great! I loved his arc through the story!
Caroline cracked me up!
Mr. Talk got on my last nerve...*glares at him*
Themes:
It was a book on tolerance and hate, but deep down, it was really about why history matters, why we should all ban together, and the importance of people knowing the truth of the past. The holocaust was real, and it was tragic for Jews and for the non-Jewish who died as well. It is part of history, and it's important that the truth is told so that it is never repeated.
Language:
N/A
Romance:
N/A
Overall:
I enjoyed the story and the heart behind it. The ending surprised me and just...wow...Gordon Korman has wrote another great book with a beautiful message behind it.
Recommend ages 10+
July 16, 2024
Wow, that was deep and sooooooo good!!💖💖💖
Language: N/A
Violence: N/A
Magic: N/A
(Other: Someone is painting swastikas all over the Chokecherry middle school, so there are mentions of racism, the holocaust, and the KKK. Handled very well tho, it would make a great book to read along and discuss with your kids.)
Wow, wow, wow!!! This was such a good book dealing with such deep topics!! I don't really know what to say, but I'm going to try...lol...
Link was such a good character!! I loved him and his arch was so beautifulk and just, yeah I loved him!💖💖🥰 Micheal was great too and so funny without meaning to be...lol! And he's an artist, I mean how can I not like him?💖😉 Danna was very lovable too, she was so sweet, yet she had her firey moments which just made her even better! And Caroline was absolutely hilarious! I loved her, she made me laugh with her over enthusiastic yet snappy attitude, so great!😂💖
And Reeltok so got on my nerves, he was so mean, yet so funny at the same time...lol...I think Micheal summed him up pretty well, he deserves some credit and a punch to the face😂💖
This was such a heartwarming and wholesome read!💖 It dealt with the heavy topics of swastikas and the holocaust very well. History is very important to remember, and swastikas are not just symbols, they are so much more and worse and shouldn't be used or taken lightly. I love how the story deals with both sides, the person who doesn't really know what the swastika stands for other than hate and the person who does and uses it anyway.
I love how this book shows the importance of remembering history and tolerance. History is important, the holocaust did happen,many tho its painful, we shouldn’t forget it.
The six million link chain was such a good idea! I loved seeing all the kids, and even town, work and stand together against their mysterious swastika painter. If we stand together and understand each other, we can overcome anything, so beautiful and wholesome! And that ending was just perfect, I absolutely loved it!! This was such a good book filled with amazing themes and life lessons, and even some fun comedy mixed in!💖😊
(Would make a great discussion book with the kids)
10+
Language: N/A
Violence: N/A
Magic: N/A
(Other: Someone is painting swastikas all over the Chokecherry middle school, so there are mentions of racism, the holocaust, and the KKK. Handled very well tho, it would make a great book to read along and discuss with your kids.)
Wow, wow, wow!!! This was such a good book dealing with such deep topics!! I don't really know what to say, but I'm going to try...lol...
Link was such a good character!! I loved him and his arch was so beautifulk and just, yeah I loved him!💖💖🥰 Micheal was great too and so funny without meaning to be...lol! And he's an artist, I mean how can I not like him?💖😉 Danna was very lovable too, she was so sweet, yet she had her firey moments which just made her even better! And Caroline was absolutely hilarious! I loved her, she made me laugh with her over enthusiastic yet snappy attitude, so great!😂💖
And Reeltok so got on my nerves, he was so mean, yet so funny at the same time...lol...I think Micheal summed him up pretty well, he deserves some credit and a punch to the face😂💖
This was such a heartwarming and wholesome read!💖 It dealt with the heavy topics of swastikas and the holocaust very well. History is very important to remember, and swastikas are not just symbols, they are so much more and worse and shouldn't be used or taken lightly. I love how the story deals with both sides, the person who doesn't really know what the swastika stands for other than hate and the person who does and uses it anyway.
I love how this book shows the importance of remembering history and tolerance. History is important, the holocaust did happen,many tho its painful, we shouldn’t forget it.
The six million link chain was such a good idea! I loved seeing all the kids, and even town, work and stand together against their mysterious swastika painter. If we stand together and understand each other, we can overcome anything, so beautiful and wholesome! And that ending was just perfect, I absolutely loved it!! This was such a good book filled with amazing themes and life lessons, and even some fun comedy mixed in!💖😊
(Would make a great discussion book with the kids)
10+
February 11, 2023
This book wasn't it.
First, let me link this review that I agree with.
Moving on. There were many problematic elements to this book—ageism, sexism, and obviously racism, and anti-Semitism. The thought I kept having was that I wouldn't be excited for my early middle schooler to read this book. The kids' internal and interpersonal conversations were downright atrocious and way too black and white. The main character, who I think we're supposed to be rooting for? is a basic white male who has some really shitty opinions until he magically doesn't, with not much explanation of the process he went through other than "oh suddenly my family is involved in hatred so now I get to care."
When I read middle-grade books, I want there to be way more depth than this. The kids' opinions throughout were just extremely problematic but everything was suddenly hunky dory at the end. I want characters that are well-rounded humans that explore their biases in more depth. The culprit was labeled a racist and then everyone just moved on believing that they'd always be that way. IN FACT, in a conversation with Link's grandma, she said that she was too old to change who she was and she loves that Link was doing the bat mitzvah to honor her family. I feel like that line particularly was a way to be like "oh welp, once a certain way, always that way."
I honestly can't even get my thoughts straight on this one because it could have been a really good read, but it just lacked the sensitivity, empathy, and depth that I've come to expect from good middle-grade authors.
First, let me link this review that I agree with.
Moving on. There were many problematic elements to this book—ageism, sexism, and obviously racism, and anti-Semitism. The thought I kept having was that I wouldn't be excited for my early middle schooler to read this book. The kids' internal and interpersonal conversations were downright atrocious and way too black and white. The main character, who I think we're supposed to be rooting for? is a basic white male who has some really shitty opinions until he magically doesn't, with not much explanation of the process he went through other than "oh suddenly my family is involved in hatred so now I get to care."
When I read middle-grade books, I want there to be way more depth than this. The kids' opinions throughout were just extremely problematic but everything was suddenly hunky dory at the end. I want characters that are well-rounded humans that explore their biases in more depth. The culprit was labeled a racist and then everyone just moved on believing that they'd always be that way. IN FACT, in a conversation with Link's grandma, she said that she was too old to change who she was and she loves that Link was doing the bat mitzvah to honor her family. I feel like that line particularly was a way to be like "oh welp, once a certain way, always that way."
I honestly can't even get my thoughts straight on this one because it could have been a really good read, but it just lacked the sensitivity, empathy, and depth that I've come to expect from good middle-grade authors.
June 12, 2024
In many ways this book is amazing. The multiple perspective aspect is extremely well done and gives voice to so many different perspectives, showing (among other things) that everyone is harmed by hate, even if a specific action isn't aimed at them. The characters and their voices are extraordinary.
Except.
For a book that focuses strongly on the Jewish community and grapples with the Holocaust and related evils, it's surprisingly dismissive of the religious foundation. Judaism is presented as an afterthought, a bonus, or something extra if you want to feel really good about your social justice work. But it isn't treated as a way of seeing the world or even something that explains why someone holds the morals that they do. To be fair, Christianity is given the exact same treatment, and no other religions are mentioned. It's clear that this book is not about morality or truth or understanding how the world works, and to an extent that's fine. But if you're going to make a Jewish ceremony a highlight of the plot, then it only seems fair to take it more seriously. Religion isn't something that you take up on a whim and learn how to pronounce the words but don't ever think about what they mean. I just found it hard to stomach the consistently flippant attitude about something that should be very important and approached with respect and reverence.
This really is a good book, though. I'm glad that I read it, and I think it would be a good addition to any middle-grade or young adult collection.
Except.
For a book that focuses strongly on the Jewish community and grapples with the Holocaust and related evils, it's surprisingly dismissive of the religious foundation. Judaism is presented as an afterthought, a bonus, or something extra if you want to feel really good about your social justice work. But it isn't treated as a way of seeing the world or even something that explains why someone holds the morals that they do. To be fair, Christianity is given the exact same treatment, and no other religions are mentioned. It's clear that this book is not about morality or truth or understanding how the world works, and to an extent that's fine. But if you're going to make a Jewish ceremony a highlight of the plot, then it only seems fair to take it more seriously. Religion isn't something that you take up on a whim and learn how to pronounce the words but don't ever think about what they mean. I just found it hard to stomach the consistently flippant attitude about something that should be very important and approached with respect and reverence.
This really is a good book, though. I'm glad that I read it, and I think it would be a good addition to any middle-grade or young adult collection.
January 28, 2023
I don't think I've read a book recently that has elicited such strong conflicting feelings in me like this one. I was ready to rave about this book saying how thought-provoking it was and still is. But the book just rubbed me the wrong way after the twist was revealed. There just seemed to be no consequence to the person and it almost seemed like a dismissal of "Boys will be boys" especially when the whole town seemed to bend over backwards to help the kid out. Maybe I just need to be a more forgiving person but I wanted more when other people wouldn't have had a second chance to redeem themselves. I think I could go off on a rant about this book for awhile. Anyway, the main point after my mood soured against this book was that one of the scariest things we can come across when faced with hate is indifference.
August 23, 2023
I would love to see this book on middle school required reading lists, or at the very least be in every middle school social studies classroom. Using this book as a classroom read aloud would definitely open up some necessary dialog about discrimination, bullying, tolerance, acceptance, and finding common ground with others. I loved that the story was told from multiple middle school student's viewpoints, and that the whole student body was able to come together for a common purpose despite their differences and backgrounds. And of course, since this is Gordon Korman you know the story will be upbeat, have a wicked sense of humor, and also give us an underdog who comes out on top. Lots to love here.
July 21, 2021
Linked is a propulsive, compelling new middle grade release by veteran Gordon Korman combining serious issues with his trademark humorous characters. This story tackles very sensitive issues like casual racism, anti-Semitism, the impact of the Holocaust, as well the messiness of going viral. There’s something for everyone in this riveting mystery, and I would highly recommend it as an engaging way to learn about the Holocaust, for kids in grades 5 and up.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to Scholastic for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to Scholastic for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2025
I bought this book for $1 and knew absolutely nothing about it. What I learned is that all things can be solved by building a massive paper chain. Highlights of the book included when the main character crowd surfed following his Zoom bar mitzvah and also the quote “school spirit keeps you warm no matter what the temperature is”. The author was definitely trying something here. That is for sure.
February 10, 2022
Excellent story and good characters.
March 29, 2022
In the small town of Chokeberry, Colorado, an artsy student named Michael finds a swastika painted on the wall in the middle school. Everyone is horrified, especially so when they start appearing all over the school. When tolerance seminars have no effect, the hyper president of the seventh grade (Caroline) and a popular jock prankster (Link) join forces to build a paper chain with 6,000,000 links, having gotten the idea from a school in Tennessee, which collected 6,000,000 paper clips to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. Link discovers he is actually Jewish and befriends Dana, the only Jewish girl in the school, the daughter of local scientists digging for dinosaur bones. A nationally-known podcaster comes to town, with his own agenda. Some good themes developed about bias, tolerance, and unity in the face of hatred and stupidity.
May 29, 2021
Wow.
“..the first step in wrapping your mind around the unimaginably vast tragedy of the Holocaust is to wrap your mind around that unimaginably vast number of six million.” (G. Korman, “Linked,” author’s note)
Gordon Korman, in his 99th book so far, powers home the image of 6 million Jews slaughtered because of hatred as well as raises the ugly specter of the Ku Klux Klan and their racism and bigotry. Including these somber facts in a middle school setting with 7th graders trying to make something positive out of a criminal act of vandalism should help drive the message of “never forget/learn to do better” home to the target audience of grades 5-8. Mixed into these important themes are lessons in forgiveness, not judging by appearances, and recognizing the value in each and every life which are sorely needed by all of us. As with his immensely popular book “Restart,” the tone is far from preachy and the interaction between characters and the events unfolding in a town that could be anywhere will keep readers turning pages, anxious to reach the conclusion.
“A paper chain [project] can be done when it hits a certain number of links. But tolerance is a project you always have to keep working at.” (Michael Amorosa, character in “Linked”)
May we all keep working at it.
“..the first step in wrapping your mind around the unimaginably vast tragedy of the Holocaust is to wrap your mind around that unimaginably vast number of six million.” (G. Korman, “Linked,” author’s note)
Gordon Korman, in his 99th book so far, powers home the image of 6 million Jews slaughtered because of hatred as well as raises the ugly specter of the Ku Klux Klan and their racism and bigotry. Including these somber facts in a middle school setting with 7th graders trying to make something positive out of a criminal act of vandalism should help drive the message of “never forget/learn to do better” home to the target audience of grades 5-8. Mixed into these important themes are lessons in forgiveness, not judging by appearances, and recognizing the value in each and every life which are sorely needed by all of us. As with his immensely popular book “Restart,” the tone is far from preachy and the interaction between characters and the events unfolding in a town that could be anywhere will keep readers turning pages, anxious to reach the conclusion.
“A paper chain [project] can be done when it hits a certain number of links. But tolerance is a project you always have to keep working at.” (Michael Amorosa, character in “Linked”)
May we all keep working at it.
January 17, 2022
Imagine walking into your middle school only to discover a swastika symbol in bold paint on the wall. Told with multiple narrators, this is a story of an entire community coming together to learn about the Holocaust and to stand against racism as Chokecherry, Colorado decides to make a paper chain to symbolize the Jewish lives lost during WWII. “A paper chain can be done when it hits a certain number of links, but tolerance is a project you always have to keep working at.” The back matter includes a list of resources regarding anti-semitism, holocaust, racism, and intolerance. Published July 20, 2021 by Scholastic.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!!
September 23, 2021
I’ve been reading Gordon Korman since MacDonald Hall and he’s never disappointed me. This book is as awesome as ever! Great characters, a captivating story and a conflict that keeps you hanging. It’s about a tiny town that seems peaceful and ideal until a hate symbol appears spray painted in the school. There’s also a great mystery element because no one knows who did it. Recommended for all ages!!!
#scholasticemployee
#scholasticemployee
November 25, 2025
This was an amazing book! The twists and turns were really well done and it was a really interesting story! I definitely recommend.
October 3, 2024
This is a book I’ll recommend to all of my middle schoolers, as it teaches about tolerance and forgiveness but not in a preachy way. It’s an easy read and a relevant one for 6th-8th graders. Plus, it’s a mix of genres: realistic fiction and mystery with historical connections too.
December 4, 2023
I loved this book!!! Had a very good plot and it was an important one. I especially liked the plot twist! Can’t wait to read more of this author!
March 2, 2022
5⭐️
this book was by far my favourite red maple novel. there were so many life lessons that i now know that will be useful to me and many others in the future.
i truly think this is the most well written book out of all the red maple nominees i’ve read so far.
this book was by far my favourite red maple novel. there were so many life lessons that i now know that will be useful to me and many others in the future.
i truly think this is the most well written book out of all the red maple nominees i’ve read so far.
May 26, 2022
I think this is one of Korman’s most thought-provoking books. He always makes me laugh and entertains me, and this one did that too, but it explored some deeper issues regarding families, hatred, and the power of community.
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