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Apr 28, 2009

Jennifer rated it:

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

MUDSHARK is a great addition to any Gary Paulsen collection. It's not the HATCHET adventure type, but rather one of the crazy, mad-cap mishap stories like HOW ANGEL PETERSON GOT HIS NAME and LAWN BOY.

Mudshark is actually Lyle Williams. He got his name for his lightning speed and his incredible observation skills. These are skills he honed while keeping an eye on Kara, Sara, and Tara, his triplet sis More...

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Jan 12, 2011

Lisa rated it:

I finished reading aloud Mudshark to my fourth graders today. This book is on the Texas Bluebonnet list. It's interesting, but I find that my tongue had a tendency to trip over the many long sentences. I love Gary Paulson as a writer, but this book is a bit different from his usual voice and style.

Mudshark is one smart dude. He is extremely observant and highly intelligent. It's nice to have a super-sharp boy -who is not only smart, but totally cool, as the hero of the story. Mudshark More...

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Aug 03, 2011

Gwen rated it:

Mudshark is so observant, that he's known for "finding" things that have been lost -- just because he noticed something that allows him to know things most people don't remember. But then the school librarian gets a parrot, which is just as observant. Just when Mudshark thought he was in competition for his memory skills, the principal calls on his skills to help find all the school's erasers, which have gone missing from every classroom. This main storyline is peppered with a loose ge More...

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Jun 05, 2011

Karen rated it:

Lyle "Mudshark" Williams is 12, and the best problem-solver and finder of lost things at his middle school. His nickname (Mudshark) came from a game of DeathBall (combination of soccer, football, rugby, wrestling and mudfighting) in which he got buried in the mud, and managed to still grab the ball carrier and bring him down. Principal Wagner is busy dealing with a faculty restroom crisis (which keeps getting worse), a belching psychic parrot in the media center, and the theft of e More...

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Jul 15, 2010

katsok rated it:

Fun, quick read by Paulsen. Mudshark, aka Lyle Williams, is a kid I would want in his classroom. He is considered "cool" at his school for basically being him. He's kind to others, helps other kids to a fault, inquisitive, nice to his parents, amazingly good with his sisters (triplets), but not overly "good" - if that makes any sense. I like the fact that he is held in high esteem for being himself. In teaching fifth (and fourth for 10 years) I see kids trying to change More...

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Jul 14, 2010

The Reading Countess rated it:

We read this book together on a summer road trip. As I was reading the inside book jacket, I paused and asked my younger sons if they knew what a 'psychic' was. My middle son nodded and said, "He's like Robin, right?" What? Like Robin? "Uh, that's a sidekick," I explained...

And so began our reading of Paulsen's book. I have loved every book written by the creative author. I especially like how he writes with such voice, and feel that any text by him would serve as More...

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Jul 05, 2011

Carla rated it:

Gary Paulsen is one of my favorite authors and so the expectation was high for this book. It isn't often that I can say I am disappointed in one of his books, but this one is not a typical Paulsen. Most of Paulsen's books fall into three categories: survival/adventure; true story survival/ adventure and humor. I have read and enjoyed dozens of Paulsen's book in each of these categories. With over 200 books to his name, it would be hard to keep up the Newberry pace of 'Hatchet'.

' More...

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Jul 05, 2010

Angie rated it:

Great writing. Just ... not much of a story. Does that make sense?

By great writing I mean like the following (page 18 and 19):
"There are many ways to describe Ms. Underdorf.
She was brilliant and joyous and she believed--probably correctly--that libraries contain the answers to all things, to everything, and that if you can't find the information you seek in the library, then such information probably does not exist in this or any parallel universe now or ever to b More...

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Nov 29, 2009

Kim rated it:

I enjoyed this book. Gary Paulsen is a great author. One of the best things about him is he is so popular with kids that they don't even care what the book might be about--they are going to read it.

Mudshark was funny and fast. It's about this kid who is so observant he knows everything--or can figure it out quickly. His friends and neighbors come to him for help with missing items or simple mysteries. He seems to be the one with all of answers--until the librarian brings a par More...

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Feb 25, 2010

Rachel rated it:

Mudshark sees everything. Nothing gets by him. He always knows where to find things (courtesy of his little sisters!). But when the principal starts making weird announcements--a missing gerbal, missing erasers, and something strange in the faculty restroom, where the custodian reports every day with heavy duty equipment--something is up, and Mudshark can't figure it out. Plus, there the parrot in the library, who knows things too. Maudshark's school is weird to start--magicians, animal experts, More...

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Jan 29, 2010

Pam rated it:

Mudshark is the coolest, smartest, quickest, all-knowing twelve year old in school, having received his nickname during a Death Ball match, when his hand emerged from the mud to stop a runner, without anyone seeing his hand move, just like a mudshark! Mudshark's photographic memory is legendary among his classmates, which is why the Principal finally turns to him to figure out why all the erasers have disappeared from every classroom. As Mudshark turns his attention to the mystery at hand, he More...

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Jul 05, 2011

Carie rated it:

Mudshark is a cool dude with super-duper powers. He is the go-to guy when someone at school needs help locating an item. But he's stumped about where all the erasers in school are disappearing to. This is a very different Paulsen book: short, simple, quirky, and a quick read. It's on our Arkansas Start Award list this year, and I think it will be read by many because of its short length. Each chapter begins with an announcement from the principal (these made me LOL). And I can connect to More...

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Jun 24, 2010

Cornmaven rated it:

Well, it's Gary Paulsen, so you don't have to say much more. The opening was fabulous, and Paulsen has written a nice little manifesto about the dangers of overcontrolling the learning process. He extols the virtues of libraries and sitting around just pondering stuff, which leads to creativity.

A fun read aloud,especially good for re-igniting the love of reading and books after weeks of standardized test prep in schools.

The only thing I didn't like was the cover - I tho More...

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Sep 17, 2009

Ingrid rated it:

When I think of Gary Paulson I think of adventure stories, but I did enjoy this funny story. Mudshark is a cool 12 year old who seems to be able to find lost items. He is the go to guy at school until a psychic parrot moves into the library and is also very good at finding lost items. The principal needs help finding lost erasers in the building. Mudshark is able to solve the mystery of the lost erasers while making sure that the psychic bird doesn't reveal who has been taking the erasers. I thi More...

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Oct 08, 2010

Kathryn rated it:

This fun book is a must read for teachers, as well as students. I think teachers will find the humor in it more than the kids (especially the opening to each chapter which begins with the principal's announcements). That was hands-down my favorite part. Mudshark is a really cool, popular, smart kid at school and he can help anyone solve a problem. What problems are going on at Mudshark's school?
1. Missing hamster
2. Toxic waste in the teacher's restroom
3. Every eraser in the sch More...

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Oct 13, 2010

Miss rated it:

Mudshark is about a kid who plays a game called deathball. One game a kid was playing deathball and made the most amazing tackle ever. The people that played deathball nicknamed him mudshark for his speed. One day mudshark heard music coming from a room. He went inside the room with fear ,but when he went into the room he saw beautiful paintings and classical music playing witha a mountain of erasers. How will mudshark get back the erasers without getting his custodian in trouble. Read this book More...

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Mar 02, 2010

Jordan rated it:

summary: Mudshark is the go to if you lost something, he'll tell you. Erasers have gone missing and a gerbil is loose through the school. There are misterious chemicals in the faculty restroom. A Prrot moves into the school and answers faster then Mudshark. Mudshark finds out who was stealing the erasers and has to find a way to returning them with out getting the thief in trouble.

opinion: This is a confusing but funny book and you'll find out why they don't want the thief to get int More...

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Nov 07, 2009

Ramarie rated it:

A short chapter book about a boy nicknamed "Mudshark" for his quick thinking skills. Mudshark is an observer, and he helps his class mates find lost items, figure out puzzling situations, and find solutions to school problems...such as why the pet parrot in the library seems to know so much. Each chapter begins with a humorous loudspeaker announcement from the principal! A quick and humourous read by a dependable author. Another title from the newly released Bluebonnet list, this o More...

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May 04, 2010

Erin rated it:

Mudshark is a boy detective of sorts who solves mysteries by being overly observant. In this case, all the school erasers have gone missing, and a psychic parrot is taking over Mudshark's cases.

This is a cute detective read with quirky humor. Sometimes the humor was beyond me, although maybe it's more accessible to a kid. I did really like the main character, Mudshark. He is a sharp, observant boy who seems to be well-liked by everyone, including grownups. The solution to the my More...

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Feb 04, 2012

Erica rated it:

Book talk: The word in the hallway is that if you've lost something, Mudshark can find it for you. But his keen observational skills help him with more than just finding lost items. There is no problem too big or too small for Mudshark and everyone goes to him if they've lost something. That is until Betty Crimper comes into the library one day to ask Mudshark about her lost paper and the parrot answers first. Even stranger, he's right. After that everyone starts going to the parrot with the More...

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Oct 11, 2010

Denis rated it:

I think this book perfect,well it was okay I did not like the end that is way but the rest good.It was about a boy that is a dectective and they call him Mudshark, they stolen erasers so Mudshark found out who
did it.I have something I did not got, why there were stolen erasers?
I have a little schema because I always wanted to be a dectective like
Mudshark.I want to remember that you always gonna find things in
you're life.I want to reccomand this book to evesy body in th More...

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Sep 20, 2009

Karen rated it:

A short, funny book from Gary Paulsen. The plot is somewhat preposterous, but the characters are quite likeable and there's lots of humor. Plus, there's a terrific school librarian in the story, so what's not to like? If you liked Lawn Boy or Angel Peterson by Gary Paulsen, you'll like this one too. More...

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Nov 24, 2009

Kristin rated it:

Mudshark is just his nickname, his real name is Lyle Williams and he is twelve. He gets his nickname from being so good at the game of Death Ball, which is played in the mud. He is also very good at observing things; he pays attention and therefore is able to help his classmates solve mysteries. The current big mystery at school is where and why are all the school’s erasers disappearing? He may need a little help in solving this one though, but wants to solve it before the school parrot does More...

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Jan 21, 2011

B rated it:

Parts of this were very funny, the principal's announcements at the beginning of each chapter for instance, and then the rest, including the plot was so-so. I'd still recommend it to young boys, partially because Mudshark, the main character whose real name is Lyle, is a good role model for boys...cool because he knows everything, (from being super observant), as well as good hearted, especially with his active, younger triplet sisters. And I'd also recommend it for those announcements!

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Feb 21, 2010

Claire rated it:

Mudshark is completely clued- if anyone needs info at school they go straight to Mudshark. That is until the library is gifted with a talking parrot who mysteriously knows everything that is going on and beats Mudshark to the answer over and over until he is supplanted as the most brilliant person on campus. This is the story of Mudshark getting to the bottom of the story.
A quick school house mystery. Might be a fun classroom read, definitely points to the benefits of being observant.

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Dec 09, 2010

Jackie rated it:

Lyle, aka Mudshark, Williams is the guy you ask to help you find anything lost. He is way cool. When a series of mysteries happen to his school...he's the man for the job. Erasers are disappearing at an alarming rate, the faculty bathroom is erupting with foul odors, and pets are acting strange. Mudshark puts the pieces of the puzzle together, observing every little bit of information and comes up with an unlikely answer.

Used for Hiawatha Book Talk-January, 2011.

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Feb 01, 2011

Rosie rated it:

I really wanted to like this book and while I do think that children with think it is funny, it just did not appeal to me. I enjoyed the short, humorous messages from the principal at the beginning of each chapter, but could not get over how disassociated the main characters parents were. Mudshark was constantly left alone taking care of his triplet sisters while his parents were out or just not paying attention. This lack of care really bothered me.

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Aug 14, 2010

Michele rated it:

What a cute book! I am strongly considering using this book for my first read-aloud this school year with my 4th graders. The book is definitely the kids will find amusing. Gary Paulsen is one of the only authors I know of that could write run-on sentences in a book and actually have it published. These sentences could definitely be used as a teaching point. I think teaching points will STICK with the kiddos if they can make some sort of connection with the examples. Tenille and I are really goi More...

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Aug 20, 2009

Diana rated it:

Paulsen is a favorite. After all his Harris and Me was what finally turned my father-in-law into a reader. This is not one of his best books but is entertaining fun as super smart, super fast, Mudshark takes on a psychic parrot, a case of missing erasers, foul effects in the faculty restroom, and other craziness in his elementary school.

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Sep 03, 2009

Betsy rated it:

Easier chapter book. Grades 2-5. Good combination of humor and mystery. Plot moves along. Mudshark notices everything so everyone in the school relies on him to find missing things. In this book, the principal asks for help in locating 65 missing erasers. I also appreciated the plugs for libraries and librarians. Mudshark's mom is a public librarian and the school librarian is cool animal lover who bemoans the lack of library funding.

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