The Cardturner

Louis Sachar is an enchanting writer and a charming reader. At his parents' insistence, 17-year-old Alton is spending the summer as his blind, rich bridge-playing Uncle Lester's cardturner. This means driving him to his club four times a week and inadvertently learning some things--about bridge and about his family history. Since the story is narrated by Alton, Sachar performs the entire novel in the droll, jaded, doubtful tones of a teenage boy feeling his way in new territory. A foghorn sound effect amusingly announces impending long-winded bridge explanations, but the bridge playing is woven so masterfully into the story that even the most uninterested listener will learn a thing or two about the game. K.O. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Starred review from April 5, 2010
“I realize that reading about a bridge game isn't exactly thrilling,” 17-year-old narrator Alton tells readers early on. Luckily, this funny and thoughtful novel is as much about building bridges—between generations and maybe even between life and death—as it is about playing cards. Alton gets roped into serving as a card turner for his great-uncle, Lester Trapp, a bridge whiz who recently lost his eyesight (Alton's job is to read Trapp's cards for him). Though Alton barely knows Trapp, his opportunistic mother won't miss a chance for Alton to get in good with his “favorite uncle,” who's wealthy and in poor health. To Alton's surprise, he becomes enamored of the game and begins to bond with his crusty uncle—who shares insight into synchronicity and the connection between reality and perception. With dry, understated humor, Alton makes the intricacies of bridge accessible, while his relationships with and observations about family members and friends (including an ex-girlfriend, a manipulative best friend, and especially Trapp's former card turner) form a portrait of a reflective teenager whose life is infinitely enriched by connections he never expected to make. Ages 12–up.