Common Sense Note
In the face of an intimidating criminal parent (and her hired goon) who uses him as a virtual slave, Luther behaves as nobly as he can, though he indulges in retribution at the end. Young readers can discuss what they would have done in his situation, and whether there was a better solution to his problems than the one he eventually finds. They may also find it interesting to do some research on some of the topics raised here: slumlords, loan sharking, and lead-based paint.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Matt Berman
Newbery- and Coretta Scott King-honored author Chris Curtis moves into the present in his third book, but his trademark light touch and humorous approach to serious subjects remains the same. Given the subject matter, it seems strange to say that this is an enjoyable book, but it is, and the little revenge caper at the end wraps things up nicely, if a bit unrealistically.
But where in his previous books, especially his first, The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, the humor combined with emotional power and impact, here the reader is kept at an emotional distance. Luther's problems are interesting and the resolution fun in an odd way, but it's all a little too light. Perhaps it's unfair -- this is still a well-written and engrossing novel. But from Chris Curtis we've come to expect more.
From the Book:
The Sarge has a way of describing things that the finest English teacher in the world, Ms. Roshonda Sue Warren, would say was "interesting and colorful, therefore able to provide a powerful impact."
The Sarge can take you to whole new levels of fear when she calm-as-anything listens to what you have to say, then answers by going, "... is that right? Well, let's say you do decide not to exercise the only real option I've given you. I'd have no choice but to slap you so hard that by the time you've stopped rolling, your clothes will be out of style." Try sneering and muttering under your breath to the person who's just broke something down to you like that!
Plot Summary:
Luther's mother is determined to make it by milking the system. She's a tough, angry woman, and wants Luther to follow in her footsteps. She owns a string of slum properties, including halfway houses for mentally ill men, and a thriving loan sharking business. She has a couple of hired goons. And she has Luther, who has to do the scut work: taking care of old men in diapers, and cleaning out rat-ridden apartments after the tenants have been evicted.
But somehow, despite all that, Luther has turned out to be a decent kid, and at 15 he's chafing under her ironfisted rule. He wants to focus on doing well in school, winning his third science fair medal in a row, and eventually going to a good college, not running his mother's shady operations. He's trying to be a kid, not the wicked old man his mother's trying to turn him into.
Related Books:
Other Books by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
Bud, Not Buddy
More Criminal Parents
A Kind of Thief by Vivien Alcock
My Crooked Family by James Lincoln Collier
Monkey See, Monkey Do by Barthe DeClements
What Daddy Did by Neal Shusterman
Crusader by Edward Bloor
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Sexual ContentLuther carries an old condom in hopes of using it, masturbation is strongly hinted at several times, talk of "having a woman," and a butt squeeze. |
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ViolenceNone shown directly, but choking, breaking fingers, a pistol, and a beating are referred to. Luther hits his friend over the head with a roofing tile. |
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LanguageA few mild words and one instance of "giving the finger." |
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Message |
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Social BehaviorLuther's mother is a criminal, and he resorts to dishonesty and theft to get her back. He also drives with a fake license, and aid a friend in a failed scam. |
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CommercialismSeveral products and designer labels mentioned. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoA crack-addicted mother and a drug dealer are minor characters. |
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