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Bucking the Sarge
Luther T. Farrell has got to get out of Flint, Michigan.
As his best friend Sparky says, “Flint’s nothing but the Titanic.”
And his mother, a.k.a. the Sarge, says, “Take my advice and stay off the sucker path.”
The Sarge milked the system to build an empire of slum housing and group homes. Luther’s just one of the many people trapped in the Sarge’s Evil Empire—but he’s about to bust out.
If Luther wins the science fair this year, he’ll be on track for college and a future as America’s best-known and best-loved philosopher. All he’s got to do is beat his arch rival Shayla Patrick, the beautiful daughter of Flint’s finest undertaker—and the love of Luther’s life.
Sparky’s escape plans involve a pit bull named Poofy and the world’s scariest rat. Oh, and Luther. Add to the mix Chester X., Luther’s mysterious roommate; Dontay Gaddy, a lawyer whose phone number is 1-800-SUE’M ALL; and Darnell Dixon, the Sarge’s go-to guy who knows how to break all the rules.
As his best friend Sparky says, “Flint’s nothing but the Titanic.”
And his mother, a.k.a. the Sarge, says, “Take my advice and stay off the sucker path.”
The Sarge milked the system to build an empire of slum housing and group homes. Luther’s just one of the many people trapped in the Sarge’s Evil Empire—but he’s about to bust out.
If Luther wins the science fair this year, he’ll be on track for college and a future as America’s best-known and best-loved philosopher. All he’s got to do is beat his arch rival Shayla Patrick, the beautiful daughter of Flint’s finest undertaker—and the love of Luther’s life.
Sparky’s escape plans involve a pit bull named Poofy and the world’s scariest rat. Oh, and Luther. Add to the mix Chester X., Luther’s mysterious roommate; Dontay Gaddy, a lawyer whose phone number is 1-800-SUE’M ALL; and Darnell Dixon, the Sarge’s go-to guy who knows how to break all the rules.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 14, 2004
40 people are currently reading
1093 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Paul Curtis
36 books1,232 followersCurtis was born in Flint, Michigan on May 10, 1953 to Dr. Herman Elmer Curtis, a chiropodist, and Leslie Jane Curtis, an educator. The city of Flint plays an important role in many of Curtis's books. One such example is Bucking the Sarge, which is about a fifteen year old boy named Luther T. Ferrel, who is in a running battle with his slum-lord mother. Curtis is an alumnus of the University of Michigan-Flint.
Curtis is the father of two children, Steven, an ensign in the United States Navy, and Cydney, a college student and accomplished pianist. His third child is expected to make an appearance in 2011. Christopher modeled characters in Bud, Not Buddy after his two grandfathers—Earl “Lefty” Lewis, a Negro league baseball pitcher, and 1930s bandleader Herman E. Curtis, Sr., of Herman Curtis and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression.
Curtis moved to Detroit, Michigan in January, 2009
Curtis is the father of two children, Steven, an ensign in the United States Navy, and Cydney, a college student and accomplished pianist. His third child is expected to make an appearance in 2011. Christopher modeled characters in Bud, Not Buddy after his two grandfathers—Earl “Lefty” Lewis, a Negro league baseball pitcher, and 1930s bandleader Herman E. Curtis, Sr., of Herman Curtis and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression.
Curtis moved to Detroit, Michigan in January, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
September 29, 2021
"You're willing to scuttle your plans for university to work for a clown?"
"Well it's a start..."
She smiled and said, "Exactly. It's a start down the sucker path. Those are distractions and pitfalls specifically made to snare the unenlightened, the uninformed, the unimaginative. Follow that way if you must, but I think your genetic makeup is probably leading you in a different direction." (PG. 98)
Christopher Paul Curtis is such a talented writer. I am such a huge fan of his work. I like his stories of black culture with the humor and the between-the-lines truth. Any 12+ kid would love his work without feeling forced to read.
Luther T. Farrell is someone that has it all except the love and respect of his scary mother. She knows how to use the system and the IRS to her advantage. She uses fear to earn respect, even on Luther. He has no respect for her and vows he will escape her will one day but for now he will continue to work at the assisted living she owns.
3 stars because it wasn't as good as 'Bud, Not Buddy' and 'The Watson's Go To Birmingham-1963' but still pretty great, easy read.
"Well it's a start..."
She smiled and said, "Exactly. It's a start down the sucker path. Those are distractions and pitfalls specifically made to snare the unenlightened, the uninformed, the unimaginative. Follow that way if you must, but I think your genetic makeup is probably leading you in a different direction." (PG. 98)
Christopher Paul Curtis is such a talented writer. I am such a huge fan of his work. I like his stories of black culture with the humor and the between-the-lines truth. Any 12+ kid would love his work without feeling forced to read.
Luther T. Farrell is someone that has it all except the love and respect of his scary mother. She knows how to use the system and the IRS to her advantage. She uses fear to earn respect, even on Luther. He has no respect for her and vows he will escape her will one day but for now he will continue to work at the assisted living she owns.
3 stars because it wasn't as good as 'Bud, Not Buddy' and 'The Watson's Go To Birmingham-1963' but still pretty great, easy read.
March 20, 2011
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 his mother, the Sarge. I never quite understood the Sarge, her motivations, or her interactions with her son. Luther, however, is a stand up kid and I enjoyed his take on the Sarge and life in Flint.
I would love to read this selection with middle school students but there are two things that would hold me back. 1) Luther has a very, very old and unused condom that he carries around in his wallet. It's named Chauncey. That doesn't make the book necessarily inappropriate but it might not work really well in a classroom setting. 2) Luther refers to masturbation. Again, maybe not great for a middle school classroom.
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 his mother, the Sarge. I never quite understood the Sarge, her motivations, or her interactions with her son. Luther, however, is a stand up kid and I enjoyed his take on the Sarge and life in Flint.
I would love to read this selection with middle school students but there are two things that would hold me back. 1) Luther has a very, very old and unused condom that he carries around in his wallet. It's named Chauncey. That doesn't make the book necessarily inappropriate but it might not work really well in a classroom setting. 2) Luther refers to masturbation. Again, maybe not great for a middle school classroom.
January 27, 2010
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 Sparky whose convoluted plans end up being funniest. (Example: get himself bitten by a diseased rat in order to sue somebody - he's never particularly clear who - represented by a TV lawyer.) I thought the ending didn't quite wrap up all the plot threads - in fact, I was wondering if there might be a sequel - but I wasn't complaining as I flipped the last thirty or so pages madly to find out what happened next.
July 3, 2025
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 mother, whose strictness and seeming near-omniscience have given her the nickname, "The Sarge". Luther works regular hours after school and on weekends at a retirement home that his mother owns, taking care of CNA duties for the elderly population under his supervision. Luther's wages come in the form of stipends that are promised to be regularly added to his growing college fund, so that when he becomes of age he can attend a good college and make a life of affluence for himself, as his mother did.
Bucking the Sarge is a series of funny schemes and scams, perpetrated by Luther, The Sarge and some others around them, at the same time as Luther is trying to figure out what kind of place exists for him in the world once he turns of age, and whether or not he really wants to follow in the footsteps of his austere mother. Complications to the philosophy of "Look out for number one" that Luther has been force-fed from an early age arise with the coming of a new resident to the home where Luther works, a man named Chester X. This new denizen of the home is a great deal more than he at first glance appears to be, and has ideas about what it takes to make it in life that are different from the borderline-criminal ones espoused by The Sarge. Luther wonders if his mother may have been missing the mark all along with her style of intimidation tactics and patent disregard for the welfare of those under the umbrella of her broad sphere of influence. When Luther finds out that his own financial security is not at all what he had been led to believe, he has to make a choice: continue to follow the orders and plan of The Sarge, or break away and make the bold, permanent declaration that he's going to carry out his existence on his own terms, and according to his own philosophy that he is just beginning to really comprehend in its big-picture form.
Bucking the Sarge is a strange story, no doubt about it. I didn't fully understand the point of everything that happens, and many of the plot twists left me puzzled, but hidden among the weirdness are some deep thoughts that effectively act as a nucleus to keep the story together and give it a worthwhile central theme. Normally I would round my two-and-a-half-star rating of a book such as this down to two stars, but there's something about Bucking the Sarge that is definitely better than that rating would show, and so I'm rounding it up to three stars, instead. Christopher Paul Curtis truly is a cut above the rest, and I would recommend anything that he has written, including Bucking the Sarge.
At age fourteen, Luther finds himself in the unpaid (practically speaking, at least) employment of his mother, whose strictness and seeming near-omniscience have given her the nickname, "The Sarge". Luther works regular hours after school and on weekends at a retirement home that his mother owns, taking care of CNA duties for the elderly population under his supervision. Luther's wages come in the form of stipends that are promised to be regularly added to his growing college fund, so that when he becomes of age he can attend a good college and make a life of affluence for himself, as his mother did.
Bucking the Sarge is a series of funny schemes and scams, perpetrated by Luther, The Sarge and some others around them, at the same time as Luther is trying to figure out what kind of place exists for him in the world once he turns of age, and whether or not he really wants to follow in the footsteps of his austere mother. Complications to the philosophy of "Look out for number one" that Luther has been force-fed from an early age arise with the coming of a new resident to the home where Luther works, a man named Chester X. This new denizen of the home is a great deal more than he at first glance appears to be, and has ideas about what it takes to make it in life that are different from the borderline-criminal ones espoused by The Sarge. Luther wonders if his mother may have been missing the mark all along with her style of intimidation tactics and patent disregard for the welfare of those under the umbrella of her broad sphere of influence. When Luther finds out that his own financial security is not at all what he had been led to believe, he has to make a choice: continue to follow the orders and plan of The Sarge, or break away and make the bold, permanent declaration that he's going to carry out his existence on his own terms, and according to his own philosophy that he is just beginning to really comprehend in its big-picture form.
Bucking the Sarge is a strange story, no doubt about it. I didn't fully understand the point of everything that happens, and many of the plot twists left me puzzled, but hidden among the weirdness are some deep thoughts that effectively act as a nucleus to keep the story together and give it a worthwhile central theme. Normally I would round my two-and-a-half-star rating of a book such as this down to two stars, but there's something about Bucking the Sarge that is definitely better than that rating would show, and so I'm rounding it up to three stars, instead. Christopher Paul Curtis truly is a cut above the rest, and I would recommend anything that he has written, including Bucking the Sarge.
August 1, 2009
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 saddens me. The humor is sharp and the language is beautiful. There is a lot of street jargon that some of us have to work at to understand, but it is very poetic and visual and adds a tangy flavor. (Don’t think learning the terminology is going to make you hip though, because by the time you get it, it will all be so old school). The pace is so carefully structured and tenderly balanced I found myself chuckling and wiping tears in equal measure. Luther pokes fun at himself and brags about his prowess in typical teenage fashion. He is clever and quick, but also blind to his mother’s true colors at the beginning of the story. As he gains awareness of his strength and power he also comes face to face with the ugliness of the Sarge’s ways. His dealing with that pain and disappointment are the heart of the story, and it is a satisfying and enlightening portrayal.
The book is so well written it is a joy to read, even as it frightens and saddens me. The humor is sharp and the language is beautiful. There is a lot of street jargon that some of us have to work at to understand, but it is very poetic and visual and adds a tangy flavor. (Don’t think learning the terminology is going to make you hip though, because by the time you get it, it will all be so old school). The pace is so carefully structured and tenderly balanced I found myself chuckling and wiping tears in equal measure. Luther pokes fun at himself and brags about his prowess in typical teenage fashion. He is clever and quick, but also blind to his mother’s true colors at the beginning of the story. As he gains awareness of his strength and power he also comes face to face with the ugliness of the Sarge’s ways. His dealing with that pain and disappointment are the heart of the story, and it is a satisfying and enlightening portrayal.
August 4, 2007
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 knows the Sarge can get most anything she wants by pulling her strings, but when he comes to find out what's behind those strings, he'll have some choices to make. Does he have what it takes to buck the Sarge?
The book starts off somewhat slow, but it really picks up at the end. Luther is a likeable character and he takes the audience along with him as he discovers more and more about the Sarge's empire. It's believable how much he doesn't know and doesn't ask about his mom's "businesses" and when he finally digs out the truth, his reaction is believable, too.
Readalike suggestions: Some of the situations in this book really reminded me of Sister Souljah's Coldest Winter Ever, but be warned that CWE is NOT a book for kids or young teens. Older high school +
The book starts off somewhat slow, but it really picks up at the end. Luther is a likeable character and he takes the audience along with him as he discovers more and more about the Sarge's empire. It's believable how much he doesn't know and doesn't ask about his mom's "businesses" and when he finally digs out the truth, his reaction is believable, too.
Readalike suggestions: Some of the situations in this book really reminded me of Sister Souljah's Coldest Winter Ever, but be warned that CWE is NOT a book for kids or young teens. Older high school +
January 30, 2012
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.
But those of us who spend most of our time in the somewhat-older, YA world are gonna be doing some kind of badass NFL-style victory dance for having lured Christopher over to our side of the 'hood with his latest tale full of one-of-a-kind characters and occasional laugh-till-the-snot-and tears-pour-out situations.
"I don't mean to say my boy is obsessed, but Sparky blames all our problems on the fact that we live in Flint. Yeah, I'm looking to get out someday myself, but this is one of those things that me and Sparky don't think alike on. But that's not his fault. My mind is trained in a different way than his.
"I like to look at everything philosophically, and he doesn't. I've known since I was about six that thinking that way will get you what you need in life so I've been studying philosophical junk since then.
"It gets a laugh every time I tell someone but by the time I'm twenty-one I plan on being America's best-known, best-loved, best-paid philosopher. And that's a job that there's gotta be a big demand for 'cause how many full-time, professional American philosophers can you think of?
"I rest my case."
Luther T. Farrell is a skinny, six-foot-four student at Whittier Middle School. He is actually fifteen, even though his driver's license says eighteen. Sparky is his best friend and foil. Luther is a success with science fair projects but less so with love (as evidenced by the well-aged condom in his wallet that he's named Chauncey). He quietly longs for romance with Shayla, the pretty and smart undertaker's daughter whom he's known forever. He's also big on making lists.
Luther's mother, a.k.a. The Sarge, has him stretched between school and work. The Sarge is the loan-sharking, slum-lording, government reimbursement-sucking, ever-scamming operator of numerous sub-par establishments, including the Happy Neighbor Group Home for Men, where she's had Luther living with, caring for, and chauffeuring around the clients since he was thirteen:
"I opened the door and Mr. Foster was the first to get in. He's the leader of the pack. Before he got sick he was the top dog with some insurance company. Now he spends his days dogging the rest of the crew, watching television and reminding me how bad my life is.
"He said, 'Gentlemen, good to see you both.' We had finally got his medications tuned so that he didn't have the big mood swings. Mr. Baker was next. He's the official Happy Neighbor Group Home for Men grumpy old man, nicotine addict and pyromaniac. Medications don't do a thing to him.
"He'd been holding his breath since I pulled up and now that he was in he let out a lungful of cigarette smoke all over me...
"Mr. Keller has to be kept loaded up on a ton of meds, it's the only way we can keep him from going off on folks. He's so far out of it that Mr. Foster calls him Dial Tone."
For a reasonably easy and often-funny read, BUCKING THE SARGE is also riddled with complexities and darkness. The Sarge and Darnell Dixon ("the Sarge's go-to guy and my boss and one of Flint's leading psychopath nut jobs") are a matched set of ticking time bombs. The Sarge's consistently despicable and cruel treatment of society's most vulnerable groups--children, the poor, the elderly--is topped off by the pair's gross brutality during their eviction of a family that includes one of Luther's classmates.
When, at one point, Luther "[gets] up enough nerve to tell her that I was thinking about quitting working at the home and was probably gonna get a job at Micky D's," she repeats the jaw-dropping story of how she got to where she is today. The moral of that bitter recollection is that she has learned from the wealthy, the politicians, and the corporations to milk "any- and everything that moves. If it's got nipples, I'm going to milk it." To recognize this cold, hard, violent woman as a mimic and parody of the "winners" in the American economic system of the haves and the have-nots is to understand this subtle yet scathing indictment of the system.
Luther, himself, tells us that he's learned philosophically to see things from both sides. "What's important is that you keep your mind wide open and try to understand what's going on from a lot of different angles. That's what I try to remember every time I talk to the Sarge or think about her or try to understand why she is the way she is." But, in either case, we see a dangerous woman who--whether full of great advice or not--is clearly not in a space to be what we'd consider to be a loving mother.
And dark humor is certainly found in the dangerous extremes to which Luther's buddy, Sparky, is willing to go in order to try and escape Flint. Those vivid images make us cringe as we laugh (or is it laugh as we cringe).
"Sparky took three steps back, then fell in a pile limp as a towel you just dried off with after a shower. It seemed like all of his bones had been Jell-O-fied."
There are a wealth of contemporary coming of age tales, but in the hands of Christopher Paul Curtis it's a whole new story.
"I've learned that if you don't write down what you're thinking about, no matter how amazing it is you'll forget it. I don't like to brag, but I know I've had a couple of ideas that were so great and shocking that they'd've won the Nobel Peace Prize of Philosophy. The only problem was I didn't write them down and by the time I got home or got out of the shower they were long gone."
Even more so than with Kenny or Bud, we're left at the finish wondering about the future of this goodhearted kid we've come to love. You can be damned sure that I'll be keeping a lookout for America's great new, best-loved, professional philosopher.
Richie Partington
http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
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.
But those of us who spend most of our time in the somewhat-older, YA world are gonna be doing some kind of badass NFL-style victory dance for having lured Christopher over to our side of the 'hood with his latest tale full of one-of-a-kind characters and occasional laugh-till-the-snot-and tears-pour-out situations.
"I don't mean to say my boy is obsessed, but Sparky blames all our problems on the fact that we live in Flint. Yeah, I'm looking to get out someday myself, but this is one of those things that me and Sparky don't think alike on. But that's not his fault. My mind is trained in a different way than his.
"I like to look at everything philosophically, and he doesn't. I've known since I was about six that thinking that way will get you what you need in life so I've been studying philosophical junk since then.
"It gets a laugh every time I tell someone but by the time I'm twenty-one I plan on being America's best-known, best-loved, best-paid philosopher. And that's a job that there's gotta be a big demand for 'cause how many full-time, professional American philosophers can you think of?
"I rest my case."
Luther T. Farrell is a skinny, six-foot-four student at Whittier Middle School. He is actually fifteen, even though his driver's license says eighteen. Sparky is his best friend and foil. Luther is a success with science fair projects but less so with love (as evidenced by the well-aged condom in his wallet that he's named Chauncey). He quietly longs for romance with Shayla, the pretty and smart undertaker's daughter whom he's known forever. He's also big on making lists.
Luther's mother, a.k.a. The Sarge, has him stretched between school and work. The Sarge is the loan-sharking, slum-lording, government reimbursement-sucking, ever-scamming operator of numerous sub-par establishments, including the Happy Neighbor Group Home for Men, where she's had Luther living with, caring for, and chauffeuring around the clients since he was thirteen:
"I opened the door and Mr. Foster was the first to get in. He's the leader of the pack. Before he got sick he was the top dog with some insurance company. Now he spends his days dogging the rest of the crew, watching television and reminding me how bad my life is.
"He said, 'Gentlemen, good to see you both.' We had finally got his medications tuned so that he didn't have the big mood swings. Mr. Baker was next. He's the official Happy Neighbor Group Home for Men grumpy old man, nicotine addict and pyromaniac. Medications don't do a thing to him.
"He'd been holding his breath since I pulled up and now that he was in he let out a lungful of cigarette smoke all over me...
"Mr. Keller has to be kept loaded up on a ton of meds, it's the only way we can keep him from going off on folks. He's so far out of it that Mr. Foster calls him Dial Tone."
For a reasonably easy and often-funny read, BUCKING THE SARGE is also riddled with complexities and darkness. The Sarge and Darnell Dixon ("the Sarge's go-to guy and my boss and one of Flint's leading psychopath nut jobs") are a matched set of ticking time bombs. The Sarge's consistently despicable and cruel treatment of society's most vulnerable groups--children, the poor, the elderly--is topped off by the pair's gross brutality during their eviction of a family that includes one of Luther's classmates.
When, at one point, Luther "[gets] up enough nerve to tell her that I was thinking about quitting working at the home and was probably gonna get a job at Micky D's," she repeats the jaw-dropping story of how she got to where she is today. The moral of that bitter recollection is that she has learned from the wealthy, the politicians, and the corporations to milk "any- and everything that moves. If it's got nipples, I'm going to milk it." To recognize this cold, hard, violent woman as a mimic and parody of the "winners" in the American economic system of the haves and the have-nots is to understand this subtle yet scathing indictment of the system.
Luther, himself, tells us that he's learned philosophically to see things from both sides. "What's important is that you keep your mind wide open and try to understand what's going on from a lot of different angles. That's what I try to remember every time I talk to the Sarge or think about her or try to understand why she is the way she is." But, in either case, we see a dangerous woman who--whether full of great advice or not--is clearly not in a space to be what we'd consider to be a loving mother.
And dark humor is certainly found in the dangerous extremes to which Luther's buddy, Sparky, is willing to go in order to try and escape Flint. Those vivid images make us cringe as we laugh (or is it laugh as we cringe).
"Sparky took three steps back, then fell in a pile limp as a towel you just dried off with after a shower. It seemed like all of his bones had been Jell-O-fied."
There are a wealth of contemporary coming of age tales, but in the hands of Christopher Paul Curtis it's a whole new story.
"I've learned that if you don't write down what you're thinking about, no matter how amazing it is you'll forget it. I don't like to brag, but I know I've had a couple of ideas that were so great and shocking that they'd've won the Nobel Peace Prize of Philosophy. The only problem was I didn't write them down and by the time I got home or got out of the shower they were long gone."
Even more so than with Kenny or Bud, we're left at the finish wondering about the future of this goodhearted kid we've come to love. You can be damned sure that I'll be keeping a lookout for America's great new, best-loved, professional philosopher.
Richie Partington
http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
August 25, 2017
Luther had me laughing throughout this whole book. Sarge, BKA his mother and her no-good boyfriend Darnell were the slimiest of the slime. I really can't say much without spoiling the book so I will just say read it!
December 14, 2010
Luther T. Farrell is a tall (6’ 4”), awkward ninth grader, living in Flint, Michigan, who has already taken on a lot of adult responsibilities. His mother (the ‘Sarge’) has him running her adult care facility, driving (even though he’s only 15), and helping her property manager (she also owns a number of houses, slums, actually, that she rents to lower income families). Despite all of the work he’s doing for his mom, Luther still manages to keep his grades up, win the science fair (2 times in a row, and going for number 3), and obsess about his looks, girls, and the future. He knows that his mom isn’t playing straight with a lot of people, and that their wealth is a result of her playing the system, but he’s convinced that when he goes away to college (to become a philosopher) everything will be different for him. Then, when the science fair winners are announced, Luther ties with Shayla Patrick (the girl he’s had a crush on FOREVER), and the press decides to do a story on their achievements. Luther winds up on TV and news of his project (and its implications) is broadcast all over Flint. He’s been researching the effects of lead-poisoning on families living in homes with lead-based paint. As he hears the faculty describing his project and the city administrators committing themselves to investigating and cracking down on landlords that use this dangerous substance in their properties, Luther realizes that he’s just busted his own mother (and will probably cost her thousands, if not millions, of dollars in fines and/or repairs). The Sarge is furious and strips Luther of all of his privileges – driving, credit cards, cash, etc. He’s got 4 days to remove himself from her property – or else. Luther packs his stuff and starts planning for a new life in Florida – with one of the patients in his care. But before he leaves he discovers that his mom has been lying about a whole lot of things (like his college fund), and he decides to pay her back by righting some of the wrongs she’s perpetrated over the years – before he makes himself scarce.
It’s immensely satisfying watching Luther “buck” the Sarge. He really goes all out with his revenge – finding the proof he needs to expose all of her underhanded schemes, and the means to publicize it. I was a little lost for the first part of the book, as I was under the impression that Luther was a 7th grader (and I didn’t really buy into him being 6’ 4” or having a Driver’s License – he’s got to look much younger than that!). I also had the impression that this was a story for younger kids (4th – 6th grade), and some of the content and sophistication was definitely for an older audience (like, say, the mention of the condom Luther carries around in his wallet). I believe our copy is in JFIC, and I’m inclined to move it to YA. I think the older crowd will appreciate it more.
It’s immensely satisfying watching Luther “buck” the Sarge. He really goes all out with his revenge – finding the proof he needs to expose all of her underhanded schemes, and the means to publicize it. I was a little lost for the first part of the book, as I was under the impression that Luther was a 7th grader (and I didn’t really buy into him being 6’ 4” or having a Driver’s License – he’s got to look much younger than that!). I also had the impression that this was a story for younger kids (4th – 6th grade), and some of the content and sophistication was definitely for an older audience (like, say, the mention of the condom Luther carries around in his wallet). I believe our copy is in JFIC, and I’m inclined to move it to YA. I think the older crowd will appreciate it more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2018
Quite funny! I laughed out loud a few times! This book was a quick read. The main character, Luther T. Farrell was likable and relatable. He had a great voice - I admired his maturity and cleverness. I This story would be great for a middle/high school student to read on their own (or adult even).
October 2, 2011
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. But his mother has him working nonstop trying to groom him to take over her empire. So Luther has to be creative if he wants his dreams to come true, even if it means he has to go against the Sarge.
Characters:
Luther T. Farrell- A very responsible 15 year old who’s driver’s license says he is 18. He has been running one of his mother’s group homes for men since he was 13. He is caring, has a good moral compass, and shows compassion towards others.
Sparky- Luther’s best friend. He isn’t the brightest kids but he has Luther’s back. His dream is to get out of Flint.
The Sarge- She is Luther’s mother and a piece of work! She runs a tight ship and together with her right hand man Darnell Dixon she controls most of the low rent housing market in Flint. She is ruthless, scheming, and does not have any maternal instincts.
Chester X- He is a resident at the group home for men that Luther runs. He helps Luther to see how things really are.
Key Issues: a controlling mother, a first love, growing up, homelessness, independence, family, criminal activity, morality.
Additional Information: This book is definitely for high school students. I read the story and listened to the audio version. I really liked the audio version because the reader did a great job of bringing the personalities to life.
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. But his mother has him working nonstop trying to groom him to take over her empire. So Luther has to be creative if he wants his dreams to come true, even if it means he has to go against the Sarge.
Characters:
Luther T. Farrell- A very responsible 15 year old who’s driver’s license says he is 18. He has been running one of his mother’s group homes for men since he was 13. He is caring, has a good moral compass, and shows compassion towards others.
Sparky- Luther’s best friend. He isn’t the brightest kids but he has Luther’s back. His dream is to get out of Flint.
The Sarge- She is Luther’s mother and a piece of work! She runs a tight ship and together with her right hand man Darnell Dixon she controls most of the low rent housing market in Flint. She is ruthless, scheming, and does not have any maternal instincts.
Chester X- He is a resident at the group home for men that Luther runs. He helps Luther to see how things really are.
Key Issues: a controlling mother, a first love, growing up, homelessness, independence, family, criminal activity, morality.
Additional Information: This book is definitely for high school students. I read the story and listened to the audio version. I really liked the audio version because the reader did a great job of bringing the personalities to life.
June 29, 2017
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's mother and her stooges are pieces of work. Luther T. Farrell is an ambitious, good-hearted 15-year-old who works for his mother, whom he calls The Sarge, who runs several shady schemes, including slumhouses and so-so care facilities. Luther has dreams of winning the school's next science fair so he can get a scholarship and leave Flint, Mich. His best friend Sparky is always concocting get-rich quick plans, and usually roping Luther to help him. The story has serious undertones -- Sarge is certainly no Mother of the Year, and thoroughly detestable -- but the overall tone is pretty light-hearted. Luther has a knack for seeing the humor in things, and Curtis' way with words is just wonderful. Also enjoyable are Luther's interactions with the older men in his care. The men are funny at times, but Luther treats them with respect.
October 11, 2007
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 a way out of Flint. Their friendship is inspiring, their antics are side-splitting, and the ending is beautifully satisfying.
I listened to it on CD, and I have to say that Michael Boatman (the reader) made it for me! He has Luther's inner and outer voices down to a science. The best parts were when Luther realized that his supposed-to-be-in-a-coma roommate has actually been lucid for several weeks...meaning the old man has been privy to EVERYTHING Luther's done in that room. I almost had to pull off the road I was laughing so hard. Boatman had just the right amount of panic, humiliation, and indignation in his voice.
Happy trails, Luther! I'm *still* cheering for you!
I listened to it on CD, and I have to say that Michael Boatman (the reader) made it for me! He has Luther's inner and outer voices down to a science. The best parts were when Luther realized that his supposed-to-be-in-a-coma roommate has actually been lucid for several weeks...meaning the old man has been privy to EVERYTHING Luther's done in that room. I almost had to pull off the road I was laughing so hard. Boatman had just the right amount of panic, humiliation, and indignation in his voice.
Happy trails, Luther! I'm *still* cheering for you!
October 15, 2016
As a self-proclaimed “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 sever ties from the Sarge and the city of Flint in order to realize his true self. His dreams embody the hope that can be realized with hard work and courage. Filled with humor and heartbreak, this young adult novel captures the cultural experience of contemporary African Americans and gives readers a chance to understand the community and lifestyle of the characters. The novel’s strong story focuses on the diversity of individuals. The characters are dynamic and the conflicts between them are authentic and emotional.
December 6, 2007
Luther's mother, "the Sarge," is a ruthless slumlord who values money above all else. While still in Middle School, Luther manages a halfway house and drives with an illegal license. The Sarge doesn't pay him, but puts his earnings into a college fund that he's never seen. Luther wants to win the school science fair for the third year in a row. He fancies himself a philosopher, and loves to quote Aristotle and Socrates. When Luther finds out how low the Sarge really is, he hatches a plan for revenge that will hit her where it hurts.
August 14, 2016
An inspiring teen novel about Luther, the son of "Sarge" a street smart and ambitious woman intent on getting ahead with the assistance of Luther's hard work, drive, ability and devotion to the people he cares for in the group home she runs and the slum dwellings she fixes up for rent or sale. Interesting that it has to do with the hazards of lead based paint in Flint, Michigan which now has even more serious lead issues.
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July 22, 2016This book was about a guy who would take care of older men and his boss was the sarge. The Sarge would always pay them but if they did something wrong instead of paying them she would torcher them. The thing that I like about this book is that this book wasn't much about violince but it had a lot of lessons in it. I would recommend this book to all the people who like books with long chapters.
August 27, 2008
Totally different storyline and experience.
It took me awhile to catch on to the story and what was really going w/the story.
It took me awhile to catch on to the story and what was really going w/the story.
January 14, 2013
This went from being a "just ok" book to making me cheer and imagine Luther doing the mark of Zorro. Awesome.
October 18, 2024
Summary: Bucking The Sargeis full of suspense and plot twists and action. Luther is a very smart three time science fair project winner and is trying to go for the forth in a row. Luther is also a very helpful young man and practically runs a disabled mens home that his parents own. Also Luther is a philosopher and is a very hard working young man and wants to be the smartest he can be. Luther really wants a girlfriend though and will do anything to get a girlfriend. The reason why he wants a girlfriend so badly is because he wants to lose his virginity and he has had a condom in his wallet for so long he has given it a name Chancey. It has been there so long it has made a ring in the leather of the wallet.
Characters:.Luther T Farrel is a 15 year old boy that runs a men's group home and he is very into science and is super smart. Luther wanted to go to college to study philosophy and he was very determined and wanted to be the best he could and he stayed the whole story to be the smartest and best he could be. Also he has his best friend Sparky helping him lead him through the way and being there for him. The Sarge that was Luther's mother is a loan shark and uses illegal scams to become rich. She is ruthless and does not care about her family's safety and is putting her family in danger. She is a very selfish person and only cares about herself and money. She has lost most relationships with people because of her selfish ways. Sparky is Luther's best friend but he can be sneaky and sly. He comes from a very poor family and he needs to make money. He got his name Sparky from helping doing small jobs at his Dads firehouse to make extra money. He is a very loyal friend and would do anything for Luther and they have a very strong bond.
Themes and Messages:Greed is the theme in this book because all the scams they try to do to make quick money. Like the Sarge was a loan shark and would scam people to make money even though she did not need it. She realized once she had money she wanted more and could not stop scamming people and was greedy and just wanted more money. On “chapter 8 page 89” the sarge said “I have milked the system to not go down the sucker path and build an empire and slummed mens grouping homes.
Reflection:My personal first thought of this book is that it is a slow start but then once you read farther in the book you realize it is a pretty good book. It is full of pot twists and excitement. One of the biggest parts of the book is how the Sarge scammed people because that took a lot of talent and thought how to do it. Something I disliked about the book is how slow the beginning of the book is. I feel like if they made it faster and more action packed it would be better. Once I got to about one fourth mark of the book I really started enjoying the book.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to a teenager that likes action and suspense. Also if they like cruel but real life topics and hard topics to read about. Like being poor and people being not as well as you may be doing. This book is a very action packed book and is very well put together so i would recommend reading it if you like action packed books.
Real-World Connections:Sparky in the book is poor and does not have any money but he tries to make money. In the real world people make fun of people with less than them. There is no point in making fun of people because of that because you do not know what their home life is like. Be like Luther and be kind to people with less because a lot of them have super good personalities and just give them a chance and be kind to them and be different because you never know you being kind to them can make their day. So people just drudge each other over little things even if they do not know them but I'm just saying give everyone a chance and be kind.
Characters:.Luther T Farrel is a 15 year old boy that runs a men's group home and he is very into science and is super smart. Luther wanted to go to college to study philosophy and he was very determined and wanted to be the best he could and he stayed the whole story to be the smartest and best he could be. Also he has his best friend Sparky helping him lead him through the way and being there for him. The Sarge that was Luther's mother is a loan shark and uses illegal scams to become rich. She is ruthless and does not care about her family's safety and is putting her family in danger. She is a very selfish person and only cares about herself and money. She has lost most relationships with people because of her selfish ways. Sparky is Luther's best friend but he can be sneaky and sly. He comes from a very poor family and he needs to make money. He got his name Sparky from helping doing small jobs at his Dads firehouse to make extra money. He is a very loyal friend and would do anything for Luther and they have a very strong bond.
Themes and Messages:Greed is the theme in this book because all the scams they try to do to make quick money. Like the Sarge was a loan shark and would scam people to make money even though she did not need it. She realized once she had money she wanted more and could not stop scamming people and was greedy and just wanted more money. On “chapter 8 page 89” the sarge said “I have milked the system to not go down the sucker path and build an empire and slummed mens grouping homes.
Reflection:My personal first thought of this book is that it is a slow start but then once you read farther in the book you realize it is a pretty good book. It is full of pot twists and excitement. One of the biggest parts of the book is how the Sarge scammed people because that took a lot of talent and thought how to do it. Something I disliked about the book is how slow the beginning of the book is. I feel like if they made it faster and more action packed it would be better. Once I got to about one fourth mark of the book I really started enjoying the book.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to a teenager that likes action and suspense. Also if they like cruel but real life topics and hard topics to read about. Like being poor and people being not as well as you may be doing. This book is a very action packed book and is very well put together so i would recommend reading it if you like action packed books.
Real-World Connections:Sparky in the book is poor and does not have any money but he tries to make money. In the real world people make fun of people with less than them. There is no point in making fun of people because of that because you do not know what their home life is like. Be like Luther and be kind to people with less because a lot of them have super good personalities and just give them a chance and be kind to them and be different because you never know you being kind to them can make their day. So people just drudge each other over little things even if they do not know them but I'm just saying give everyone a chance and be kind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 2, 2018The book, “Bucking the Sarge,” by Christopher Paul Curtis, is a nonfictional book about a 15-year-old boy, named Luther T. Farrell, whose life consists of daily everyday adult like activities and a few moments of philosophical growth. The book itself, makes you feel as if you’re with Luther every step of the way. It’s a first-person point of view and fantastic all around book that should be taken into consideration to read.
The book is set in a town called Flint where nothing much happens. Luther T. Farrell one-day dreams of leaving the washed up old town full of misfortune, but the only problem is his group home! His momma, a.k.a. the Sarge, is the head of the group home and the head of some other cheated and illegal business. The way Luther sees it, the only way getting out is by following the program, that is until he encounters some setbacks along his path. Throughout the book, Luther meets up with people and events that help shift his decisions and the story, in a way where towards the end, you and the character have somewhat of a similar understanding. His patient, named Chester X, helps shift the story in some special way resulting to the end. If it wasn’t for Chester and his “philosophical” lectures, Luther would have still been in Flint, and listening to everything his momma had to yell at him.
The book itself is a nonfiction genre. It consists of some foreshadowing moments, some chronological piecing that’ll be needed until the end, and some form of growth in the character and yourself at the end. Although it seems like a boring book, the way the story pieces together and the actions and decisions leading up to the end will have yourself on your feet and chanting “You did it Luther! You did it!” The way the story progresses on until the very end seems almost relieving and satisfying.
“Bucking the Sarge,” is a book I’d recommend on reading. The author, Christopher Paul Curtis, is an award-winning Newbery author who’s also written books such as Bud, Not Buddy and the Watson Go to Birmingham. His style of books depicts the African American point of view and I would highly recommend this book and more of his others. So, if you’re interested in watching a character grow, fall, get back up, and get humiliated, and all the while seeing what happens next, then “Bucking the Sarge,” is the book for you.
The book is set in a town called Flint where nothing much happens. Luther T. Farrell one-day dreams of leaving the washed up old town full of misfortune, but the only problem is his group home! His momma, a.k.a. the Sarge, is the head of the group home and the head of some other cheated and illegal business. The way Luther sees it, the only way getting out is by following the program, that is until he encounters some setbacks along his path. Throughout the book, Luther meets up with people and events that help shift his decisions and the story, in a way where towards the end, you and the character have somewhat of a similar understanding. His patient, named Chester X, helps shift the story in some special way resulting to the end. If it wasn’t for Chester and his “philosophical” lectures, Luther would have still been in Flint, and listening to everything his momma had to yell at him.
The book itself is a nonfiction genre. It consists of some foreshadowing moments, some chronological piecing that’ll be needed until the end, and some form of growth in the character and yourself at the end. Although it seems like a boring book, the way the story pieces together and the actions and decisions leading up to the end will have yourself on your feet and chanting “You did it Luther! You did it!” The way the story progresses on until the very end seems almost relieving and satisfying.
“Bucking the Sarge,” is a book I’d recommend on reading. The author, Christopher Paul Curtis, is an award-winning Newbery author who’s also written books such as Bud, Not Buddy and the Watson Go to Birmingham. His style of books depicts the African American point of view and I would highly recommend this book and more of his others. So, if you’re interested in watching a character grow, fall, get back up, and get humiliated, and all the while seeing what happens next, then “Bucking the Sarge,” is the book for you.
March 7, 2017
Bucking the Sarge. A boy named Luther T. Farrell helps his mom take care of people with different types of disabilities or bad habits. His mother raised him up alone because his dad died. She is raising him so once he is old enough he can run the shelter but he does not want to do that.
Luther wants to study and go to a high end school. His mother disagrees with his idea. he tends to try anything he can but he is scared to get on his moms bed side because he knows she will hurt him and not care at all. She always threatens him and puts him down on his dreams because she wants him to run the shelter place.
Exposition is Luther T, Farrell wanting to go to Harvard and study in philosophy. He seems to be the only child. His dad died which cause his mom to raise him, she has very strict ways in her house hold and when she wants something done, she tends to mean it. The story takes place in Michigan.
The setting of the story takes place in Flint, Michigan. More of the slums of the area, the ghettos. in like a poor suburb area.
The protagonist are Luther, his friend sparky, and last but not least The Sarge (his mother), and her henchman Darnell.
Antagonists is his mom. The Sarge is the one who does not like what Luther wants to do with his life. She expects him to run the shelter once she like stops running it herself. She tends to put him down saying what he wants to do is dumb and useless, again he wants to go to Harvard and study in philosophy but his mom wont allow him too.
The Conflict is the fact that Luther wants to be a philosopher. He rebels against his mom as well by not doing what she tells him, in the story there was a part were there was a mutated rat and Sarge wanted it gone but they were scared to remove it so she said do it or dont show up anymore. They got rid of it. They end up wanting to get rich to were they'll do anything like using the storm to make is seem like the fast food restaurant caused the accident where sparky got hid hard by Luther by a roof tile.
Rising Actions is when they start to follow Chester X idea on moving to florida.
Climax is when they try to find a company to sue for money.
Falling Action is when the Sarge got the boys in troubloe for sueing someone well at least trying too sue someone
Luther wants to study and go to a high end school. His mother disagrees with his idea. he tends to try anything he can but he is scared to get on his moms bed side because he knows she will hurt him and not care at all. She always threatens him and puts him down on his dreams because she wants him to run the shelter place.
Exposition is Luther T, Farrell wanting to go to Harvard and study in philosophy. He seems to be the only child. His dad died which cause his mom to raise him, she has very strict ways in her house hold and when she wants something done, she tends to mean it. The story takes place in Michigan.
The setting of the story takes place in Flint, Michigan. More of the slums of the area, the ghettos. in like a poor suburb area.
The protagonist are Luther, his friend sparky, and last but not least The Sarge (his mother), and her henchman Darnell.
Antagonists is his mom. The Sarge is the one who does not like what Luther wants to do with his life. She expects him to run the shelter once she like stops running it herself. She tends to put him down saying what he wants to do is dumb and useless, again he wants to go to Harvard and study in philosophy but his mom wont allow him too.
The Conflict is the fact that Luther wants to be a philosopher. He rebels against his mom as well by not doing what she tells him, in the story there was a part were there was a mutated rat and Sarge wanted it gone but they were scared to remove it so she said do it or dont show up anymore. They got rid of it. They end up wanting to get rich to were they'll do anything like using the storm to make is seem like the fast food restaurant caused the accident where sparky got hid hard by Luther by a roof tile.
Rising Actions is when they start to follow Chester X idea on moving to florida.
Climax is when they try to find a company to sue for money.
Falling Action is when the Sarge got the boys in troubloe for sueing someone well at least trying too sue someone
April 25, 2018
In the novel ¨Bucking the Sarge¨ by Christopher Paul Curtis, narrator Luther T. Farrell´s entire life is run by his mother, the Sarge, proprietress of an empire of group homes and slum housing. Luther is the general manager of a group of the Sarges homes which are below the law and as cheap as possible. Although the very philosophical Luther has a plan to escape his overbearing mother, win the science fair and attend college, his best friend Sparky, the Sarge, Darnell Dixon, and the love of his life Shayla Patrick, might complicate things. While trying to create the best science fair project his high school has ever seen Luther has to juggle his crew of rehabilitated group home men, Sparky's crazy plans, and the new discovery of his mysterious roommate Chester X. Luther finds out that his high paying roommate Chester X is hoarding his pills, completely aware unlike every other member of the Sarges homes. Chester X quickly becomes a friend and confidant of Luther but wants to escape in a different way, steal the Sarges fortune and run to Florida with Luther. Luther is still intent on winning the science fair and courting Shayla as well as avoiding the Sarges wrath, so he ignores Chesters plan. Luther wins the science fair, his greatest achievement but is kicked out of his own home by the Sarge so he agrees to Chester X´s escape plan and steals $100,000. On his way out of Flint Luther finds out that his lifelong lover for Shayla is felt both ways and this fictitious novel ends happily. This novels has a main character, Luther, and 3 supporting characters, Chester X, Sparky, and the Sarge. Luther is a vigilant and philosophical boy who is calculating and honest. In the novel the characters show all types of indirect characterization, speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks. Throughout it Luther's character improves and changes, starting out as a rule following introvert with a helpless crush, he grows into a mature and confident person with intelligence and creativity. The main conflict is that Luther is trapped in the prison of Sarge and her empire in Flint but to escape he has to risk it all and restart his life without a family. Luther has internal battles with himself but over all the main conflict is an external conflict. Luther has some character versus self interactions throughout the novel but mostly the conflicts are character versus character. The theme that was implied throughout the novel is that if you persevere and stay vigilant you can beat your current obstacles. The tone of this novel was wever changing, it was comical, frightening, passionate, and almost crazy in some points. The mood of ¨Bucking the Sarge¨ was at points fun and in other cases duller but sometimes it was happy. The author's word choice could have been more immense but he concisely portrayed a very good novel making the word choice seem completely appropriate. The book was written descriptively and colorfully and so I would recommend it to anyone around my age who enjoys mystery and excitement but can handle a bit of sadness. Some things the author did well were description. character development, creating and appropriate and detailed setting, and the narration from the perspective of a younger boy. Christopher Paul Curtis could have done better in some parts though, it was slightly difficult to keep track of multiple story lines that seemed to be fighting for attention throughout the novel and the word choice could have been more describing.
July 4, 2022
Luther T. Farrell seemingly has it all: money, cars, and a good job. All this while getting top grades and a 1st place medal in the science fair for three years running. And, he’s only 15! So, why does he want out of Flint, Michigan? Because he owes it all to and answers to The Sarge, aka his mother. His mother who is filthy rich, owns a slew of slum houses and questionable group homes, and is as cold and uncaring as they come.
When Luther’s latest science project threatens his mother’s ‘livelihood’, she tells him he has 4 days to get out or else. With a trusty sidekick, a loyal friend, and an ingenious plot to stick it to The Sarge, Luther makes his getaway just in the nick of time.
Bucking the Sarge starts out slow, but as the story unfolds you’ll be rooting for Luther all the way. An engaging story full of shady characters, right vs wrong, and lovable old people. Luther has his heart in the right place but answers to a cold-hearted dictator. An enjoyable YA read!
When Luther’s latest science project threatens his mother’s ‘livelihood’, she tells him he has 4 days to get out or else. With a trusty sidekick, a loyal friend, and an ingenious plot to stick it to The Sarge, Luther makes his getaway just in the nick of time.
Bucking the Sarge starts out slow, but as the story unfolds you’ll be rooting for Luther all the way. An engaging story full of shady characters, right vs wrong, and lovable old people. Luther has his heart in the right place but answers to a cold-hearted dictator. An enjoyable YA read!
May 28, 2023
Luther T. Farrell has got to get out of Flint, Michigan.
As his best friend Sparky says, “Flint’s nothing but the Titanic.”
And his mother, a.k.a. the Sarge, says, “Take my advice and stay off the sucker path.”
The Sarge milked the system to build an empire of slum housing and group homes. Luther’s just one of the many people trapped in the Sarge’s Evil Empire—but he’s about to bust out.
If Luther wins the science fair this year, he’ll be on track for college and a future as America’s best-known and best-loved philosopher. All he’s got to do is beat his arch rival Shayla Patrick, the beautiful daughter of Flint’s finest undertaker—and the love of Luther’s life.
Sparky’s escape plans involve a pit bull named Poofy and the world’s scariest rat. Oh, and Luther. Add to the mix Chester X., Luther’s mysterious roommate; Dontay Gaddy, a lawyer whose phone number is 1-800-SUE’M ALL; and Darnell Dixon, the Sarge’s go-to guy who knows how to break all the rules.
As his best friend Sparky says, “Flint’s nothing but the Titanic.”
And his mother, a.k.a. the Sarge, says, “Take my advice and stay off the sucker path.”
The Sarge milked the system to build an empire of slum housing and group homes. Luther’s just one of the many people trapped in the Sarge’s Evil Empire—but he’s about to bust out.
If Luther wins the science fair this year, he’ll be on track for college and a future as America’s best-known and best-loved philosopher. All he’s got to do is beat his arch rival Shayla Patrick, the beautiful daughter of Flint’s finest undertaker—and the love of Luther’s life.
Sparky’s escape plans involve a pit bull named Poofy and the world’s scariest rat. Oh, and Luther. Add to the mix Chester X., Luther’s mysterious roommate; Dontay Gaddy, a lawyer whose phone number is 1-800-SUE’M ALL; and Darnell Dixon, the Sarge’s go-to guy who knows how to break all the rules.
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May 1, 2020OK, raise your hand if you think your parents are strict. Raise your hand if you feel you have too many rules. Raise your hand if you think you have to do too much work around the house.
Meet Luther T, Farrell, who calls his mother The Sarge. Her motto is “It is far better to be feared than loved.” She runs the family according to a military model of obedience, and she runs Luther into the ground with work and chores, most of which have to do with her various illegal ways of making money. He has to help evict tenants from her slum houses, repaint them with the bargain lead paint she bought and care for the crew, the residents of the group home she runs on the cheap.
Read p. 29: “The Sarge can take you … lose your life.”
This book is a lot of fun and full of great slang. Tell all your “peeps” to “Check it out!”
Meet Luther T, Farrell, who calls his mother The Sarge. Her motto is “It is far better to be feared than loved.” She runs the family according to a military model of obedience, and she runs Luther into the ground with work and chores, most of which have to do with her various illegal ways of making money. He has to help evict tenants from her slum houses, repaint them with the bargain lead paint she bought and care for the crew, the residents of the group home she runs on the cheap.
Read p. 29: “The Sarge can take you … lose your life.”
This book is a lot of fun and full of great slang. Tell all your “peeps” to “Check it out!”
January 6, 2019
I loved Curtis's use of language throughout this book. I wanted to abandon it because I don't have much time, and it's rated 12+ and a mention of a condom in the narrator's wallet made me think it would be too mature for my 6th graders, but I couldn't put it down because of the beautiful figurative language!
Now I think I will offer it to my 6th graders (with a mention of mature content) (nothing happens... the condom is just referred to every so often).
I do wish the book had gotten more political about Flint's lead poisoning issues, and/or there had been an epilogue or follow-up about how this book is fiction, but this problem is very real.
Now I think I will offer it to my 6th graders (with a mention of mature content) (nothing happens... the condom is just referred to every so often).
I do wish the book had gotten more political about Flint's lead poisoning issues, and/or there had been an epilogue or follow-up about how this book is fiction, but this problem is very real.
July 24, 2020
Ending was very good
I wasn’t sure I would finish the book. I didn’t like Sarge as a person, especially how she treated her son; very little if any affection. I was happy that Luther finally woke up, though surprised with the ending, which hopefully worked out for him in the long run. Some of Sarge’s bad habits did help/inspire Luther to get even and take control of his life and build a new one.
I wasn’t sure I would finish the book. I didn’t like Sarge as a person, especially how she treated her son; very little if any affection. I was happy that Luther finally woke up, though surprised with the ending, which hopefully worked out for him in the long run. Some of Sarge’s bad habits did help/inspire Luther to get even and take control of his life and build a new one.
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December 7, 2022This was hysterical. I don't know why I haven't heard as much about it as his others. Okay, maybe I do. It's probably because the the kid's a little bit older and it's not an historical piece, plus it *is* a little more fraught re: our hero's gnarly slumlord mom (and someone else pointed the references to masturbation and outright inclusion of a condom, even though that was just hysterical.) Anyway, I enjoyed the heck out of it.
January 11, 2018
Like other reviewers, I loved the voice and humor. I liked seeing a young teen being responsible to adults. But the ending irked me. It wasn’t believable that Luther would not have connected his science project with his Mom. It’s like Curtis backed down at the end and didn’t want him to buck the sarge offensively, only defensively.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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