King Dork
Encyclopedia
King Dork is a young adult novel by Frank Portman first published in 2006. It received recognition as a 2007 Best Book for Young Adults from the American Library Association. The novel features protagonist and disaffected slacker Tom Henderson in the fall of his high school
sophomore year. The storyline focuses on Tom’s many problems in life including the death of his police officer
father six years previous; his attempts to start a hard-rock band with his best and only friend Sam Hellerman; the daily difficulties of surviving a contemporary American high school filled with cruel peers, uncaring administrators and teachers obsessed with the novel Catcher in the Rye; his evolving relationship with his mother and stepfather; and negotiating the complexities of relating to the opposite sex.
The novel, while following a traditional linear narrative, frequently makes tangents in the first-person narrative where Tom examines his life and relationship to the rest of the world. The character of Tom speaks rarely and sparsely in the novel, but his internal dialogue is both verbose and extensive.
have much in common especially in their disaffected world view, difficulty of dealing with their peers, and even the odd detail of having a younger sister and emotionally distant parents.
Partway through the novel Tom finds a box of his father’s old books, including Catcher in the Rye and Brighton Rock, which he decides is the best book ever. Inside one of these books he finds an old coded message from his father to an unknown friend. This propels Tom into investigating his father’s death in an attempt to determine if the accident that killed his father was truly an accident, a murder or something else entirely.
/Adam McKay
Paramount
/Vantage
production company Gary Sanchez Productions
in November 2006. In May 2009 Portman reported that a new deal had been reached with Sony Pictures, with Gary Sanchez still set as the production company. Seth Gordon, director of The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
, is attached to direct the film. The Internet Movie Database
forecasts King Dork for a 2014 release.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
sophomore year. The storyline focuses on Tom’s many problems in life including the death of his police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
father six years previous; his attempts to start a hard-rock band with his best and only friend Sam Hellerman; the daily difficulties of surviving a contemporary American high school filled with cruel peers, uncaring administrators and teachers obsessed with the novel Catcher in the Rye; his evolving relationship with his mother and stepfather; and negotiating the complexities of relating to the opposite sex.
The novel, while following a traditional linear narrative, frequently makes tangents in the first-person narrative where Tom examines his life and relationship to the rest of the world. The character of Tom speaks rarely and sparsely in the novel, but his internal dialogue is both verbose and extensive.
Plot summary
Outcast Tom Henderson begins his sophomore year of high school in as quiet way as possible but is set upon by the school’s many bullies and administration. Through a series of chance circumstances he soon finds himself investigating his father’s death, trying to put together a decent rock band with his only friend, searching out the identity of a mystery girl he met and made out with at a party, struggling to keep out of the way of the school’s psychotic “normal” kids bent on cruelly punishing him for existing. The myriad plot strands are brought together during and after a climatic battle of the bands in the school where he inadvertently is the cause of the disappearance of at least one teacher, earns the wrath of a new group of students, and the surprising admiration of some of those who previously despised him.Band names
Throughout the novel Tom and Sam devise various names for their band along with album titles and alternate identities for themselves. This is mostly done to ward away boredom, but to also find an identity for their music. At the climax of the novel, as Balls Deep, Sam and Tom, with their drummer Todd Panchowski, make their big debut at a school talent contest, but at the last moment when Tom is introducing the band, he changes their name to the Chi-Mos, his nickname in school. Tom feels they have a mostly successful show because most of their songs are designed to ridicule their vice principal which have a mostly positive reaction from the crowd, and his secret girlfriend Deanna, skips out of her Catholic school to see the show. In frustration with the failure of Todd to actually be an effective member of the band and walking out in the middle of the set, Tom and Sam destroy Todd’s drum kit and the cabinet housing Sam’s amplifier. Balls Deep/The Chi-Mos! wind up losing the contest.Catcher in the Rye
One of the minor annoyances Tom copes with is what he terms the Cult of Catcher in the Rye. Tom states every teacher in his school assigns Catcher in the Rye as mandatory reading, thereby sucking any literary, historical or rebellious merit out of the novel. The ironic part is that Tom Henderson and Holden CaulfieldHolden Caulfield
Holden Caulfield is the 16-to-17 years old protagonist of author J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. He is universally recognized for his resistance to growing older and desire to protect childhood innocence...
have much in common especially in their disaffected world view, difficulty of dealing with their peers, and even the odd detail of having a younger sister and emotionally distant parents.
Partway through the novel Tom finds a box of his father’s old books, including Catcher in the Rye and Brighton Rock, which he decides is the best book ever. Inside one of these books he finds an old coded message from his father to an unknown friend. This propels Tom into investigating his father’s death in an attempt to determine if the accident that killed his father was truly an accident, a murder or something else entirely.
Film adaptation
The film rights to the book were optioned by the Will FerrellWill Ferrell
John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
/Adam McKay
Adam McKay
Adam McKay is an American screenwriter, director, comedian, and actor. He is most famous for his partnership with comedian Will Ferrell, with whom he co-wrote the films Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and The Other Guys....
Paramount
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
/Vantage
Vantage
Vantage may refer to:*Vantage, Washington, a census-designated place in Kittitas County, Washington*Aston Martin V8 Vantage , an automobile brand manufactured by Aston Martin*Vantage , a cigarette brand manufactured by R.J...
production company Gary Sanchez Productions
Gary Sanchez Productions
Gary Sanchez Productions is a production company operated by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. They also founded the video site Funny or Die.It is named after supposed entrepreneur and financier Gary Sanchez, and is represented by Creative Artists Agency.-Film:...
in November 2006. In May 2009 Portman reported that a new deal had been reached with Sony Pictures, with Gary Sanchez still set as the production company. Seth Gordon, director of The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters is a 2007 American documentary film that follows Steve Wiebe as he tries to take the world high score for the arcade game Donkey Kong from reigning champion Billy Mitchell...
, is attached to direct the film. The Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
forecasts King Dork for a 2014 release.