Book Reviews and More: Hunting the Hunter - Gordon Korman

Hunting the Hunter

On The Run Book 6

Scholastic Canada

ISBN 9780439943918

eISBN 9780545632089

ASIN B00CFT6KQW

Hunting the Hunter - Gordon Korman - On the Run Book 6

Wow! What a great conclusion to this series. But I am getting ahead of myself. According to Goodreads there are 9 editions of this book. And currently all but the eBook are out of print. Originally published in 2006 and the eBook released in 2013. I discovered previously there is a second series with the same characters, the Kidnapped series has another three volumes, so you could see this as the sixth of 9 stories featuring the Falconer's.

A few years ago in the summer of 2022, Korman published his 100th book. Yes you read that correctly, his hundredth book. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. Since then, I have read 98 of his books. As of the summer of 2025 he has 109 volumes in print, not counting omnibus editions. With each one I read I am entertained and often challenged. My son often reads these books to me or with me. And now my youngest daughter has started reading them. I have been jumping around on different series to finish reading his complete bibliography, because I finished the stand alone books last year. There are so many great reads in the Korman’s collection.

My son and I started reading Gordon Korman books together a few years ago, when he was given one as an end of year gift by his teacher. She gave the whole class the same Scholastic edition and wrote a note to each student in their copy of the book. Prior to that I had a read a few of his contributions to the 39 Clues series and had enjoyed them. My son and I have mostly had been reading his more recent titles, when I decided to try and read and review them all.

Chasing the Falconers

The Fugitive Factor

Now You See Them, Now You Don't

The Stowaway Solution

Public Enemies

Hunting the Hunter

The description of this volume is:

“Aiden and Meg Falconer find and confront the man who could free their parents in this thrilling conclusion to the first ON THE RUN series.

Aiden and Meg Falconer have been all across country, looking for the man who framed their parents and sent them off to life in prison. Now they've found him -- and need to trap him before he gets away again. But it isn't going to be easy. Hairless Joe is a professional killer ... and he's not about to let two kids stand in the way of his freedom. It's the ultimate showdown -- and only one side can win.”

Another is:

“When Aiden and Meg Falconer discover that Hairless Joe, a killer and madman, holds the key to freeing their parents from prison, they decide to try and trap him, despite the dangers.”

Unlike many of Korman’s books the chapters do not have titles, in any of the books in the series. The premise of the series reminds me of Conspiracy 365 January by Gabrielle Lord, also from Scholastic but published 5 years after this series. At the end of the volume is no preview or mention of the Kidnapped series.

The intensity in this series was always cranked up but this one does it in a very different way. The kids are hiding out on a farm near Colorado. They are trying to find a way to trap Frank, and get him to confess to clear their name. They know that the man they knew as Uncle Frank, is also the hairless man who has chassed them all over the country trying to kill them. The FBI has figured out who he is, and is starting to believe the kids about their parents’ innocence. But Aiden and Meg try and corner a murderer on their own. Things go sideways very quickly. To find out how and what happens read this thrilling conclusion to this hexalogy.

This story had the most serious risk in the series, a few close calls, and even setting themselves up as bait. It is another excellent offering in a wonderful series! This story and series is darker than many of Korman’s offerings. The pace is breakneck. The characters are very well written. You will find yourself cheering for Aiden and Meg again and again. And maybe just maybe they can pull it off after all these months, all those miles, and more than a few crimes. It is a story young readers will latch onto and love! It is another masterful story from Korman’s skillful pen! And if you enjoy it be sure to check out the follow up trilogy!

Books by Gordon Korman:

MacDonald Hall Series:

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall (1978)

Go Jump in the Pool (1979)

Beware the Fish! (1980)

The Wizzle War (1982)

(formerly The War With Mr. Wizzle)

The Zucchini Warriors (1988)

Light’s Camera, Disaster (1991)

(aka Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood)

The Jokes on Us (1995)

(formerly Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall)