Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bucking the Sarge.CURTIS, Christopher Paul Christopher Paul was born Paul Kenyatta Laws. In 1989, he changed his name to Abdulmalek Kenyatta, but then to Christopher Paul in 1994. He was indicted on April 12, 2007 on the following charges: conspiring to support terrorists, conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction and . Bucking the Sarge sarge n. Informal Sergeant. sarge Noun Informal sergeant . Random House, Laurel Leaf. 259p. 2004. 0-440-41331-1. $6.50. JS* To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, September 2004: Two women dominate the life of Luther T. Farrell, age 15. He's in love with his beautiful classmate Shayla, though she is his rival to win the school science fair. The other woman is his terrifying ter·ri·fy tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. mother (aka the Sarge), who has him trapped in her "Evil Empire." She's a loan shark A person who lends money in exchange for its repayment at an interest rate that exceeds the percentage approved by law and who uses intimidating methods or threats of force in order to obtain repayment. In most jurisdictions Usury laws regulate the charging of interest rates. , a slum landlord, and the owner of a number of group homes, all part of her quest to become rich and powerful, no matter who she steps on along the way. Despite Luther's age, she has put him in charge of one of her homes, "The Happy Neighbor Group A neighbor group consists of two consecutive nonchord tones. The first moves up by a step from a chord tone, skips down to another non-chord tone, and then resolves to the original chord tone. These two non-chord tones are often called changing tones or double neighbor tones. Home for Men," where he works hard cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the residents for her. In his spare time she puts Luther to work doing other chores, such as reluctantly evicting people who can't pay the rent on her apartments. The setting is Flint, Michigan, where Curtis's previous award-winning novels, The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 and Bud, Not Buddy, also take place, but unlike those books this is a contemporary tale, and one aimed at somewhat older YAs (there are some references to masturbation, for example). Luther's enterprising friend Sparky spark·y adj. spark·i·er, spark·i·est Animated; lively. spark  i·ly adv. is dying to get out of Flint, and he has hatched a get-richquick scheme, involving a rat and a lawyer whose phone number is 1-800-SUE-EMALL, in which he embroils Luther. Luther's ancient roommate, Chester X, also hopes to split town, and both urge Luther to escape too, to get away from the domineering dom·i·neer·ing adj. Tending to domineer; overbearing. dom  i·neer and unloving Sarge. But it isn't until Luther wins the science fair, with a project on the dangers of lead paint that attracts media attention and dangerously infuriates the Sarge (she uses it on her properties, to save money), and realizes that the Sarge hasn't been putting away money for him for college for him after all, that he decides to break away. But will the Sarge's vicious sidekick find him first? This is a funny, moving, surprising tale, and readers will root for Luther all the way. He is a terrific character, a bright and hardworking young African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. teen with a tender heart who aspires to be a philosopher, and Curtis draws the other characters superbly as well. A great read sure to win this fine author more acclaim. (A 2005 ALA Best Book for YAs.) Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. *--The asterisk highlights exceptional books. |
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