Bucking the Sarge

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Fifteen-year-old wannabe philosopher Luther T. Farrell knows a few things about life. He knows the Sarge (his rich, shrewd, slumlord mom) is tougher than nails and that he better not cross her. He knows his chances of using Chauncey, the ancient condom in his wallet, are slim to none. And, he knows that despite his goal to attend Harvard, he may end up stuck in Flint, Michigan, cleaning toilets in his mom's loathsome empire. Luther spends much of his time helping the Sarge run "Happy Neighbor Group Homes" around the city, including shaving and bathing elderly men and driving residents around with an illegal license. In spare moments he tries to win first place in the science fair at school and hang out with his best friend Sparky, all the while fantasizing mightily about his one true love, the beautiful Shayla.

ANNOTATION

Deeply involved in his cold and manipulative mother's shady business dealings in Flint, Michigan, fourteen-year-old Luther keeps a sense of humor while running the Happy Neighbor Group Home For Men, all the while dreaming of going to college and becoming a philosopher.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Deeply involved in his cold and manipulative mother's shady business dealings in Flint, Michigan, fourteen-year-old Luther keeps a sense of humor while running the Happy Neighbor Group Home For Men, all the while dreaming of going to college and becoming a philosopher.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Curtis (Bud, Not Buddy; The Watsons Go to Birmingham) invites readers to visit present-day Flint, Mich., and to meet one of its wealthiest 15-year-olds, Luther T. Farrell. From the outside, narrator Luther's life might seem enviable. He drives a luxury vehicle, using a "for-real, honest-to-God, straight from the Secretary of State phony driver's license" that says he's 18. His education fund is worth $92,510 and he's a top student on his way to becoming the winner of the Whittier Middle School science fair for the third consecutive year. The down side: Luther is constantly kept under the thumb of his hyperstrict mother, "the Sarge," a woman who has lied, cheated and extorted her way to "own[ing] half the ghetto." When not in school, Luther is put in charge of doing the Sarge's dirty work, cleaning out the rat-infested apartments of evicted tenants and taking care of the elderly residents at the adult rehabilitation center owned by his mother. Happiness and independence seem out of Luther's reach until he devises a way to "buck" the Sarge the same way she has "bucked" the system. The hero's sense of humor and his interest in philosophy bring levity to Luther's bleak trappings. Featuring characters so lively they seem to jump off the page and a gratifying resolution in which all characters get their comeuppance, this vibrant modern-day battle between greed and morality proves that there is more than one way to come out on top. Ages 10-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Claudia Mills

Middle-schooler Luther T. Farrell has carried in his wallet for years the world's oldest condom, nicknamed Chauncey, and worries about being overheard while masturbating in the group home for the mentally handicapped that he manages for his mother, the Sarge, a scheming slumlord in Flint, Michigan. Curtis's latest novel is decidedly darker and seamier than The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 and Bud, Not Buddy. It takes a strong stomach to get through scenes of Luther changing the poop-filled pants of one of his charges, or his friend Sparky trying to get his hand bitten by a rabid rat to ground a fraudulent lawsuit. The Sarge is a one-dimensional caricature of evil—the seeming twin of the Warden in Louis Sachar's Holes—but it is unsettling to have such a character appear in a work of realistic fiction. And it is inconsistent that an obsessively greedy and abusive mother who cares so little about her son would make any financial sacrifice—however underhanded—to help him win his school's annual science fair or attend the award ceremony afterward, both of which are central to Curtis's plot. Curtis's genius as a writer shines through in Luther's hilarious and winning narrative voice, and in his huge and generous heart. But just as Luther is desperate to leave behind the depressing world of Flint, Michigan, readers may feel equally impatient to leave behind the depressing world of this book. 2004, Wendy Lamb, Ages 12 up.

VOYA - Ed Sullivan

Newbery award-winning author Curtis aims for an older audience and hits a bull's-eye with this darker and uglier contemporary portrait of his native Flint, Michigan. Ninth-grader Luther T. Farrell loathes his greedy, loan-sharking, slumlord mother, known to everyone as "the Sarge," who milks the system to take advantage of disadvantaged, elderly, and low-income people. Even more loathsome is his mother's henchman/lover, Darnell Dixon, who has no compunction about breaking all the rules and forces Luther to do some of the dirty work. Luther's dream is to escape Flint forever, and winning his third science fair will put him on track for college. Luther gets the opportunity to break ties with his mother once and for all and expose her for the villain she is when his science project, about the effects of lead paint on the development of children, ties for first place. Luther's project prompts the mayor's office to launch a citywide investigation that means big trouble for the Sarge, who years ago fraudulently obtained and used lead paint for her properties. Infuriated, the Sarge tells Luther to pack his bags, but he finds her stash of hidden money, takes enough to pay for college, and heads down south to pursue his dream. This superbly crafted story is populated by memorable quirky characters, such as Luther's best friend, Sparky, and his mysterious octogenarian roommate. As in Curtis's other novels, there is plenty of hilarity. At the core of the story, though, is Luther's profoundly inspiring determination to stay true to his values and to force his mother to answer for her many transgressions. No library should be without it. VOYA CODES: 5Q 5P J S (Hard to imagine it being any betterwritten; Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2004, Wendy Lamb Books/Random House, 240p., and PLB Ages 12 to 18.

KLIATT - Paula Rohrlick

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 mother (aka the Sarge), who has him trapped in her "Evil Empire." She's a loan shark, 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 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 from her apartments. The setting is Flint, Michigan, where Curtis's previous award-winning novels, The Watson 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 is dying to get out of Flint, and he has hatched a get-rich-quick scheme, involving a rat and a lawyer whose phone number is 1-800-SUE-EM-ALL, 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 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 himfor 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 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. KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2004, Random House, Wendy Lamb Books, 240p., Ages 12 to 18.

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