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    Bucking the Sarge
    Unavailable
    Bucking the Sarge
    Unavailable
    Bucking the Sarge
    Audiobook6 hours

    Bucking the Sarge

    Written by Christopher Paul Curtis

    Narrated by Michael Boatman

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Luther T. Farrell has got to get out of Flint, Michigan.

    As his best friend Sparky says, "Flint's nothing but the Titanic."

    And his mother, a.k.a. the Sarge, says, "Take my advice and stay off the sucker path."

    The Sarge milked the system to build an empire of slum housing and group homes. Luther's just one of the many people trapped in the Sarge's Evil Empire-but he's about to bust out.

    If Luther wins the science fair this year, he'll be on track for college and a future as America's best-known and best-loved philosopher. All he's got to do is beat his arch rival Shayla Patrick, the beautiful daughter of Flint's finest undertaker-and the love of Luther's life.

    Sparky's escape plans involve a pit bull named Poofy and the world's scariest rat. Oh, and Luther. Add to the mix Chester X., Luther's mysterious roommate; Dontay Gaddy, a lawyer whose phone number is 1-800-SUE'M ALL; and Darnell Dixon, the Sarge's go-to guy who knows how to break all the rules.

    Bucking the Sarge is a story that only Christopher Paul Curtis could tell. Once again the Newbery Award-winning author of Bud, Not Buddy and The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 gives us a whole new angle on life and a world full of unforgettable and hilarious characters. Readers will root for Luther and Sparky every step of the way.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateSep 14, 2004
    ISBN9781400090372
    Unavailable
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    Reviews for Bucking the Sarge

    3.5/5

    143 ratings10 reviews

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    • 1/5
      Really disappointed at some extremely inappropriate scenes. Much prefer his other books.
    • 5/5
      Oh, man. That was really, really good. Filled me with melancholy joy.
    • 3/5
      A little bit over the top for me, but I bet there are tons of middle school guys out there that will love it, especially the scenes where they try and capture the rats.
    • 5/5
      Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bucking the Sarge. 2004. 259 pp. $6.99. Wendy Lamb. 385-32307-7. Ages 13 & Up.Luther T. Farrell is different from a lot of teens in Flint, Michigan. For starters, he is working on his third first place medal in the High School science fair, hoping to beat his crush Shayla yet again. He also has a drivers license that says he’s eighteen, and he gets to drive and $80,000 van. But the biggest difference in Luther T. Farrell’s life is his mother, or the Sarge, who expects Luther to work full-time running her men’s group home and helping out with her other nefarious business interests in exchange for contributions to his education fund - which Luther figures should have at least $90,000 for him to put to use to his education to become the world’s most famous philosopher. As much as the Sarge wants him to take over her business, Luther can’t bring himself to kick out tenants or condone the exorbitant interest rates on her “friendly neighbor loans.” When Luther betrays the Sarge’s business interests, it becomes Luther’s turn to take control of his life and buck the Sarge’s expectations - if he can escape alive. A vivid portrait of life in a city gripped by poverty and exploitation. Curtis brings a refreshing and unique voice of an African American teen who is highly intelligent, hardworking, and attuned to the immorality of the world he is trapped in. Reader’s will cheer for this underdog as he finally gains the courage to outwit his dictatorial mother. Highly recommended. Ages 13 & Up.
    • 4/5
      I knew that Christopher Paul Curtis was one of my favorite historical fiction writers, but boy, he can hold his own with contemporary fiction. Luther T. Farrell has one of the freshest 15-year-old voices I've read in a long time, and the story of how he outsmarts his mom (the Sarge) is both hilarious and heart-rending.
    • 3/5
      In this ALA Best Book for YA winner of 2005, Christopher Paul Curtis once again provides the reader with a very likable host of characters. Curtis' trademark is to portray serious subjects with poignant humor, and this book follows that standard.Unlike his other books, Curtis does not delve into historical content. In this modern day story Luther T. Farrell has some problems. First and foremost his mother, nicknamed by him as "The Sarge" is an angry, mean spirited greedy woman. Her tough as nails hallmark to fame is that she is the proud owner of a series of slum housing projects. Also, in addition to being a slum land lady, she also runs a nursing home and scams the poor with her loan sharking schemes.If there is a person to be bought, The Sarge has the cash and the means to do it. If there is a family in her project that cannot pay the rent, the Sarge will happily have her goon throw them out in the street. Using her middle school aged son Luther, aka Sparky as her servant, she forces him manage the nursing home.Sparky is intelligent and quick witted and was to get the heck out of Flint, Michigan as fast as he can.While I laughed when reading this well written book, in the end, it fell flat and wasn't up to the standard I've come to appreciate in this wonderful author.
    • 2/5
      This story is about a boy named Luther T. Farrel who desperately wants to get out of Flint, Michigan. His mother a.k.a. "The Sarge" encourages him to get out as well and says Flint is a sucker path. Luther feels that he is trapped in the Sarges evil empire. The sarge built a monopoly of slum housing and he feels like he is under her evil empire. If Luther wins the science fair this year, he'll be on track for college and a future as America's best-known and best-loved philosopher. All he's got to do is beat his arch rival Shayla Patrick who is also the love of his life. Sparky's escape plans involve a pit bull named Poofy and the world's scariest rat.
    • 5/5
      Hilarious story about wannabe philosopher Luther T Farrell and his slumlord mother, the Sarge. One of a kind story, good for reluctant readers.
    • 4/5
      I love Christopher Paul Curtis! His stories are insightful & chock full of laughs. I listen to audio books & he has THE BEST narrators. I've listened to Lavar Burton narrate one & this one was Michael Boatman (Carter from Spin City). What a wonderful voice he has for this outlet.Bucking the Sarge is about Luther, a teen whose mother is quite an influence in Flint Michigan. She pulls many strings in the city. A slum lord, loan shark & ACLF operator. Now what happens when Luther finds out what the real scoop is with The Sarge?
    • 3/5
      Luther has a few goals in life. 1) To become a world-famous philosopher, 2) to be wealthy, and 3) to win first place in his school science fair three years in a row. He knows he's on his way to 1 and 2, but 3 will take some work. It's hard to find time to work on his project when he's always busy doing chores for the Sarge. The Sarge is Luther's mom and she's always got something for him to do. Heck, she got him his driver's license at age 15 so he could help out with the family business. Luther knows the Sarge can get most anything she wants by pulling her strings, but when he comes to find out what's behind those strings, he'll have some choices to make. Does he have what it takes to buck the Sarge? The book starts off somewhat slow, but it really picks up at the end. Luther is a likeable character and he takes the audience along with him as he discovers more and more about the Sarge's empire. It's believable how much he doesn't know and doesn't ask about his mom's "businesses" and when he finally digs out the truth, his reaction is believable, too.