Mudshark by Gary Paulsen

Hello, today I am doing my book review on the book Mudshark. It was written by Gary Paulsen. He is definately my favorite author. This book is very short and a quick read. By looking at the title of this book you might think that this is an outdoor book. But that guess is way off. It is actually about a boy named Lyle Williams. He is a twelve year old boy that loves to play Death Ball. Death Ball is a combination of soccer, football, wrestling, rugby and mud fighting. When he trips and lands flat on his back, a kid on the other team runs by him with the ball. Lyle stretches out his arm, grabs the kid and stops him from scoring. Then Billy Crisper, a kid that always watches the animal channel says that Lyle moved as fast as a mudshark. From then on Lyle was nicknamed Mudshark. This book mainly takes place at Mudsharks school. Mudshark has an absolutely insane memory. When people lose things they ask Mudshark where it is and he will know exactly where it is even he hadn’t been there when they dropped it or left it behind.

Later on his librarian buys a parrot that sits in there library all day and doesn’t move. It only speaks when someone asks it where something of there’s is. The parrot will answer even before Mudshark is able to answer. Kirkus Reviews says, “Paulsen's peppy, lightweight new classroom comedy about a super-sharp kid is meant to amuse, and it does.” This book is often bought with Lawn Boy and Masters of Disaster. Both are also Gary Paulsen Books. Overall I thought that this was a great book! Definately living up to Gary Paulsen’s reputation. My favorite quote from the book is “He seemed to move as a part of the hall. He’d suddenly appear out of nowhere, as if he’d always been there.” The recommended reading age is young adult. This book sadly has not won any awards yet but my guess is that it will later on down the road. Read this book to find out how the parrot and Mudshark team up and try to find Mudshark’s friend’s dad’s car. If they do find it where will it be? Going to have to read to find out.

Recommended by Spencer McDermott