Deeply involved in his cold and manipulative mother's shady business dealings in Flint, Michigan, fourteen-year-old Luther keeps a sense of humor w...
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Apr 10, 2011
Laura
rated it: 
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Michael Boatman from Spin City. Fabulous job with the narration!
I loved, loved, loved the voice of Luther in this book. Funny, honest, and unique. He quotes philosophers inaccurately and without credit. Some of the quotes will go over the heads of many readers, but that doesn't make the book any less enjoyable.
As much as I liked the book, I don't quite understand one of the most important relationships: Luther and hi More...
I loved, loved, loved the voice of Luther in this book. Funny, honest, and unique. He quotes philosophers inaccurately and without credit. Some of the quotes will go over the heads of many readers, but that doesn't make the book any less enjoyable.
As much as I liked the book, I don't quite understand one of the most important relationships: Luther and hi More...
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Aug 03, 2007
Abby
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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
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Jan 29, 2012
Richie
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16 May 2004 BUCKING THE SARGE by Christopher Paul Curtis, Random House/Wendy Lamb Books, September 2004, ISBN: 0-385-32307-7; ISBN Library: 0-385-0159-3
The nation's fifth and sixth grade teachers will return to school in September just in time to discover that Christopher Paul Curtis has forsaken them. BUCKING THE SARGE is not a book that they will be reading aloud to their students in the same way that thousands of them have been reading THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM, 1963 and BUD NOT BUDDY More...
The nation's fifth and sixth grade teachers will return to school in September just in time to discover that Christopher Paul Curtis has forsaken them. BUCKING THE SARGE is not a book that they will be reading aloud to their students in the same way that thousands of them have been reading THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM, 1963 and BUD NOT BUDDY More...
Dec 14, 2010
Barky
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 06, 2010
I listened to this one on CD while my best friend and I were working on various projects. This was one of those "saw it on the shelf, and it looked promising" choices. I had read "Bud, Not Buddy," and "Elijah of Buxton," and had enjoyed those. This, too, was entertaining, although it should be noted that while the previous two books are more for older grade school, this one is more of a Young Adult book. Issues of sex and sexuality are discussed, and the protagonist
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Oct 02, 2011
Elisa
rated it: 
Rating : **** This book deals with complex issues in a humorous and thoughtful way. Christopher Paul Curtis is great at writing memorable characters that have great depth.
Plot Summary: Luther T. Farrell is a fifteen year old boy who is very mature for his age. He runs one of his mother’s (AKA the Sarge) group homes for men, lives there without his mother, and has been driving since he was thirteen. All Luther T. Farrell wants is to win the school science fair for the third time. Bu More...
Plot Summary: Luther T. Farrell is a fifteen year old boy who is very mature for his age. He runs one of his mother’s (AKA the Sarge) group homes for men, lives there without his mother, and has been driving since he was thirteen. All Luther T. Farrell wants is to win the school science fair for the third time. Bu More...
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Jan 27, 2010
Kit
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As always, Christopher Paul Curtis makes me laugh, but this book is darker and for an older audience than Bud Not Buddy. Luther's mom is, not to put too fine a point on it, a slum lord. Although she has arguments for *why* she's a slum lord, most of the movement of this book involves Luther's inner struggle to distance himself from his mother - hopefully without getting beaten up by her rent-a-thug - and make amends for some of the things she's done. Luther is occasionally dim, but it's his pal
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May 14, 2011
Josiah
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Christopher Paul Curtis continually amazes me. He can tell a story so wild and crazy that the entire idea behind it seems totally outlandish and absurd, completely unbelievable, yet he is so skillful at finding ways to ground his characters in the bedrock of reality that, ultimately, the story doesn't feel all that far-fetched after all. There is no one like Christopher Paul Curtis.
At age fourteen, Luther finds himself in the unpaid (practically speaking, at least) employment of his More...
At age fourteen, Luther finds himself in the unpaid (practically speaking, at least) employment of his More...
Aug 01, 2009
Andi
rated it:
Luther T. Farrell is a 15-year-old boy living in Flint, Michigan, employed by his mother to run one of her group homes and clean out her run-down rental houses after her tenants are evicted. He is learning all the tricks of her trade, but he doesn’t like it. From her point of view, she is taking care of him and herself, and getting some of what’s due. The more you know of her the more horrified you become.
The book is so well written it is a joy to read, even as it frightens and sadde More...
The book is so well written it is a joy to read, even as it frightens and sadde More...
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Feb 17, 2011
Linda
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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 wo More...
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 wo More...
Feb 01, 2012
Roger
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A self-ascribed “philosopher,” fifteen-year old Luther Farrell must battle the moral depravity of his mother, the Sarge. Her shallow business dealings keep Luther confined to the projects in Flint, Michigan. But Luther uses his intelligence and ambitions to make a break from the Sarge and the city of Flint in order to relize his true self. His dreams embody the hope that can be realized with hard work and courage. Filled with humor and heartbreak, this YA novel captures the cultural experience
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Jun 26, 2011
Christopher Paul Curtis is great at coming up with memorable characters. He also does a great job of making you like flawed characters. Anyone interested in character driven novels should read his stuff. Curtis is also good with humor. I laughed more than once during this book.
I only had two complaints about the book. First, I know it's the trend right now in boy books--but I really don't want to know about a character's self-love and the magazines he keeps under his mattress. R More...
I only had two complaints about the book. First, I know it's the trend right now in boy books--but I really don't want to know about a character's self-love and the magazines he keeps under his mattress. R More...
Aug 30, 2011
Mari
rated it:
This is a very humorous yet well written novel the even makes reluctant readers laugh, want to read more, and see what happens to the believable characters author Curtis has created. Teenagers relate well to the boys in the book and their domineering mother: The Sarge. The situations they get themselves in and out of have the kids laughing in class, and saying "I like this book." I use the audio CD's from the public library in my classroom so that all levels of readers can follow alon
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Feb 08, 2012
Heather
rated it:
I was captivated by this story as we listened to it in my car. Unique characters and story. It has a very realistic feel to it, but I would almost call this a fantasy (since I personally don't know any 13-year-olds with a drivers' license and a "crew" to take care of). The only part I didn't like was the end. I wanted to see the consequences of Luther's actions so badly! Would he really get away from Flint? And would good really win over evil in the end? Maybe someday Curtis will
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Apr 05, 2011
Anna
rated it:
I thought this was a very clever book. Luther made for a very likable main character and narrator. The Sarge was also fantastic, even if she was sort of scary and very unethical. I thought the whole concept was very well thought-out and executed. It's quite thought-provoking and I was never really sure where the author was going to go with this, which made it that much more fun to listen to in the car. I liked the descriptions of Flint and its problems. I'm a bit worried that many kids won't h
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Feb 24, 2010
Clare
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It’s hard growing up in Flint, Michigan and even harder when your ambition is to be America’s most successful and wealthy philosopher. “Doing the right thing is like that, you get a strong feeling of relief, sort of like a giant rock has been lifted off your back. Or like the dump you take the day after you eat the ten-taco special from Los Aztecos.” Yet fourteen year-old-Luther T. Farrell has dreams and ambitions, and nothing, not even his mother, the Sarge, can stop him.
I kept laug More...
I kept laug More...
Dec 08, 2011
Erin
rated it:
Bucking the Sarge
by
Luther T. Farrell is the luckiest middle schooler on planet Earth. He's got a driver's license, his own ride, 90 grand in the bank, and more money in his pocket than he can possibly spend. So what's the problem? Well, Luther's mom is a criminal. She's not the mobster type who "rubs out" those who make her angry, she's more of a petty thief, although her actions do hurt others. The trade off for Luther's extra privileges is compromising his morals. How More...
by
Luther T. Farrell is the luckiest middle schooler on planet Earth. He's got a driver's license, his own ride, 90 grand in the bank, and more money in his pocket than he can possibly spend. So what's the problem? Well, Luther's mom is a criminal. She's not the mobster type who "rubs out" those who make her angry, she's more of a petty thief, although her actions do hurt others. The trade off for Luther's extra privileges is compromising his morals. How More...
Sep 11, 2011
Ms. Wolicki
rated it:
Luther T. Farrell has quite the interesting life. He seems lucky - he lives on his own, has a great car and plenty of money, has a girl to long for and does pretty well at school despite working long hours. The unlucky part? Luther's mother, the Sarge, runs a bunch of long term care homes for mentally ill people and ratty rental properties, and Luther is her best employee, especially because he can't say anything about her dishonest methods. Almost magic-realism but it still feels awfully re
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Nov 06, 2009
NS - Cami
rated it:
9-12 grade audio- 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
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Sep 29, 2009
Alison
rated it:
Luther T. Farrell is a fourteen year old with responsibilities like no one else his age. He lives with and is completely responsible for "the crew" as he calls them - a group of elderly gentlemen who can no longer live on their own. Not only is he the primary caregiver for 5 people, but he is also the cleanup crew, painter, and general maintenance man for all of his mother's many homes. Luther's mom or "The Sarge" as he calls her is the toughest most callous money grabbing
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Aug 15, 2009
Marty
rated it:
I'm not usually a big fan of YA books, but I loved this one. The protagonist, a young African American boy of 13-14, wants to win the 8th grade science fair competition. He also has a mom who is an unscrupulous slum lord, the Sarge, who has positioned him as the main caretaker in a home for old men....fake driver's license, the works. The portrayal of this nerdy and complex young man, his unbelieveable situation, and a transcendent and liberating ending made it well worth the read, even for some
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May 04, 2010
Mrperkins
rated it:
FISHBOWL SUMMARY/PASSAGE FOR SARAH
summary-
Luther and his best friend Sparky must sue Luther's mom, or the Sarge, to get out of Flint, their hometown.
PASSAGE (its really short)
Sparky shook his head and said "come on bruh, hurry up, this aint easy for me you know."
I took the reddih-brown roofing tile from him. I was surprised how heavy it was. He leaned toward me, closed his eves tight, and showed his teeth.
"Come on L More...
summary-
Luther and his best friend Sparky must sue Luther's mom, or the Sarge, to get out of Flint, their hometown.
PASSAGE (its really short)
Sparky shook his head and said "come on bruh, hurry up, this aint easy for me you know."
I took the reddih-brown roofing tile from him. I was surprised how heavy it was. He leaned toward me, closed his eves tight, and showed his teeth.
"Come on L More...
Jun 23, 2008
Katie
rated it:
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.
How would you feel if you were 15 years old, lived in Flint, Michigan, had a mom who was a slum lord and made you work at least 40 hours a week on top of going to school? On top of that your job entails cleaning u More...
How would you feel if you were 15 years old, lived in Flint, Michigan, had a mom who was a slum lord and made you work at least 40 hours a week on top of going to school? On top of that your job entails cleaning u More...
Oct 11, 2007
Caroline
rated it:
I gotta say - I loved this book! I was cheering for my main man Luther the whole time! He's a smart, kind, responsible 14-year-old kid from Flint, Michigan, who is helplessly bound up in his mother's (aka The Sarge's) shady business dealings. She's basically a professional nickle-and-dimer...and Luther goes along with it...but finds ways to maintain some sort of moral standards. He and his friend Sparky are looking for a way out: Luther wants a way out of his mother's control, and Sparky wants
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Apr 23, 2011
Kristen
rated it:
I didn't feel this was one of Curtis' better works. However, I did like that this book takes a modern take on African American society, as it tells a story revealing the cycle that many students in the projects face. And, there was alot of entertaining humor in it. Also, although some of curtis' book are great for 5th graders, I found this book would be somewhat inappropriate for elementray students as it discusses condoms and implies scenes of masterbation. Better to stick with middle school a
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Apr 11, 2008
Annie
rated it:
the story of Luther T. Ferrell, a young man of a philosophical bent whose self-effacing good humor helps him as he deals with life. Life, for Luther, includes his mother, aka. The Sarge and her right hand man Darnell Dickson, who is always prepared to break someone's arm in the line of duty as he serves the Sarge's "evil empire" of tenement housing and group homes. Luther's life also includes his "crew", the inhabitants of the the Happy Neighbors group home, which Luther is i
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Mar 01, 2010
Jackie
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I looooove this book! Luther T. Farrell is my hero as he does combat with his mean, vicious slumlord mother, The Sarge. She cares nothing for anything other than money and how to get more of it. Luther is only in middle school, but he lives in and runs one of his mother's Group Homes. Luther and his friend Sparky are hilarious. But, Luther must come to terms with his mother and break free of her ambitious and illegal empire. Curtis is so adept at the humor and I laughed my head off. Teens
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Jun 12, 2011
Sarah
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Dec 28, 2008
Brynn
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I really enjoyed this book. It's written for a young teenage boy audience, a pleasure to read simply because there seems to be so few good books for that population. It is definitely strange - the 15 year old protagonist is helping his mother run a home for the disabled in Flint, MN and working as no teenager should work. At the same time he tells the story with a great voice, he and his best friend have very entertaining banter, and he succeeds in the end.
Jan 31, 2011
Shelley
rated it:
This book moved a little slowly at first but it did pick up toward the end. It's the story of a boy whose mother is a loan shark/slum lord and how he is manipulated by her constantly in order to suit her own means. A coming of age story for a boy who has always been hidden in his mother's shadow and the ultimate revolt when he is pushed too far. Very interesting read, it was the lag at the beginning that prompted the 3 star review.
