THE CARDTURNER

Louis Sachar is an enchanting writer and a charming reader. At his parents’ insistence, 17-year-old Alton is spending the summer as his blind, rich bridge-playing Uncle Lester’s cardturner. This means driving him to his club four times a week and inadvertently learning some things—about bridge and about his family history. Since the story is narrated by Alton, Sachar performs the entire novel in the droll, jaded, doubtful tones of a teenage boy feeling his way in new territory. A foghorn sound effect amusingly announces impending long-winded bridge explanations, but the bridge playing is woven so masterfully into the story that even the most uninterested listener will learn a thing or two about the game. K.O. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2010]