What This Book Is About
Eli Frieden has always loved living in Serenity, New Mexico—the most perfect town in America. Crime rate: zero. Unemployment: zero. Every parent has a great job at the plastics factory, every kid gets straight A's, and everyone is unfailingly happy. But when Eli and his friend Randy try to bike to the next town for the very first time, something bizarre happens: Eli gets violently ill the moment he crosses the town line, and Randy's memories of the trip simply vanish.
What follows is a breathless sci-fi thriller in which Eli and a small group of friends begin to unravel the horrifying truth about Serenity—a truth that involves cloning, criminal masterminds, and the darkest experiment in nature-versus-nurture history. Gordon Korman, the bestselling author of over 100 books for young readers (he published his first novel at age fourteen), has crafted a page-turner that reads like The Truman Show meets The Maze Runner. With its multiple narrators, breakneck pacing, and a twist that will make readers gasp, Masterminds is the first book in a trilogy that kids devour in days.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, and the Singapore National Library.
Why UWC Chose This Book
Beneath its thriller surface, Masterminds asks a question that sits at the heart of UWC's educational philosophy: are we defined by our origins, or by the choices we make? The children of Serenity discover that their genetic heritage is deeply troubling, and they must decide whether they are bound by it or free to become something different. This nature-versus-nurture theme sparks rich classroom discussions about identity, ethics, and personal agency—exactly the kind of critical thinking UWC cultivates.
The book also models healthy skepticism. Eli and his friends learn to question a reality that everyone around them accepts without thinking—a skill that is essential for students in an information-rich world. For readers in Singapore, where the concept of a "perfect, controlled community" resonates with local conversations about governance and social design, the book offers a safe fictional space to explore these ideas critically.
Reading Level Guide
Challenging at A2. The sci-fi vocabulary and fast-switching narrators may be disorienting. Try The Wild Robot first.
Perfect difficulty. The suspenseful plot pulls readers forward, and the conversational narration makes the 352 pages fly by.
Comfortable read at B2. Consider City Spies or The Maze Runner for a greater challenge.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
Not sure if this book is right for your child? Take our free 30-minute English assessment to find their CEFR level, then choose books that match.