The summer after junior year of high school looks bleak for Alton Richards. His girlfriend has dumped him to hook up with his best friend. He has no money and no job. His parents insist that he drive his great-uncle Lester to his bridge club four times a week and be his cardturner—whatever that means. Alton’s uncle is old, blind, very sick, and very rich.
But Alton’s parents aren’t the only ones trying to worm their way into Lester Trapp’s good graces. They’re in competition with his longtime housekeeper, his alluring young nurse, and the crazy Castaneda family, who seem to have a mysterious influence over him.
Alton soon finds himself intrigued by his uncle, by the game of bridge, and especially by the pretty and shy Toni Castaneda. As the summer goes on, he struggles to figure out what it all means, and ultimately to figure out the meaning of his own life.
Through Alton’s wry observations, Louis Sachar explores the disparity between what you know and what you think you know. With his incomparable flair and inventiveness, he examines the elusive differences between perception and reality—and inspires readers to think and think again.
Was this book worth my time?
Sure.
I loved the way this book was written as if Alton was just telling his story. It was full of humor and sarcasm. I also liked the way it ended with the awful, immature parents getting what they deserve (or even a little better than they deserve). I fell in love with Trapp and was continually reminded of both of my grandfathers.
What bothered me about the book?
I spent most of the book skipping over the parts where Alton, Trapp, and Toni playing bridge or talked about bridge. I think if I had given the rules and description a better read I might not have been confused and bored by the game. I wonder if some of my students would "hang on" through those parts or just put it down and choose another books.
I also found the book to be predicable.
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