This is another one of those ‘throw backs’ I mentioned, that weren’t around when we were in middle school (yes, I’m assuming you’re all the same age as I am) but aren’t exactly debuts, either.  But it’s so awesome!  And it’s so perfect for summer!  I’m talking about Lawn Boy, of course, by Gary Paulsen.

If you’ve read Hatchet, which I spotlighted here, you might expect the tone of this book to be somewhat sober, or pensive.  In reality, it feels more like it would fit comfortably alongside the work of Bruce Coville…only, it’s still very much a Gary Paulsen book.

How can that be?  Well, if you think back on Hatchet you’ll remember the power and lasting impact of the story, then afterward recall that you also picked up some pretty cool info about survival in the Canadian wilderness.  In the same way, when you’ve read Lawn Boy you’ll remember all the funny lines, the quirky characters, the entire too-big-to-believe-yet-still-somehow-swallowable premise, and only later will you realize that you also learned, or were reminded, of a bunch of economic principals and the rules of supply and demand.  It’s really quite clever, because it takes a subject which I think 99.999% of us would agree is rather dry and a bit of a snooze and wraps it up in a story that’s too funny to read with a straight face.

If you’re human, anyway.  Let’s see what Apricot-kitty thought of it:

“I liked it.  Very funny.  But, if it’s that easy to make money, how come I don’t have a fresh food every night from a can?  Why is my favorite chair falling apart, and you haven’t bought me a replacement?  And what about that really big scratching pole you promised if I’d stop scratching my favorite corner of the house’s siding?”

Apricot bring up a good point.  As usual.  Lawn Boy was really fun, as mentioned above, but it’s probably a better introduction to the economics vocabulary involved than it is an actual fable of how those principals can be practically applied.  There’s also a bit about ‘funny’ lemonade that his hippie stock broker friend likes to serve, which parents may want to be prepared to field questions about.

But, I stand by my recommendation, and think it will reach its audience of slightly older middle graders and the adults who read alongside them.  Just, maybe don’t sell your house and go buy a lawn mower after reading it?  However, if you decide to do that, and can promise to be reliable, we might be able to work something out…. 😉

What are you reading?  Got anything quintessentially summer?  Check out the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday reviews, spotlights, interviews and giveaways listed on Shannon Messenger’s blog, and thanks so much for stopping by!

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