The Cardturner

( 50 )

Overview

The summer after junior year of high school looks bleak for Alton Richards. His girlfriend has dumped him, he has no money and no job, and his parents insist that he drive his great-uncle Lester, who is old, blind, very sick, and very rich, to his bridge club four times a week and be his cardturner. 
     But Alton's parents aren't the only ones trying to worm their way into Lester Trapp's good graces. There is Trapp's ...

See more details below
Hardcover
$14.23
BN.com price
(Save 20%)$17.99 List Price
Other sellers (Hardcover)
  • All (49) from $1.99   
  • New (13) from $7.51   
  • Used (36) from $1.99   
The Cardturner

Available on NOOK devices and apps  
  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK HD/HD+ Tablet
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for Windows 8 Tablet
  • NOOK for iOS
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK for Windows 8
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac
  • NOOK Study
  • NOOK for Web

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

NOOK Book (eBook)
$9.99
BN.com price
Note: Visit our Teens Store.

More About This Book

Overview

The summer after junior year of high school looks bleak for Alton Richards. His girlfriend has dumped him, he has no money and no job, and his parents insist that he drive his great-uncle Lester, who is old, blind, very sick, and very rich, to his bridge club four times a week and be his cardturner. 
     But Alton's parents aren't the only ones trying to worm their way into Lester Trapp's good graces. There is Trapp's longtime housekeeper, his alluring young nurse, and the crazy Castaneda family.
     Alton soon finds himself intrigued by his uncle, by the game of bridge, and especially by the pretty and shy Toni Castaneda, as he struggles to figure out what it all means, and ultimately to figure out the meaning of his own life.

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

After his girlfriend hooks up with his best friend, Alton Richards is too shell-shocked to be hunting for new adventures. Recognizing his doldrums, his parents dispatch him on a strange summer assignment: His new job, four times a week, is to turn cards for his blind, bridge-playing great-uncle Lester. Aging, rich, and visibly frail, Lester Trapp is surrounded by family, servants, and nurses attentive to the old man's wishes—and will choices. Watching their mixed motives (and some of his own), Alton learns to discern the difference between illusion and reality. A winning trick from the author of the multi-award winning Holes.

Publishers Weekly
“I realize that reading about a bridge game isn't exactly thrilling,” 17-year-old narrator Alton tells readers early on. Luckily, this funny and thoughtful novel is as much about building bridges—between generations and maybe even between life and death—as it is about playing cards. Alton gets roped into serving as a card turner for his great-uncle, Lester Trapp, a bridge whiz who recently lost his eyesight (Alton's job is to read Trapp's cards for him). Though Alton barely knows Trapp, his opportunistic mother won't miss a chance for Alton to get in good with his “favorite uncle,” who's wealthy and in poor health. To Alton's surprise, he becomes enamored of the game and begins to bond with his crusty uncle—who shares insight into synchronicity and the connection between reality and perception. With dry, understated humor, Alton makes the intricacies of bridge accessible, while his relationships with and observations about family members and friends (including an ex-girlfriend, a manipulative best friend, and especially Trapp's former card turner) form a portrait of a reflective teenager whose life is infinitely enriched by connections he never expected to make. Ages 12–up. (May)
Publishers Weekly
“I realize that reading about a bridge game isn't exactly thrilling,” 17-year-old narrator Alton tells readers early on. Luckily, this funny and thoughtful novel is as much about building bridges—between generations and maybe even between life and death—as it is about playing cards. Alton gets roped into serving as a card turner for his great-uncle, Lester Trapp, a bridge whiz who recently lost his eyesight (Alton's job is to read Trapp's cards for him). Though Alton barely knows Trapp, his opportunistic mother won't miss a chance for Alton to get in good with his “favorite uncle,” who's wealthy and in poor health. To Alton's surprise, he becomes enamored of the game and begins to bond with his crusty uncle—who shares insight into synchronicity and the connection between reality and perception. With dry, understated humor, Alton makes the intricacies of bridge accessible, while his relationships with and observations about family members and friends (including an ex-girlfriend, a manipulative best friend, and especially Trapp's former card turner) form a portrait of a reflective teenager whose life is infinitely enriched by connections he never expected to make. Ages 12–up. (May)
VOYA - Matthew Weaver
At his parents' urging, Alton Richards begins assisting his wealthy great-uncle Trapp, a master bridge player. Trapp is blind and his last cardturner dared to question him, so Alton's parents see this as the perfect opportunity to get in good with Trapp. Soon, Alton learns the rules of the game, and hints to a long-buried scandal involving a presidential hopeful's wife. He also develops a love of the game himself. He gets to know his predecessor, the lovely — yet likely insane — Toni Castaneda, a possible rival for Trapp's fortune — and a potential soul mate. Already well-versed at immersing readers in fantastic, strange new worlds, Sachar is the first to admit that a novel about bridge seems unlikely. To prove this point, he includes pictures of a whale as a warning any time the story goes into "Moby Dick"-style detail. Still, all of his artistry is on display, with rich characters, an intriguing mystery and more than a dash of infectious enthusiasm. It's not hard to envision extracurricular bridge competitions popping up in schools all over as a result. Perhaps because of its relatively unusual subject matter, the story never fully reaches the epic proportions achieved in his previous classics like Holes (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1998/VOYA December 1998) and Sideways Stories from Wayside School (HarperCollins,1998), but Sachar has undeniably written the Great American Bridge Novel. Reviewer: Matthew Weaver
Melanie Hundley
The summer between junior and senior year doesn't look exciting for Alton Richards. He has no job so he has no money. His girlfriend dumps him so she can date his best friend. Then his parents insist that he drive his rich great-uncle Lester to bridge club four times a week. Because Uncle Lester is old and blind, Alton will also have to be his cardturner—even though Alton has no idea what that means. Alton becomes fascinated by his wealthy, old, and blind great-uncle and worries about the number of people trying to worm their way into Lester's good graces (and his will). As Alton learns bridge, he struggles to figure out his own life, his relationship with pretty Toni Castaneda, and the difference between perception and reality. This wry and witty novel makes you question what you know and what you think you know. Reviewer: Melanie Hundley
Kirkus Reviews
Who wants to read a novel about playing bridge-a dull, old-fashioned game nobody plays anymore, some old person's idea of fun before there were cell phones, television, iPods and video games? That's what 17-year-old Alton Richards thinks about bridge when he gets a job as cardturner for his diabetic, blind and curmudgeonly (and fabulously rich) Uncle Lester Trapp, a bridge master. In a journey into the culture of bridge and its alien rules and language, Alton comes to see the extraordinary in Trapp and to consider such new ideas as perception, synchronicity, randomness and the subconscious. Alton's first-person voice is the right vehicle for taking readers into this world and delineating how Alton is changed by the newfound relationship with his uncle and sort-of cousin Toni. Readers need not be card sharks to appreciate this unusual story; in fact, they will soon realize they've been dealt more than cards in this narrative of how big ideas and unforgettable characters affect Alton as he learns to take charge of his life and play his own hand. Intelligent readers will love this work-it's in the cards. (appendix) (Fiction. 12 & up)
Mary Quattlebaum
…Sachar handles complicated narrative structures with a light, sure touch, as he did in his brilliant Holes. This new novel deftly threads bridge diagrams and philosophical ideas through the short chapters of a coming-of-age story. And readers needn't be card sharks to enjoy the book. They can choose to wend through carefully marked descriptions of the characters' bridge play or skip them entirely and stick to the basic story line. Either way leads straight to Alton's quiet heart and his developing desire to become his own cardturner in the big game of life.
—The Washington Post
School Library Journal
Gr 7–10—It's the summer after his junior year of high school, and Alton Richards is told by his parents that he must drive his blind, rich great-uncle Trapp to his bridge club four times a week and turn cards for him in this novel (Delacorte, 2010) by Louis Sachar. His mother hopes that by worming his way into his uncle's affections, the family might be written into his will. It's soon apparent that there are others with the same intentions. Despite Trapp's blindness and health issues, he is a master bridge player and Alton turns out to be his right hand man in more ways than one. As the card games progress Alton develops admiration and respect for his seemingly cranky old uncle as well as the game of bridge. Sachar reads each chapter of the first-person narrative in a deceptively matter-of-fact style that contains all the angst, apathy, and humor that defines Alton.—Ivy Miller, Wyoming Seminary Upper School, Kingston, PA
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780385736626
  • Publisher: Random House Children's Books
  • Publication date: 5/11/2010
  • Pages: 352
  • Sales rank: 694,141
  • Age range: 12 - 17 Years
  • Product dimensions: 5.60 (w) x 8.20 (h) x 1.30 (d)

Meet the Author

Louis Sachar

Louis Sachar is the author of the award-winning Small Steps and the New York Times number one bestseller Holes, as well as Stanley Yelnats’ Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake. He is an avid bridge player. His books for younger readers include There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom, The Boy Who Lost His Face, Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes, and the Marvin Redpost series, among many others.
 

Read More Show Less

Read an Excerpt

1    
My Favorite Uncle    

Ever since I was a little kid, I've had it drilled into me that my uncle Lester was my favorite uncle. My mother would thrust the phone at me and say, "Uncle Lester wants to talk to you," her voice infused with the same forced enthusiasm she used to describe the deliciousness of canned peas. "Tell him you love him."  

"I love you, Uncle Lester," I'd say.  

"Tell him he's your favorite uncle."  

"You're my favorite uncle."  

It got worse as I got older. I never knew what to say to him, and he never seemed all that interested in talking to me. When I became a teenager I felt silly telling him he was my favorite uncle, although my mother still urged me to do so. I'd say things like "Hey, how's it goin'?" and he'd grunt some response. He might ask me a question about school. I imagine it was a great relief to both of us when my mother took back the phone. Our brief conversations always left me feeling embarrassed, and just a little bit creepy.  

He was actually my great-uncle, having been my mother's favorite uncle long before he was mine.  

I didn't know how much money he had, but he was rich enough that he never had to be nice to anyone. Our favorite uncle never visited us, and I think my mother initiated all the phone conversations with him. Later, after he got really sick, he wouldn't even talk to her. My mother would call almost daily, but she could never get past his housekeeper.   I had only met Uncle Lester face to face one time, at his sixty-fifth birthday party. I was six years old, and to me, his house seemed like a castle on a mountaintop. I said the obligatory "Happy birthday" and "I love you" and "You're my favorite uncle" and then steered clear of him.  

"His heart is as cold as a brick," my father said on the drive home.  

That phrase has stuck with me, I think, because my father used the word cold instead of hard.  

My elementary school was a brick building. Every day on the way home, I would drag my fingers over the hard, and yes, cold surface.  

I'm in high school now, but still whenever I walk by a brick building, I feel compelled to touch it. Even now, as I write this, I can almost feel the hard coolness, the sharp edges, and the roughness of the cement between the bricks.       

Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 50 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(29)

4 Star

(12)

3 Star

(4)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

(3)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 50 Customer Reviews

  • Posted June 27, 2010

    Novelist loves this book

    I'm a big fan of HOLES as well as a bridge player, so I figured to enjoy Louis Sachar's new book for teens, THE CARDTURNER [never mind that my teenage years are long past]. But I LOVED THIS BOOK! You can find the plot in other reviews. I'm going to rave about the writing, the characters, the philosophy, and the plot. Sachar puts you in hero Alton's head so perfectly that everything Alton does/says/thinks is fully integrated into a sympathetic personality. The other characters are run the gamut of humanity without being stereotypes: spunky kid sister, odious parents, manipulative best friend, cranky elderly uncle, and crazy cousin who turns out to be not so crazy after all.

    But THE CARDTURNER is more than a "how I spent my summer" teen novel. The mystery that Alton's family has tried so hard to conceal is carefully revealed, mental illness and domestic violence rear their ugly heads, the mutual distain between Alton and his elderly uncle slowly becomes respect and admiration, and young love blooms. Add in some ghosts and philosophical discussions for good measure, plus last, but not least, the game of Bridge. If anything can get kids to start playing bridge, this book will do it.

    Unfortunately for me, this is one of the crummy things about being a novelist myself. I used to read fantastic novels that left me feeling, well, fantastic. Reading Sachar's latest work certainly does that, but it also makes me realize that I'll never be able to write so well. Sigh.

    Maggie Anton
    www.rashisdaughters.com

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted June 13, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Life in a game

    This book is an extraordinary example of good writing. Louis Sachar took something as seemingly uninteresting as Bridge (the card game) and made it a central focus to tell the story of growth, love, life, and to point out what is important in life and what it is not. This story is easy to read and an excellent book to share with teenage boys to read by themselves or to read with them. We can all relate with the characters and their stories unfold in interesting and delightful ways. I would definitely recommend this book to adults and teens alike.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 19, 2012

    This book was absoulutely great. luved it. didn't hate it 1 bit.

    This book was absoulutely great. luved it. didn't hate it 1 bit. im 13, and i think that this book is great, great, great. i just skipped over the bridge parts and read the sum box. honestly, if u didn't read the sum box then u wouldn't really get wat is goin on in the back. who would hate this book anyway???

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted January 17, 2012

    LOVED this book!

    Although it is a young adult book, I gave a copy to all my bridge buddies and several non-bridge-playing friends that have expressed an interest in learning the game. I've asked that they share the books with their kids/grandkids to get more people interested in bridge. This book is so lovely, and well written. You need not know anything about bridge to enjoy it. Those that have read it agreed that it is a wonderful book.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 29, 2011

    i lovrd this book!

    The first few chapters were a little hard to get thru but after that i couldnt put this book down! Highly recpmmended. Makes me want to learn bridge

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 29, 2013

    H

    This is SUCH A GOOD BOOK! you should DEFFINATELY BUY IT!!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted January 17, 2013

    more from this reviewer

    Rating: 3 The Low Down: It¿s the summer before junior year,

    Rating: 3




    The Low Down: It’s the summer before junior year, and it isn’t going well. First, Alton Richards' girlfriend leaves him for his best friend. Then his mother insists that he hang out with his Great-Uncle Lester all summer. Lester is a master bridge player who, ever since he lost his sight, needs someone to read and play his cards for him during games and tournaments. Alton’s dad has recently lost his job, and Alton’s mom is hoping that her status as “favorite niece” will mean that Lester will be generous to them in his will. Very generous.




    At first, Alton doesn’t get bridge at all; but the longer he watches and listens, he starts to like it and look forward to helping Lester. He also starts to understand the Lester, the man,since he is more than just an ATM. Taciturn and reticent, he’s not into revealing himself to Alton or reveling in small talk. Eventually, however, through Uncle Lester’s friends and fellow bridge players, Alton is able to understand and appreciate his uncle and bridge.




    Best Thang ‘Bout It: Louis Sachar is an effortless writer, which couldn’t have been easy with all of the explanations of bridge and how to play, the terminology, etc. I appreciate his system of showing a symbol when he was going to write in detail about a bridge hand or play. That meant you could skip it and go to a box at the end of the explanation where a short explanation would be written. Clever.




    I’m Cranky Because: It was so boring. I felt like the actual storyline was so bogged down in the rudiments of bridge. If all the explanations of the game had been stripped away, it would have been a short story. I’ll admit I do remember having trouble getting into one of his previous books, Holes, but ended up loving it. I really thought this would happen again.




    To Read or Not To Read: It’s a well-written story, but I think it would be of interest to a specific type of person. I will leave that up to you to make that call.




    The Cardturner by Louis Sachar was published May 11, 2010 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers.




    Genre:Young Adult Fiction Contemporary
    Ages: 12 and  up

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 27, 2012

    Wow

    So good i'm SPEECHLESS

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 9, 2012

    Terrible, just awful.

    This bookis awful, in almost every possible way. I cherish my copies of Holes and Small Steps, but after reading this book, I have no respect for Louis Sachar. THIS IS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF A BOOK. Despite trying to keep the bridge terminology, rules, etc., he has failed at that. Despite trying to make this a heartfelt story, he has failed at that. Heck, he even tried do incorporate philisophy, and he failed at that. HEED THIS WARNING. Do not get this book. Period.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 23, 2012

    Amazing

    I loved thi book and it truely amazing. Who would have know it would be this good. I picked it up because it talied about cards, yet it had a truely amazing story behind it.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted September 22, 2012

    I would give The Cardturner by Louis Sachar 5 stars because the

    I would give The Cardturner by Louis Sachar 5 stars because the book was very interesting and held my attention until the very end. The story is about a 16 year old boy named Alton Richards. He and his friend Cliff don't hang out anymore because Cliff is with Alton's ex girlfriend, Katie, and Alton still has feelings for her. Alton has a Great Uncle Lester who is very rich, but very sick, he has diabetes and has gone blind. One day he calls Alton and asks Alton to be his cardturner at a bridge club that he plays at. Alton excepts and starts to learn the game and also learns more about his Great Uncle. Alton's father suddenly loses his job and now his family needs money. Since Lester is very rich Alton's parents want him to get on his Uncle's good side so that when he dies he can leave them some money in his will. Can Alton become a good cardturner with his Uncle and become friends with him, while also turning cards over in his personal life? Read to find out. I would recommend this book to anyone because every has relationship and friend problems like Alton does and they would be able to relate to him. Also in the book it explains a little how to play the game bridge which could be fun for anyone interested.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted January 8, 2012

    not my favorite

    I was expecting a lot out of this book, since I loved Holes and Small Steps. I think the book got TOO bogged down with bridge hands, although I do have a new appreciation for the card game. Didn't feel like the characters went very deep.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 6, 2012

    Domeana

    This book taught me about the game bridge but the book itself is just a plain boring book

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 25, 2011

    AWESOME

    This is a great book. It has a good story line. Its about a kid and his uncle. His uncle has a sickness and is blind. The uncle plays bridge which is a card game. The kid is the uncles cardturner which means that the kid plays for the uncle and the uncle tells the kid what to do. The uncle gets really good at bridge and enters into a nation tournament. A the last minute he dies of his sickness. So his cardturner gos for him and his uncle tells him wht to do in the back of his mind. In the end the kid wins the tournament and celebrates. Overall its a great book. It also tells you how to play bradge too. I recomend this book to everyone.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted July 18, 2011

    Something New

    I thought that this was yet another great book from Louis Sachar! It looks at a game that not many teens play, bridge. The book gives you an insight in how to play bridge without making the book a bridge rulebook. The book also involves a new look on schizophrenia (but I wont spoil)

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted April 22, 2011

    great story

    amazing novel made u want more ond more of the cardturner

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 15, 2011

    Entertaining read....makes me want to learn to play bridge.

    Enjoyable reading interspersed with detailed bridge trivia and rules. Storyline follows a young man into the complicated duplicate bridge world of lifemasters, bridge tournaments, novice vs. seasoned players, and first love.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted October 8, 2010

    Fantastic!

    This is a wonderful story by Louis Sachar. It's a beautifully laid out story of family, young love and bridge. I admit the bridge part still kind of has me fuzzy headed, but I think the target audience will forgive Sachar his addiction and read right along. Our hero, highschooler Alton Richards, has picked up the strangest summer job. He's driving his blind Uncle Lester to his weekly bridge game and turning the cards for him. His previous turner, Toni Castaneda, made the mistake of asking Uncle Lester if he was sure about a play. I'm still not sure about a lot of the bridge moves, but this certainly a story worth reading.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted August 3, 2010

    I have to confess that I fully believe Sachar has LOST HIS MIND!

    Having read all his previous books, starting with THERE'S A BOY IN THE GIRLS' BATHROOM, and having felt that, bit by bit, Sachar has actually gotten WORSE rather than better, I still felt hopeful when I saw the 'blurbs' about this book. Was I ever WRONG. First of all, everything ABOUT this latest novel feels contrived. It's just one giant cheer for the game of bridge. First of all, MAYBE a teen (the target reader for this book) COULD develop an interest in the game, though it isn't likely. But Sachar built the entire STORY around the game, giving pages and pages of the book to bridge terms which bored the stuffing from ME, an adult. A teen reading this would probably toss it aside after 10 pages, tops. Not only THAT, the characters are secondary to the story. I felt NOTHING for them. This 'review' could continue but to what point? Bottom line: I HATED The Card Turner and think kids will, too. And Mr. Sachar, if you happen upon this review, ENJOY your game. But for crying out loud, man! Go back and reread your own first book. Go back to your 'roots' so to speak. You're losing appeal faster than I can even tell you. You have lost touch with your readers. Sorry, but it's true.

    0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted July 16, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

    "Talk About Wow" is the title of one of the chapters in THE CARDTURNER by Louis Sachar. It is also the perfect way to describe this book. I was hooked on the very first page and read the thing in a single day. My recommendation is - Don't Miss It!

    With that said, many readers could be scared away by THE CARDTURNER. The story revolves around the card game of bridge. The book is filled with in-depth information and detailed descriptions of the game. But don't let that frighten you off. There is soooo much more to enjoy.

    Alton Richards isn't really looking forward to the summer between his junior and senior year. He knows he should look for a job but can't seem to get motivated. There won't be any swimming in the backyard pool because it's still just a hole in the ground awaiting the final outcome of some lawsuit between his parents and the pool company. Alton's dad has also just broken the news that the insulation company he works for is downsizing, which means he's out of a job. And don't forget, Alton's girlfriend just dumped him. Great way to kick off summer vacation.

    Just when Alton thinks things can't get anymore dismal, he learns that his "favorite" uncle, Lester Trapp, has requested his presence. Alton has been to his uncle's hilltop home only once before. It was the elderly Trapp's birthday, and Alton was just five years old at the time. Since Alton knows his parents are hoping for a huge inheritance when the old guy's time comes, he knows he must answer the call and find out what the old man wants.

    A cardturner? What is that? Lester Trapp, who is now blind due to complications from diabetes, wants Alton to help him play bridge. Trapp wants his young nephew to accompany him to his bridge club to read off the cards in his hand and play for him during the games. Alton knows nothing about bridge, but he is about to learn. He is also about to learn some of his family's darkest secrets.

    Using first-person narrative, author Louis Sachar takes readers into the world of bridge. Alton is an incredibly likeable main character with a wonderful sense of humor even when thrown into the most challenging circumstances. As he explains his eccentric uncle and other crazy members of the cast, he also teaches the basics of bridge. Scattered throughout the story are informational sections about the game. I agree with a previous review of THE CARDTURNER, posted at Guys Lit Wire, that these sections can be skipped if readers desire, but I found that even though I was confused, I wanted to read them to gain knowledge of this mysterious game.

    I'm not going to run out and start playing bridge, but thanks to Sachar, I can now appreciate the dedication and seriousness true players have for the game. Whatever you might feel about the game of bridge, THE CARDTURNER is a heartwarming and attention-grabbing novel. Even though this is billed as YA fiction, I'm passing it on to a bridge-playing friend of my mother's, and I know she's going to love it.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 50 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)