Out of Patience

by Brian Meehl

Some folks have skeletons in their closets. The Waters have toilets. Jake’s mortified by his dad’s dream to open the American Toilet Museum. Toilets have caused enough turmoil in Patience, Kansas. Patience has been cursed for 129 years, since Jeremiah Waters installed the first flush toilet. The Dolphin Deluge Wash-Down Water Closet caused a stink, and since then Patience has been drying up like a cow pie in August. Jake wants out of Patience, especially when his dad gets a relic for his museum, triggering the curse’s last promise: “The day the Plunger of Destiny returns to Patience, the final destruction begins!” Can Jake save Patience by discovering what happened when Jeremiah last sat on the Dolphin Deluge Wash-Down Water Closet?

Genres: Young Adult, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Contemporary, Childrens

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 9, 2006

About the author

Sign up for Brian Meehl’s ANNOUNCEMENTS at https://www.blowbacktrilogy.com , or CONTACT him at brian@brianmeehl.com .

Brian’s most recent novel is BLOWBACK '94, the “hugely enjoyable and fast-paced” finale in his critically acclaimed BLOWBACK TRILOGY. The kickoff book in the trilogy, BLOWBACK ’07, received a coveted red-star review from Publishers Weekly.

His award-winning books include a bestselling comedic riff on vampires, SUCK IT UP, OUT OF PATIENCE (Junior Library Guild Selection), and YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME (Blue Ribbon from the Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books).

Once upon a time, Brian worked for Jim Henson’s Muppets and puppeteered the gamut from a young pup, Barkley on SESAME STREET, to the Dying Master in Henson’s cult classic, THE DARK CRYSTAL. After taking up the pen, Brian wrote for kids’ shows like THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS and BETWEEN THE LIONS, winning three Emmys along the way.

For more on Brian, his books and the BLOWBACK TRILOGY, visit www.blowbacktrilogy.com and www.brianmeehl.com. Or watch his interview presenting BLOWBACK '07 and talking about his career with the Muppets at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZM26....

You can also check out my latest interview and get a hint of what I hope to work on next at: https://www.californiaherald.com/goin...

Reviews

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, in a lot of ways, reminded me of the book "Holes". A small town by the name of Patience has a curse hanging over it. However, I think I liked this book more because of how humorous it was. If you think the book is quirky head over to the authors website for more quirky info.

Summary:

Jake Waters lives in the town of Patience, Kansas. The place was settled by his great, great, great, great-grandfather. Once upon a time the town was properous until the founder married and his wife insisted they have an indoor bathroom like they had in London. To please her he put one in. The town preacher claimed it was the devils work and a gateway to Satan himself. This is where the trouble begins. When the town finds out they are going to be robbed they put all of their treasures in a trunk and have Mr. Water's bury it because they consider him the most honest person in town. He makes a map of its location. When the thieves come to town the blabber mouthed preacher sends them to Mr. Water's house. He is severely beaten for not giving up the information. The problem is he can no longer remember where the map is or the treasure. They tar and feather the preacher and as they run him out of town he curses the town and claims the town will die and it will fall on the heads of Mr. Water's ancestors. Fast forward to present day. Jake is a decendant of the founder. His father is a plumber and is trying to open The American Toilet Museum. It isn't bad enough that their town is made fun of because of the fertilizer plant. His stepmother blows out of town because Jakes father has purchased another item for his museum. It is the infamous Plunger of Destiny. This is the first plunger ever made and the one that created the curse. Jake never believed in the curse before, but now he isn't so sure.
I won't say anymore about the story. It has several twists and turns that made it a great read. I believe the cover alone will cause several of my reluctan readers to pick it up. After all if you saw the face of a kid on a book cover and above his head were gold framed pictures of an old outhouse, a plunger adn an old fashioned toilet wouldn't that entice you? It did me.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book a while ago because it sounded quirky and fun. Then it ended up on the To Read Pile of Doom, and eventually settled down to the point where it finally winded up shelved and unread. While I was shelving the books I've bought and read in the last few months, I remembered that I had this book as I put Suck It Up, also by Meehl, away. This weekend, because I finished a couple books and Mothstorm still hadn't come in from the Devil's Den and I was just having a hard time getting into Inkdeath, I decided to pick this off the shelf.

I'm so glad I did.

Out of Patience is delightfully quirky in the same way that Holes is quirky, though not quite as complicated. And what's not to love about a story that revolves around the history of toilets and plungers and a bizarre curse? Where the local baseball team gets up for the Seventh Inning Stench as the trucks from the local fertilizer company drive by making their deliveries? The characters are realistic and truly likable. I think this is something Meehl does well, as I compare his two books. He creates protagonists that are quirky and lovable and who you really want to succeed.

Anyway, I recommend this book to those who enjoyed Suck It Up or Holes.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plunger attack in paragraph one hooked me. Seriously--how can you not at least have more than a passing interest in a book featuring The Plunger of Destiny, The Dolphin Deluge Washdown Water Closet, and the possible creation of an American Toilet Museum?

There was enough humor and action to keep me turning the pages until about 3/4 of the way through, at which point my heart actually started to beat a little faster as the tone changed completely. Suddenly, this was about more than just a legendary town curse and manure jokes.

Fear and imagination can combine so powerfully that they block our logic and common sense. This is clearly demonstrated by most of the people of Patience, Kansas, resulting in behavior that vascillates between amusing and appalling.

There are some well-developed characters here--most notably, Jake, Sira, Jake's dad, and Jake's great-great-great-great-grandfather, Jeremiah Waters. (I think I got the right number of greats there.) And those who aren't dynamic are certainly colorful.

Hand this book to a 5th or 6th grader who enjoys a little humor, a little adventure, a little mystery, and a little baseball. I think he or she will enjoy the ride.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holes. Very much Holes.

I don't mean plot holes, as many of you must expect. I mean Holes, by Louis Sachar. I noticed the parallel the entire way through, and I'm actually shocked Mr. Sachar hasn't taken any legal action against Brian Meehl yet. I could re-write Harry Potter (Not well, I admit) and J.K. Rowling would sue me for all I was worth.

As my biggest peeve has been ranted, I'm sure you all want to read the Pros, do you not? Surprisingly, this book has several. The characters are fun, realistic, and do what kids do, which is something several books about children neglect; they listen ignorantly to theirs parents' opinions, they fight with their best friends. There is some aspect of difference between my two compared books, something that I thoroughly enjoyed. Brian Meehl spun the Holes plot quite a bit, there were even parts I couldn't compare to Holes, some very creative and inventive.

Had I never read (or seen) Holes, I would've enjoyed this book more thoroughly. I would've laughed more at the quirkiness of an ATM (American Toilet Museum) and at the people in the town of Patience.

[Craig Pittman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a great kids' book but it is a fun kids' book, featuring both buried treasure AND lots of poop jokes. My kids enjoyed the latter, a lot.

The plot involves an 1800s toilet called the Dolphin Deluge Wash-Down Water Closet, an implement known as "the Plunger of Destiny," a gang of bank robbers, baseball, tornadoes, water pollution, ice cream made of hail stones, cow manure, a lost treasure map, and a Kansas town so small that the main character has vowed to leave it as soon as possible. Did I mention the cow manure?

Jake Waters no longer has any patience for his hometown of Patience, Kansas, where his dad, a plumber and the town's water inspector, is planning an American Toilet Museum. But with help from his friends Sira and Howie, he'll end up solving a mystery, saving his town and finding a reason to stick around.

One interesting side-benefit of this book is that kids will learn something about nitrates and the danger they pose when they get into the groundwater -- as well as the lengths some people will go to in order to avoid having to clean up the pollution their business has left behind.

[Conan Tigard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the beginning, I really enjoyed reading Out of Patience by Brian Meehl. The book is well-thought out and has some great characters. The storyline moves along at a perfect pace and the history of the town is very interesting. I like the play on the title of the book, as it doesn't really mean what you think it does.

Jake doesn't want to die in Patience, Kansas. He wants out of the town that has caused his family so much grief. Yes, eh wants to leave quickly, but can't. But in the end, does he really want to leave?

Young readers will find this book both exciting and funny. I found myself laughing as I read one page and then having my heartbeat increase dramatically on the next. As the pace of the story increases, I had a very hard time putting the book down. And when I finally did, I sighed in relief as the conclusion of the story is very satisfying.

Overall, Out of Patience is an excellent first book and I highly recommend it. I can't wait to see what Brian Meehl writes next.

I rated this book a 9 out of 10.

[Salsabrarian]

Booktalk: Jake's dad is a collector. But he doesn't collect stamps or state quarters or anything like that. He collects...toilets. And chamber pots. And toilet plungers. Anything having to do with toilets or plumbing. Jake's dad wants to open an ATM: an American Toilet Museum. It's his greatest dream. But Jake doesn't think that's such a great idea. Who would want to see a toilet museum all the way out in little-town Patience, Kansas? Then Jake's dad buys something special on E-bay. It's the first toilet plunger ever made and it was made right in Patience, Kansas by Jake's great-great-great grandfather. Unfortunately there is a curse associated with that first-ever plunger. It is said that if the plunger ever came back to Patience, the town would be wiped off the map. Jake is really concerned now. He's afraid for the whole town. What could possibly happen? He's too scared to even sleep in his own house! Jake needs to figure out what to do before the curse runs everyone OUT OF PATIENCE.

[Zia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book about a boy & his dad who live in the po-dunk town of Patience, KS. The history of the town involves the first flush toilet, and the boy's dad (a plumber) is a descendant of the family that owned it. The dad collects bathroom antiques and memorabilia, and wants to open the first ATM (Antique Toilet Museum)as a business venture. There is a curse as part of the history that has at its heart the Plunger of Destiny...All sounds really corny and is a bit, but the book is about small towns, disasters, reinvention, and maybe not hating a place as much as you think you do. There are also messages about true friends, a dad whom you find out you respect, and finding out what you think (from a 13 yr old boy's perspective) is important to you.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book about a boy that wants to get out of a town in Kansas. The plot focuses around a plunger of destiny, the boy's plumber father's dream of opening a toilet museum, and a curse that dooms the town if the plunger returns. I could relate to the boy by wanting to get out of the book. It held my interest to see it through to the stinky end. The main message seemed to be that people you thought you trusted could turn on you at any moment. They would end up sorry of course, with the hero being right all along and triumphing over all.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the beginning of this story I thought I was going to HATE it because it included many things that I am most definitely not interested in reading about: toilets, plungers, baseball, people hating their home towns...BUT I couldn't put this book down for the last 100 pages! It had a little history and a treasure hunt--excellent! And, I also loved how the author did a nice job of describing important incidents in the story but then sometimes summed up less important events with to-the-point bullet points. Good for me and I think good for reluctant readers.

[Readersaurus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need a laugh today!

Curious if anyone else was bothered by the similarities to Sachar's Holes: Boy from down family with weird father, family curse dating to the wild west, missing buried treasure, Curse linked to male descendants with similar names, and the whole feel of it.

This isn't to say that Out of Patience isn't a good read. Loved the characters of Sira and Jake. And it turned out to be a surprisingly sweet tale. I just found that all the coincidences interrupted my enjoyment of it.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any book that contains a toilet museum and a manure factory is already off to a rip-roaring start! I really enjoyed the characters in this book as they wrestled with life's changes and dilemmas. I saw that some of the other reviewers found it very similar to holes. While both deal with modern-day kids confronting the curses of their ancestors, I think the similarities end there. Jake, Sira, and Howie have a lot to figure out about who they want to be as they grow up. It was great to accompany them on their journey. Recommended for grades 4-7.

[Kent District Library]

Jacque V: My 6th grade nephew called to tell me that I HAD to read Out of Patience by Brian Meehl. The story reminded me a lot of Holes because you jump back and forth in time. Jake is sick of living in a small town and having a father who collects things like toilet plungers. The local little league has only 8 kids to participate, so instead of having a “team” to win, in any given game you play on both the “at bat” side and the “in the field” side! And the sponsor of the little league is a manure packaging plant … What can I say, it’s a great guy book!

[Chelsei L · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about how a boy and his father has been well cursed with bad luck for eternity and how his dad loves and has an obsession with toilet plungers. Which he always goes on Amazon and buy's one to go with his collection. The boy is so worn out of thinking that he isn't cursed that he actually starts to believe it because he never has something good happen to him. However one action could make him think that he isn't cursed and actually thinks that its all in his head.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for the Children's Library Book Club. The boys decided to read this one and the girls are reading Chasing Vermeer. We'll share.

Very creative writing - interesting sense of place, concept, just out there enough to make it a little weird and to hit home as real at the same time.

Worth reading, especially for intermediate readers and early middle school.

[Martha Schwalbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book several years ago but it is one I tried to reference in It's Kind of a Funny Story. This book is about toilets and everything that goes with them. To add to the story a mystery is included. It's a fun book. I can't remember much about the characters but I definitely have graphic images from the story wafting about me from time to time.

[White House Public Library]

This is a very funny story about Jake Waters, a boy who's dad wants to open the first ATM (Antique Toilet Museum). Jake thinks that is the craziest idea because what teenager wouldn't, he is also getting tired of his hometown Patience, KS. Jake soon realizes that maybe plungers and his hometown aren't so bad after all.

[Jordan Funke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't exactly like it, but I didn't put it down. 5th grade boy humor of the potty variety. Literally. Plungers, toilets, manure, etc. The things I'm willing to read just because there isn't much around...

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The humorous story of a small town in Kansas called Paitence, and their history. This unforgettable story of three friends, a World Series Game, and a toilet plunger is not likely one you will forget.

[Michelle Sánchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doubted this book for a long time until I read it. HILARIOUS! I especially loved their version of baseball, the 7 inning stench, and the reworking of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." That part had me laughing out loud.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a Book Fest book, and I'd really like to know how it got on the list for 7th and 8th graders- because it's on a 4th grade reading level. Also, I don't really want to hear about a cow manure tornado.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book reminded me so much of Sachar's Holes. I bought this book because I'm from Kansas, and the book is set in Kansas. I didn't think it was wonderful. I didn't think it was awful. I just thought of Holes the entire time I read the book.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jake Waters is 12 and wants a normal dad. His dad, a plumber wants to open a toilet museum. Jake wants out of Patience, but first he must solve the mystery of the "plunger of destiny". A funny mystery with buried treasure and everything.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uhmmm...a story of a toilet museum and plungers. Not great at all. Definitely a book for a boy who's looking for something different and amusing. But not great in any way, shape or form.

[Afton Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious story about a boy who feels stuck in a small town and saddled with his dad's dream of creating a toilet museum.

[Court · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh..I hate this boook...

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh wow. This book has so many twists and turns; you were always on the edge of your seat. It is such a great book, and very thrilling and i really loved it!

[Anna Beaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

'07-'08 Texas Lone Star List

[Lisa Lister · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny! About a kid whose dad is trying to open a toilet museum, and the kid is trying to save his town from a curse about a toilet plunger returning to town!

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have learned that Jake wants to get out of Patience real bad because the Plunger of Desenity has returned.