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Fuzzy Mud
"Be careful. Your next step may be your last."
Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and seventh grader Marshall Walsh have been walking to and from Woodbridge Academy together since elementary school. But their routine is disrupted when bully Chad Wilson challenges Marshall to a fight. To avoid the conflict, Marshall takes a shortcut home through the off-limits woods. Tamaya reluctantly follows. They soon get lost, and they find trouble. Bigger trouble than anyone could ever have imagined.
In the days and weeks that follow, the authorities and the U.S. Senate become involved, and what they uncover might affect the future of the world.
Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and seventh grader Marshall Walsh have been walking to and from Woodbridge Academy together since elementary school. But their routine is disrupted when bully Chad Wilson challenges Marshall to a fight. To avoid the conflict, Marshall takes a shortcut home through the off-limits woods. Tamaya reluctantly follows. They soon get lost, and they find trouble. Bigger trouble than anyone could ever have imagined.
In the days and weeks that follow, the authorities and the U.S. Senate become involved, and what they uncover might affect the future of the world.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 2015
839 people are currently reading
5305 people want to read
About the author
Louis Sachar
97 books4,577 followersLouis Sachar (pronounced Sacker), born March 20, 1954, is an American author of children's books.
Louis was born in East Meadow, New York, in 1954. When he was nine, he moved to Tustin, California. He went to college at the University of California at Berkeley and graduated in 1976, as an economics major. The next year, he wrote his first book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School .
He was working at a sweater warehouse during the day and wrote at night. Almost a year later, he was fired from the job. He decided to go to law school. He attended Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.
His first book was published while he was in law school. He graduated in 1980. For the next eight years he worked part-time as a lawyer and continued to try to write children's books. Then his books started selling well enough so that he was able to quit practicing law. His wife's name is Carla. When he first met her, she was a counselor at an elementary school. She was the inspiration behind the counselor in There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom . He was married in 1985. Hisdaughter, Sherre, was born in 1987.
Louis was born in East Meadow, New York, in 1954. When he was nine, he moved to Tustin, California. He went to college at the University of California at Berkeley and graduated in 1976, as an economics major. The next year, he wrote his first book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School .
He was working at a sweater warehouse during the day and wrote at night. Almost a year later, he was fired from the job. He decided to go to law school. He attended Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.
His first book was published while he was in law school. He graduated in 1980. For the next eight years he worked part-time as a lawyer and continued to try to write children's books. Then his books started selling well enough so that he was able to quit practicing law. His wife's name is Carla. When he first met her, she was a counselor at an elementary school. She was the inspiration behind the counselor in There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom . He was married in 1985. Hisdaughter, Sherre, was born in 1987.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,785 reviews
August 2, 2015
Tamaya is one of those good girls. She does as her teacher's and single mom asks, tries to be what adults want her to be. Marshall is the friend that she walks home with from school with everyday because her mom doesn't want her walking home by herself.
Then Marshall is targeted by the new kid Chad who happens to be a bit of a bully. Chad says he is going to beat up Marshall that afternoon so Marshall wants to take a "short cut" home to avoid him. Tamaya knows something is wrong but she does not want to chance getting in trouble so she follows Marshall off into the woods.
Once in the woods she realizes that they are probably lost. Then sees some mud that doesn't look quite right. It seems kinda fuzzy and fallen leaves even avoid it.
Then they get surprise attacked by mean boy Chad. Tamaya helps out Marshall by grabbing up a handful of the mud and splattering Chad in the face.
They run.
Then she realizes she has a weird rash growing on the hand that touched the mud.
And it's spreading.
I'm classifying this one as younger grade reading. It reads fast and probably should go under eco-horror so it could give some kids some nightmares. Or maybe not. I would have worried myself to death about it at that age but I'm a puss.
Anyways there is some kum-bay-ya moments that help clear up some of the scare if that helps.
Book source: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Then Marshall is targeted by the new kid Chad who happens to be a bit of a bully. Chad says he is going to beat up Marshall that afternoon so Marshall wants to take a "short cut" home to avoid him. Tamaya knows something is wrong but she does not want to chance getting in trouble so she follows Marshall off into the woods.
Once in the woods she realizes that they are probably lost. Then sees some mud that doesn't look quite right. It seems kinda fuzzy and fallen leaves even avoid it.
Then they get surprise attacked by mean boy Chad. Tamaya helps out Marshall by grabbing up a handful of the mud and splattering Chad in the face.
They run.
Then she realizes she has a weird rash growing on the hand that touched the mud.
And it's spreading.
I'm classifying this one as younger grade reading. It reads fast and probably should go under eco-horror so it could give some kids some nightmares. Or maybe not. I would have worried myself to death about it at that age but I'm a puss.
Anyways there is some kum-bay-ya moments that help clear up some of the scare if that helps.
Book source: Netgalley in exchange for review.
December 27, 2015
Fuzzy Mud is a middle-grade environmental/bioterror/suspense/mystery/thriller/ family drama/comedy novel written by Louis Sachar. Yes...all those genres. It'll keep kids engaged for sure.
Louis Sachar knows how to scare kids. He also knows how to get a message across. In this novel, it seems the characters are trying to do good. They're trying to genetically engineer a solution to clean energy. But as history has taught us and will continue to teach us, there are consequences to playing the role of creator...even if you're just creating microorganisms, maybe especially if you're creating microscopic life.
I read this book along with my 6th grade son and I saw his facial expressions morph as the story progressed. It definitely got to him, but that's good! After all, our middle-graders will be the ones who brainstorm world solutions years from now. Maybe genetic engineering will be the answer, but Mr. Sachar is instilling respect and a healthy fear early on.
If you have a middle-grader in your life who has not read Louis Sachar before then consider gifting them one of his books. I've only personally read Holes and Fuzzy Mud, but I can attest those two both allow important lessons to sneak in while these young minds are otherwise entertained...or terrified haha.
My favorite quote:
"Courage just meant pretending to be brave. After all, if you're not scared, then there's nothing to be brave about is there?"
Louis Sachar knows how to scare kids. He also knows how to get a message across. In this novel, it seems the characters are trying to do good. They're trying to genetically engineer a solution to clean energy. But as history has taught us and will continue to teach us, there are consequences to playing the role of creator...even if you're just creating microorganisms, maybe especially if you're creating microscopic life.
"The smaller something is, the harder it is to keep contained. You can put a tiger or a grizzly bear inside a cage, but it's a lot harder to keep a tiny microorganism from escaping."Fuzzy Mud's writing style created a suspense element that was a lot of fun. The progressing story was broken up with pieces of an investigative interview that was obviously conducted after the "almost end of the world". So even if nothing significant has happened yet in the story, the reader knows something huge is coming and that kind of suspense can be scary all by itself.
I read this book along with my 6th grade son and I saw his facial expressions morph as the story progressed. It definitely got to him, but that's good! After all, our middle-graders will be the ones who brainstorm world solutions years from now. Maybe genetic engineering will be the answer, but Mr. Sachar is instilling respect and a healthy fear early on.
If you have a middle-grader in your life who has not read Louis Sachar before then consider gifting them one of his books. I've only personally read Holes and Fuzzy Mud, but I can attest those two both allow important lessons to sneak in while these young minds are otherwise entertained...or terrified haha.
My favorite quote:
"Courage just meant pretending to be brave. After all, if you're not scared, then there's nothing to be brave about is there?"
December 29, 2021
this was the first advance copy i ever received in my life!
it did not go very well.
i'm not going to read into it.
part of a series i'm doing in which i half-heartedly review books i read a long time ago
it did not go very well.
i'm not going to read into it.
part of a series i'm doing in which i half-heartedly review books i read a long time ago
July 16, 2015
I...really don't have a lot to say about this. I was definitely expecting something more and better. What though? Structurally it is incredibly well done. The mystery is interesting, the suspense builds perfectly, it all comes together in a way that makes sense, and it is a short easy read. But it left me utterly cold. I was not invested in the characters or their lives much at all and therefore the stakes weren't as high as they should have been. I also found myself mostly perplexed by the point of it all.
February 4, 2022
8 out of 10
Fuzzy Mud is a book about a girl named Tamaya. She goes to this very unique school, and she has a best friend named Marshall. One day, the two of them are walking home when they are attacked by a local bully. Tamaya takes a handful of this fuzzy mud and throws it at the bully's face. Later on, Tamaya gets a horrible rash on her hand where the mud touched it, and the next day, the bully is reported missing. Tamaya figures that the bully must have the rash on his face and sets off to find him.
I love the book cover of this book, and whence I saw that this was written by Louis Sachar I knew I wanted to read this book. Although the technical sections of the book made the premise feel a little more realistic, I often found myself getting a little bored by them. But overall, despite it being a scary concept for a middle-grade book, I found myself really enjoying the book, especially the characters.
Fuzzy Mud is a book about a girl named Tamaya. She goes to this very unique school, and she has a best friend named Marshall. One day, the two of them are walking home when they are attacked by a local bully. Tamaya takes a handful of this fuzzy mud and throws it at the bully's face. Later on, Tamaya gets a horrible rash on her hand where the mud touched it, and the next day, the bully is reported missing. Tamaya figures that the bully must have the rash on his face and sets off to find him.
I love the book cover of this book, and whence I saw that this was written by Louis Sachar I knew I wanted to read this book. Although the technical sections of the book made the premise feel a little more realistic, I often found myself getting a little bored by them. But overall, despite it being a scary concept for a middle-grade book, I found myself really enjoying the book, especially the characters.
July 3, 2017
Not bad, but not great either. The pacing felt disorganised and the storyline lacked both direction and personality. Sadly, I'm not sure the intended middle grade audience would fare any better either.
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/09/f...
Having not read the authors previous work in Holes, I still expected an incredible middle grade read, but it felt disorganised and fell flat sadly. It follows the storyline of Tamaya and Marshall, neighbours who walk to school together each day but wouldn't consider one another a friend. Both are great kids, buck lack any real character depth beyond a brief background. To avoid a bully, the two companions decide to take a short cut home, despite numerous warnings to avoid the woods at all cost. It's there where a silent threat lies in wait. Microorganisms who are spreading throughout the environment, called Fuzzy Mud for their appearance. The storyline switches back and forth between Tamaya and Marshall, and the senate inquiry into the disastrous accident after the event.
Despite the eccentric creator, the inquiry was an over detailed and often difficult to understand scientific discovery. A new fuel was being forged using microorganisms that have somehow escaped into our environment and mutated. The concept just seems far too complex for the middle grade intended audience. The creator in Jonathan Fitzman spends the majority of the book denying that the mutation of the cells is possible, flailing his arms about as he speaks to a senate inquiry. He was completely out of place within the storyline and as a tool used to inject humour into a flat storyline, sadly it didn't succeed.
I love middle grade as a whole and even with it's somewhat muddled environmental message, Fuzzy Mud is a quick read that will no doubt somewhat entertain it's target audience. I needed to be able to connect and sadly there was nothing that I could hold onto to form that attachment.
Clearly I've missed the bigger picture with Fuzzy Mud and the hype surrounding Louis Sachar. I felt as though I was being told half a story. It had potential but lacked any real depth, just confusion.
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/09/f...
Having not read the authors previous work in Holes, I still expected an incredible middle grade read, but it felt disorganised and fell flat sadly. It follows the storyline of Tamaya and Marshall, neighbours who walk to school together each day but wouldn't consider one another a friend. Both are great kids, buck lack any real character depth beyond a brief background. To avoid a bully, the two companions decide to take a short cut home, despite numerous warnings to avoid the woods at all cost. It's there where a silent threat lies in wait. Microorganisms who are spreading throughout the environment, called Fuzzy Mud for their appearance. The storyline switches back and forth between Tamaya and Marshall, and the senate inquiry into the disastrous accident after the event.
Despite the eccentric creator, the inquiry was an over detailed and often difficult to understand scientific discovery. A new fuel was being forged using microorganisms that have somehow escaped into our environment and mutated. The concept just seems far too complex for the middle grade intended audience. The creator in Jonathan Fitzman spends the majority of the book denying that the mutation of the cells is possible, flailing his arms about as he speaks to a senate inquiry. He was completely out of place within the storyline and as a tool used to inject humour into a flat storyline, sadly it didn't succeed.
I love middle grade as a whole and even with it's somewhat muddled environmental message, Fuzzy Mud is a quick read that will no doubt somewhat entertain it's target audience. I needed to be able to connect and sadly there was nothing that I could hold onto to form that attachment.
Clearly I've missed the bigger picture with Fuzzy Mud and the hype surrounding Louis Sachar. I felt as though I was being told half a story. It had potential but lacked any real depth, just confusion.
August 2, 2015
REVIEW: FUZZY MUD by Louis Sachar
As a mother of three, grandmother of nine, I try to.read widely in children's books, from picture books to young readers to elementary, middle, YA. I confess: despite this salutary intent, until I read FUZZY MUD I had never read the prolific, incredibly talented, LOUIS SACHAR!! [Color me ashamed!] Definitely I will immediately remedy that. Mr. Sachar delivers in FUZZY MUD a perfect book. His characters are all well-fleshed out; his plotting tautly-woven; and he manages to take up certain social issues without dropping a stitch of this superb tapestry. Interwoven also are some superbly deep psychological portraits, especially in young Chad and the "mad scientist." If I, like Napoleon, were exiled to island isolation, FUZZY MUD would go.along.
This book is a Best of 2015, without a doubt.
Release date August 4 2015
As a mother of three, grandmother of nine, I try to.read widely in children's books, from picture books to young readers to elementary, middle, YA. I confess: despite this salutary intent, until I read FUZZY MUD I had never read the prolific, incredibly talented, LOUIS SACHAR!! [Color me ashamed!] Definitely I will immediately remedy that. Mr. Sachar delivers in FUZZY MUD a perfect book. His characters are all well-fleshed out; his plotting tautly-woven; and he manages to take up certain social issues without dropping a stitch of this superb tapestry. Interwoven also are some superbly deep psychological portraits, especially in young Chad and the "mad scientist." If I, like Napoleon, were exiled to island isolation, FUZZY MUD would go.along.
This book is a Best of 2015, without a doubt.
Release date August 4 2015
February 10, 2017
I really love Louis Sachar. He is so imaginative and his descriptions are vivid. I listened to this book with my daughter, and she never allowed me to stop leaving her on cliff hanging.
Tamaya is such a good girl, that is always doing as she was asked. It is not always easy to be good, But if you actually tried to be good, Tamaya thought bitterly, everyone acted like you were some kind of freak!. She walks with Marshall every day to school and back. And one day, he wants to take a shortcut, and Tamaya is very surprised. Then she found out that he is trying to run away from a nasty kid, named Chad. Tamaya was scared, but they took the shortcut, and there they encountered a very strange mud. The mud was dark and tar-like. Just above the surface, almost as if it were suspended in midair, there was a fuzzy yellowish-brown scum.
The book is consisted from parts that are the story of Tamaya, Marshall and Chad, and parts that are a hearing and testimonies that include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Senators that look back into what happened. The mix is good, and very readable also for children.
Sachar always brings some more added value, and thoughts about virtues. Tamaya had to memorize a list of ten virtues: charity, cleanliness, courage, empathy, grace, humility, integrity, patience, prudence, and temperance. She is performing each one of these in the book.
Great book, 4 stars. (And still I loved Holes more :) ).
Tamaya is such a good girl, that is always doing as she was asked. It is not always easy to be good, But if you actually tried to be good, Tamaya thought bitterly, everyone acted like you were some kind of freak!. She walks with Marshall every day to school and back. And one day, he wants to take a shortcut, and Tamaya is very surprised. Then she found out that he is trying to run away from a nasty kid, named Chad. Tamaya was scared, but they took the shortcut, and there they encountered a very strange mud. The mud was dark and tar-like. Just above the surface, almost as if it were suspended in midair, there was a fuzzy yellowish-brown scum.
The book is consisted from parts that are the story of Tamaya, Marshall and Chad, and parts that are a hearing and testimonies that include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Senators that look back into what happened. The mix is good, and very readable also for children.
Sachar always brings some more added value, and thoughts about virtues. Tamaya had to memorize a list of ten virtues: charity, cleanliness, courage, empathy, grace, humility, integrity, patience, prudence, and temperance. She is performing each one of these in the book.
Great book, 4 stars. (And still I loved Holes more :) ).
July 13, 2017
داستان جالبی بود. دو تا دوست به نام های مارشال که کلاس هفتمه و همسایه ش، تامایا که کلاس پنجمه هر روز با هم از مدرسه برمیگردن. چَد یکی از بچه های مدرسه س که مارشال رو اذیت میکنه. یه روز موقع برگشت، مارشال و تامایا تصمیم میگیرن که از راه جنگل برگردن خونه تا چَد رو نبینن، اما توی جنگل به هم برخورد میکنن...
داستان جالب و عاطفی خوبی بود. نثر ساده ای داشت و کمی هم المان علمی تخی��ی همراهش بود. سرعت پیشروی متن هم معمولی بود.
داستان جالب و عاطفی خوبی بود. نثر ساده ای داشت و کمی هم المان علمی تخی��ی همراهش بود. سرعت پیشروی متن هم معمولی بود.
September 20, 2022
ایا دنبال کتابی هستید که دو داستان متفاوت رو شرح بده که کاملا متفاوت اند و بعد همون دو داستان بی ربط دورا دور داخش در هم گره خورده باشن؟
کتابای لوییس سکر کتابایی هستند که باید سراغشون برید
این کتاب خیلی کوتاهه و راجع به باکتری ایه که قراره جایگزین سوخت بشه و ماجرای دو بچه مدرسه ای که دنیا رو تحت تاثیر قرار میده
اصباع از دستش ندید چراکه کوتاهه و روون همچنین لذت بخش
خیلی خیلی هم برای بچه های بین ده تا چهارده پیشنهادش میدم
https://taaghche.com/book/81040
کتابای لوییس سکر کتابایی هستند که باید سراغشون برید
این کتاب خیلی کوتاهه و راجع به باکتری ایه که قراره جایگزین سوخت بشه و ماجرای دو بچه مدرسه ای که دنیا رو تحت تاثیر قرار میده
اصباع از دستش ندید چراکه کوتاهه و روون همچنین لذت بخش
خیلی خیلی هم برای بچه های بین ده تا چهارده پیشنهادش میدم
https://taaghche.com/book/81040
February 3, 2023
متاسفانه در واقعیت چنین پایانهای خوشی وجود نداره.
March 27, 2015
A fantastic-spectacular-discovery-treat!
Adults will adore this little gem! Its inspiring to observe children's courage, strength and humanity when they are under frightening duress. Plus..its a fresh-outdoorsy-woodsy-muddy-reminder....of how much fun exploring in nature is. Being outdoors --taking risks -walking home through the woods.... remember???
Kids will eat up "Fuzzy Mud". Its a bighearted eco-thriller-light story that empowers and encourages imagination! Kids will be on the edge of their seats --or reading with a flashlight under their covers at night. They won't be able to put this book down!!!
Into the woods....is "FUZZY MUD"!!!!!!!!!!
While 3 kids from Woodbridge Academy are in the woods with FUZZY MUD....
The government is investigating a discovery that might change the world's energy needs...
Read how these two stories come together....
Impeccably written! Deeply satisfying!!
Adults will adore this little gem! Its inspiring to observe children's courage, strength and humanity when they are under frightening duress. Plus..its a fresh-outdoorsy-woodsy-muddy-reminder....of how much fun exploring in nature is. Being outdoors --taking risks -walking home through the woods.... remember???
Kids will eat up "Fuzzy Mud". Its a bighearted eco-thriller-light story that empowers and encourages imagination! Kids will be on the edge of their seats --or reading with a flashlight under their covers at night. They won't be able to put this book down!!!
Into the woods....is "FUZZY MUD"!!!!!!!!!!
While 3 kids from Woodbridge Academy are in the woods with FUZZY MUD....
The government is investigating a discovery that might change the world's energy needs...
Read how these two stories come together....
Impeccably written! Deeply satisfying!!
August 30, 2015
This strikes me as a horror book for kids. It's got a new, unavoidable disease with no cure, a mad scientist, and a nervous Senate committee meeting about a big decision. (Frankly, those elements could combine to form a horror book for adults, too.) And there are moments of characterization that are fabulously done - "Buttface," for example.
But it's all so slight, and the mystery is so condensed, that the horror doesn't have time to coalesce fully, and the character journeys are less satisfying than I think they could have been. I'd love to see what this book would look like if it were the length of Holes.
But it's all so slight, and the mystery is so condensed, that the horror doesn't have time to coalesce fully, and the character journeys are less satisfying than I think they could have been. I'd love to see what this book would look like if it were the length of Holes.
February 20, 2017
The only thing preventing this really, really amazing book from being five stars is "Holes". That book was 10 stars and while this book was very, very good, it just doesn't reach the amazing-ness of "Holes", so only four stars.
That being said, this is more of a 4.5 star book. I don't know how he does it, but he NAILS the elementary/middle school mentality. These kids are so REAL. And unfortunately, the adults are the typical hearing, but not really listening adults until the spit hits the fan and it's almost too late.
This book is also incredibly DARK. It's marketed to 10 years and up, but it would have to be a VERY advanced 10 year old that I would hand this too. Bullying, unhappy home-life, flesh eating bacteria that makes children blind and kills animals. It's DARK. But also amazingly good too. Just might be nightmare inducing for the sensitive child. (Also to me, as I started this book while sitting in the dermatologist's office, waiting to find out what my very painful, very itchy, very red rash on the back of my legs was. The Universe/Fate/God has a VERY twisted sense of humor, let's just put it that way. I can laugh now, after I found out my rash was an allergic reaction to a cleanser and NOT a flesh eating bacteria. Before I found out? Not so funny.)
I admit, I loved the ending so much, I read it about five times. SO GOOD. I would definitely recommend this book, judging by the maturity level of the child it was being handed to, with a warning to the parental unit/s. But older and/or less sensitive younger child and adult in love with this author's writing, GO FOR IT! :)
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Delacorte Books for Young Readers for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
That being said, this is more of a 4.5 star book. I don't know how he does it, but he NAILS the elementary/middle school mentality. These kids are so REAL. And unfortunately, the adults are the typical hearing, but not really listening adults until the spit hits the fan and it's almost too late.
This book is also incredibly DARK. It's marketed to 10 years and up, but it would have to be a VERY advanced 10 year old that I would hand this too. Bullying, unhappy home-life, flesh eating bacteria that makes children blind and kills animals. It's DARK. But also amazingly good too. Just might be nightmare inducing for the sensitive child. (Also to me, as I started this book while sitting in the dermatologist's office, waiting to find out what my very painful, very itchy, very red rash on the back of my legs was. The Universe/Fate/God has a VERY twisted sense of humor, let's just put it that way. I can laugh now, after I found out my rash was an allergic reaction to a cleanser and NOT a flesh eating bacteria. Before I found out? Not so funny.)
I admit, I loved the ending so much, I read it about five times. SO GOOD. I would definitely recommend this book, judging by the maturity level of the child it was being handed to, with a warning to the parental unit/s. But older and/or less sensitive younger child and adult in love with this author's writing, GO FOR IT! :)
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Delacorte Books for Young Readers for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
October 22, 2015
Decent story for a middle school book. Kids that like scary stories would probably enjoy it. Just creepy enough with the ending you would expect.
July 27, 2015
Originally billed as the greatest solution to the world’s energy crisis, a new life form has somehow migrated from its secret farm location to the surrounding area. When three kids run across the energy alternative in the woods behind their school, they will need to put aside any personal differences to help save their town and, potentially, the world. Louis Sachar, author of the wildly successful book Holes, brings middle grade readers another story with his trademark style in the well-intended but ultimately hollow book Fuzzy Mud.
Tamaya and Marshall live on the same street and have walked to and from school together for three years. Although Tamaya is two years younger than Marshall, he’s never minded her company much. Their two-mile walk could be shorter if they cut through the woods. But everyone knows a dangerous hermit lives in the woods, and no one goes in them…until now.
On a cool day in November, Marshall decides he wants to take a shortcut home. The matter actually gets decided for him when the new seventh grader in Marshall’s class, Chad, challenges Marshall to a fight after school. In order to avoid Chad, Marshall knows, he and Tamaya will have to go through the woods.
It seems like a foolproof plan—until Marshall and Tamaya get turned around in the unfamiliar terrain. To make matters worse, Chad manages to find them. He challenges Marshall to a fight right then and there, and Tamaya flings some odd fuzzy-looking mud at Chad to distract him. She and Marshall make a break for it, expecting with every step that Chad will follow them.
When Chad doesn’t show up in school the next day, however, Tamaya figures out that something must have gone wrong and goes back to look for him. Marshall learns that Tamaya has gone missing, and he goes after her. None of them know the woods that well, and they all have to deal with the fuzzy mud Tamaya threw at Chad.
Author Louis Sachar brings to Fuzzy Mud his trademark wit and charm. Readers will thoroughly enjoy the humorous asides and character quirks Sachar shares, and Sachar doesn’t hesitate to offer some of the challenges middle grade students face in the real world. Targeted readers will appreciate Sachar’s honesty and his attempts to make light of uncomfortable situations.
Unfortunately the book fails to challenge its target audience. Chad’s pursuit of Marshall and Tamaya’s return to the woods take up the majority of the story. The only way readers will learn of the secret energy alternative is through excerpts of “energy committee hearings,” and in some places these excerpts offer more movement in the story than the main plot. In essence, the book could be summed up as: Chad and Marshall’s fight; Tamaya defending Marshall; Chad’s disappearance; Tamaya and Marshall’s rescue of Chad and their small Pennsylvania town.
The book lacks depth and heft, surprising considering Sachar’s success with the detailed plot of Holes. Middle grade readers will leave the book feeling like something is missing. Sachar would have done well to offer more information about everyone involved in the story, especially Chad as the bully.
Diehard fans of Sachar’s work may want to Borrow this one; otherwise I recommend readers Bypass it.
(I received this book from the publisher for my unbiased, honest review.)
Tamaya and Marshall live on the same street and have walked to and from school together for three years. Although Tamaya is two years younger than Marshall, he’s never minded her company much. Their two-mile walk could be shorter if they cut through the woods. But everyone knows a dangerous hermit lives in the woods, and no one goes in them…until now.
On a cool day in November, Marshall decides he wants to take a shortcut home. The matter actually gets decided for him when the new seventh grader in Marshall’s class, Chad, challenges Marshall to a fight after school. In order to avoid Chad, Marshall knows, he and Tamaya will have to go through the woods.
It seems like a foolproof plan—until Marshall and Tamaya get turned around in the unfamiliar terrain. To make matters worse, Chad manages to find them. He challenges Marshall to a fight right then and there, and Tamaya flings some odd fuzzy-looking mud at Chad to distract him. She and Marshall make a break for it, expecting with every step that Chad will follow them.
When Chad doesn’t show up in school the next day, however, Tamaya figures out that something must have gone wrong and goes back to look for him. Marshall learns that Tamaya has gone missing, and he goes after her. None of them know the woods that well, and they all have to deal with the fuzzy mud Tamaya threw at Chad.
Author Louis Sachar brings to Fuzzy Mud his trademark wit and charm. Readers will thoroughly enjoy the humorous asides and character quirks Sachar shares, and Sachar doesn’t hesitate to offer some of the challenges middle grade students face in the real world. Targeted readers will appreciate Sachar’s honesty and his attempts to make light of uncomfortable situations.
Unfortunately the book fails to challenge its target audience. Chad’s pursuit of Marshall and Tamaya’s return to the woods take up the majority of the story. The only way readers will learn of the secret energy alternative is through excerpts of “energy committee hearings,” and in some places these excerpts offer more movement in the story than the main plot. In essence, the book could be summed up as: Chad and Marshall’s fight; Tamaya defending Marshall; Chad’s disappearance; Tamaya and Marshall’s rescue of Chad and their small Pennsylvania town.
The book lacks depth and heft, surprising considering Sachar’s success with the detailed plot of Holes. Middle grade readers will leave the book feeling like something is missing. Sachar would have done well to offer more information about everyone involved in the story, especially Chad as the bully.
Diehard fans of Sachar’s work may want to Borrow this one; otherwise I recommend readers Bypass it.
(I received this book from the publisher for my unbiased, honest review.)
August 9, 2015
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
The no. 1 thing that caught my attention about this book was the author. When I was a kid, Louis Sachar was my hero for writing Holes. Holes is a book I have never forgotten so I knew that whatever Fuzzy Mud was about, it would be brilliant. And it was!
Fuzzy Mud is a beautiful book about friendship and finding the good in others. But it comes with a fun (but kind of creepy) sci fic twist which I also enjoyed.
I’d guess that this book is set in the near future where a new source of fuel is discovered that is renewable and environmentally friendly. The problem is that biolene is comprised of artificially engineered organisms that should die in the presence of oxygen but what happens when a mutation occurs? An epidemic. THAT’S WHAT.
So yes, there was some scary things happening in the book but I had so much fun reading about Tamaya, Chad and Marshall. They are all wonderful characters that give life to this book. I didn’t think I’d like a bully but the way Sachar develops Chad is wonderful. Chad never apologizes for his actions (because how can he) but instead tells his new friends what drives him to be awful. Little by little they all become closer because of this epidemic and form a lasting bond.
This is a quick read that won’t fail to charm you with its originality and with its fabulous relationships and characters.
Note that I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The no. 1 thing that caught my attention about this book was the author. When I was a kid, Louis Sachar was my hero for writing Holes. Holes is a book I have never forgotten so I knew that whatever Fuzzy Mud was about, it would be brilliant. And it was!
Fuzzy Mud is a beautiful book about friendship and finding the good in others. But it comes with a fun (but kind of creepy) sci fic twist which I also enjoyed.
I’d guess that this book is set in the near future where a new source of fuel is discovered that is renewable and environmentally friendly. The problem is that biolene is comprised of artificially engineered organisms that should die in the presence of oxygen but what happens when a mutation occurs? An epidemic. THAT’S WHAT.
So yes, there was some scary things happening in the book but I had so much fun reading about Tamaya, Chad and Marshall. They are all wonderful characters that give life to this book. I didn’t think I’d like a bully but the way Sachar develops Chad is wonderful. Chad never apologizes for his actions (because how can he) but instead tells his new friends what drives him to be awful. Little by little they all become closer because of this epidemic and form a lasting bond.
This is a quick read that won’t fail to charm you with its originality and with its fabulous relationships and characters.
Note that I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2020
لوییس سکر نویسنده عزیزِ «ته کلاس ردیف آخر صندلی آخر» بود. به همین خاطر وقتی اسمش را اتفاقی توی کتابفروشی دیدم در خریدن کتابش یک لحظه هم تردید نکردم. حالا که فکر می کنم اگر این کتاب را اتفاقی در کتابفروشی نمیدیدم شاید هیچ وقت از وجودش باخبر نمیشدم چون در گودریدز هم به سختی پیدایش کردم.
«تاول» نام ترجمهی فارسی کتاب است. (گرچه نمیدانم چرا نشر پرتقال نام را تغییر داده) ماجرای دختری به نام تامایاست که ناخواسته درگیر یک ماجراجویی پیچیده میشود. به بچههایی مثل تایاما در زندگی واقعی «بچه مثبت» میگوییم و کمتر کسی داستان بچهمثبتها را مینویسد. تامایا همه قوانین را رعایت میکند و حتی یک روز هم از مدرسه غیبت نداشتهاست اما برای اولین بار دست به قانونشکنی میزند. به جنگل ممنوعه نزدیک مدرسه میرود و با یکی از قلدرهای مدرسه درگیر میشود و لجن عجیبی را از گودالی برمیدارد و به صورت او میپاشد و فرار میکند. فردای آن روز دستی که لجنی شده شروع به تاول زدن میکند و پسر قلدر هم ناپدید میشود...
نمیتوانم بگویم «تاول» مثل «ته کلاس ردیف آخر، صندلی آخر» شخصیتهای فوقالعادهای دارد یا مثل «آخرین گودال» داستانش جذاب و نفسگیر است. اما ادعا نمیکنم که ازخواندنش لذت نبردم. ماجراجویی تایاما مرا درگیر خودش کرد و شخصیتها برایم عمیق و دوستداشتنی بودند. گذشته از آن نویسنده خلاقیتهای جالبی در مرموز کردن روایت داشت که باعث میشد که از عالی نبودن باقی نکات کتاب صرف نظر کنم.
لوییس سکر مثل دفعات پیش کتاب را خیلی طولانی نکرده است. با همه جزییات و ریزهکاریها و حتی با گفتن دو روایت موازی، ماجرا در صفحه 178 تمام میشود. جوری که دقیقا باب طبع نوجوانهای بیحوصله باشد و من یک بار دیگر از همراه شدن با او لذت میبرم درست مثل روزهای نوجوانی.
«تاول» نام ترجمهی فارسی کتاب است. (گرچه نمیدانم چرا نشر پرتقال نام را تغییر داده) ماجرای دختری به نام تامایاست که ناخواسته درگیر یک ماجراجویی پیچیده میشود. به بچههایی مثل تایاما در زندگی واقعی «بچه مثبت» میگوییم و کمتر کسی داستان بچهمثبتها را مینویسد. تامایا همه قوانین را رعایت میکند و حتی یک روز هم از مدرسه غیبت نداشتهاست اما برای اولین بار دست به قانونشکنی میزند. به جنگل ممنوعه نزدیک مدرسه میرود و با یکی از قلدرهای مدرسه درگیر میشود و لجن عجیبی را از گودالی برمیدارد و به صورت او میپاشد و فرار میکند. فردای آن روز دستی که لجنی شده شروع به تاول زدن میکند و پسر قلدر هم ناپدید میشود...
نمیتوانم بگویم «تاول» مثل «ته کلاس ردیف آخر، صندلی آخر» شخصیتهای فوقالعادهای دارد یا مثل «آخرین گودال» داستانش جذاب و نفسگیر است. اما ادعا نمیکنم که ازخواندنش لذت نبردم. ماجراجویی تایاما مرا درگیر خودش کرد و شخصیتها برایم عمیق و دوستداشتنی بودند. گذشته از آن نویسنده خلاقیتهای جالبی در مرموز کردن روایت داشت که باعث میشد که از عالی نبودن باقی نکات کتاب صرف نظر کنم.
لوییس سکر مثل دفعات پیش کتاب را خیلی طولانی نکرده است. با همه جزییات و ریزهکاریها و حتی با گفتن دو روایت موازی، ماجرا در صفحه 178 تمام میشود. جوری که دقیقا باب طبع نوجوانهای بیحوصله باشد و من یک بار دیگر از همراه شدن با او لذت میبرم درست مثل روزهای نوجوانی.
January 22, 2019
Courage just meant pretending to be brave. “After all, if you’re not scared, then there’s nothing to be brave about, is there?”
I love Louis Sachar and am so glad he continues to write children's books! ❤
This was an interesting story that perfectly captured life in middle school, particularly the great dilemma of being morally correct Vs being well, cool.
I listened to the audiobook which was just over 4 hours long. I would definitely recommend listening to the audiobook version, as some scenes really come alive in this medium. The audiobook also featured an epilogue read by Louis Sachar himself, which was a great bonus.
I love Louis Sachar and am so glad he continues to write children's books! ❤
This was an interesting story that perfectly captured life in middle school, particularly the great dilemma of being morally correct Vs being well, cool.
I listened to the audiobook which was just over 4 hours long. I would definitely recommend listening to the audiobook version, as some scenes really come alive in this medium. The audiobook also featured an epilogue read by Louis Sachar himself, which was a great bonus.
September 27, 2017
It's really fast paced, so there weren't any boring sections for me. The plot was really interesting, too.
October 24, 2023
Actual rating: 3.5
This was a fun eco-horror read! It wasn't anything mind-blowing, but it definitely reminded me that I need to read more middle-grade.
This was a fun eco-horror read! It wasn't anything mind-blowing, but it definitely reminded me that I need to read more middle-grade.
February 5, 2025
Stella says 5 stars!
September 24, 2021
Despite banning myself for reading books til exams are over, I snuck this outta my brothers library bag :,)
Was nice to reread something from my childhood, and was a casual & easy read- especially since it’s targeted towards primary aged kids anyways. The science gizmo was actually comprehendible this time!!🧫👩🏽🔬🧪
Was nice to reread something from my childhood, and was a casual & easy read- especially since it’s targeted towards primary aged kids anyways. The science gizmo was actually comprehendible this time!!🧫👩🏽🔬🧪
November 28, 2016
I know I am not the audience for this book. Kids like to see kids be the hero of their stories - I get that. But when a kid is being stupid, that should be pointed out. By the author, by another character - I don't care how, but point it out.
I chose to listen to "Fuzzy Mud" because I am a fan of Louis Sachar. "Holes" is one of my top 5 children's books, and I think it may be the most beautifully structured book I've ever read. On the strength of that book I read "The Cardturner", which I enjoyed. I've read the Wayside School books and "Small Steps" and I will read more of his books in the future, but this one did not work for me.
SPOILER
Have you ever watched a horror movie and yelled at the clueless soon-to-be-victim "Don't open that door!", or simply "Get the heck out of there!"? That was the experience I had while listening to this audiobook.
Two kids, Tamaya and Marshall, take a "shortcut" through the woods - the very woods they have been expressly told to stay out of - to avoid Chad the bully. But Chad finds them, and in the fight that follows, some very toxic "fuzzy mud" is thrown at Chad. Tamaya and Marshall get away, but Tamaya, who threw the mud, quickly develops an alarming rash on her hand and arm. This girl has been described as being a "goody-two shoes". She is a good student, honest, thoughtful, smart, responsible. A rule-follower. Yet she doesn't tell anyone about where she got this rash, supposedly because they might get in trouble for being in the woods. Then she realizes that the boy she hit with the mud must be in even worse shape than she is and is now stranded in those woods, but the only person she tells is Marshall. Then she goes back into the woods - alone - to rescue this bully - this older, bigger, stronger, probably really angry but possibly now-helpless, boy. How is she going to do that exactly? Well, in the end, she doesn't. All three kids have to get rescued by adults with search dogs. Duh. She seems smart enough to realize before she goes back into the woods that she really needs adult help with this dilemma - pronto. Yet she doesn't enlist any adult to help her find this boy. She doesn't tell her mom, or the school principal, or the police. Obviously when - if - she finds this boy and helps him, it's all going to come out that she was in those big bad woods (twice) anyway, so she won't be able to avoid that issue. It's a small miracle she finds Chad at all, and then, even with Marshall's help, she ends up falling into a puddle of the fuzzy mud, and needs rescuing herself. Yet, after the kids are found after having been missing for a few hours, no one, not one single soul, not even Mom, are at all angry about any of this. In the real world, after the incredible relief, there would be some anger. But no, everyone is really proud of these kids and their courage. Huh? Stupidity is more like it. Had Tamaya alerted an adult, Chad could have been found and helped much more quickly. Some adult tells Tamaya at the end that if Chad had been found even 20 minutes later, he probably wouldn't have survived. But the fact that he was rescued when he was wasn't Tamaya's doing - she actually probably delayed his rescue. The true rescuers were the concerned adults who grabbed some search dogs and went looking for the kids.
At the end of the audiobook, Sachar talks about the ten virtues that the kids who go to Tamaya's school have to memorize, and he states that in the course of the book, Tamaya demonstrated all of them. This is true. But she lacked an eleventh virtue - common sense - and that just drove me crazy. Kids may like it, though.
I chose to listen to "Fuzzy Mud" because I am a fan of Louis Sachar. "Holes" is one of my top 5 children's books, and I think it may be the most beautifully structured book I've ever read. On the strength of that book I read "The Cardturner", which I enjoyed. I've read the Wayside School books and "Small Steps" and I will read more of his books in the future, but this one did not work for me.
SPOILER
Have you ever watched a horror movie and yelled at the clueless soon-to-be-victim "Don't open that door!", or simply "Get the heck out of there!"? That was the experience I had while listening to this audiobook.
Two kids, Tamaya and Marshall, take a "shortcut" through the woods - the very woods they have been expressly told to stay out of - to avoid Chad the bully. But Chad finds them, and in the fight that follows, some very toxic "fuzzy mud" is thrown at Chad. Tamaya and Marshall get away, but Tamaya, who threw the mud, quickly develops an alarming rash on her hand and arm. This girl has been described as being a "goody-two shoes". She is a good student, honest, thoughtful, smart, responsible. A rule-follower. Yet she doesn't tell anyone about where she got this rash, supposedly because they might get in trouble for being in the woods. Then she realizes that the boy she hit with the mud must be in even worse shape than she is and is now stranded in those woods, but the only person she tells is Marshall. Then she goes back into the woods - alone - to rescue this bully - this older, bigger, stronger, probably really angry but possibly now-helpless, boy. How is she going to do that exactly? Well, in the end, she doesn't. All three kids have to get rescued by adults with search dogs. Duh. She seems smart enough to realize before she goes back into the woods that she really needs adult help with this dilemma - pronto. Yet she doesn't enlist any adult to help her find this boy. She doesn't tell her mom, or the school principal, or the police. Obviously when - if - she finds this boy and helps him, it's all going to come out that she was in those big bad woods (twice) anyway, so she won't be able to avoid that issue. It's a small miracle she finds Chad at all, and then, even with Marshall's help, she ends up falling into a puddle of the fuzzy mud, and needs rescuing herself. Yet, after the kids are found after having been missing for a few hours, no one, not one single soul, not even Mom, are at all angry about any of this. In the real world, after the incredible relief, there would be some anger. But no, everyone is really proud of these kids and their courage. Huh? Stupidity is more like it. Had Tamaya alerted an adult, Chad could have been found and helped much more quickly. Some adult tells Tamaya at the end that if Chad had been found even 20 minutes later, he probably wouldn't have survived. But the fact that he was rescued when he was wasn't Tamaya's doing - she actually probably delayed his rescue. The true rescuers were the concerned adults who grabbed some search dogs and went looking for the kids.
At the end of the audiobook, Sachar talks about the ten virtues that the kids who go to Tamaya's school have to memorize, and he states that in the course of the book, Tamaya demonstrated all of them. This is true. But she lacked an eleventh virtue - common sense - and that just drove me crazy. Kids may like it, though.
February 17, 2017
Let me start this review with a bookworm confession! I have obviously heard of Louis Sachar and have had my eyes on his books for quite some time and this is the first chance I have had to read his work. Huge thanks to Bloomsbury India for sending me a copy of this book.
Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and seventh grader Marshall Walsh have a unique relationship. They have been walking to and from school together since they were in elementary school. However, no one knows that they are friends as they never speak to each other in school. Being friends with a fifth grader would be a ‘social’ suicide for Marshall especially if Chad, the bully, ever found out. One day Chad decides to follow and catch up with Marshall on the way home and in order to avoid him, Marshal takes Tamaya through the woods. But Chad catches up with them and what happened next leads to an adventure of a lifetime.
This book is supposed to be Middle-Grade Children’s’ book and yet being in my 30s, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I am pretty sure that the author’s narrative style and language is well known for being exemplary and needs no testimonials from me. So, I will move on to the characterization. I absolutely loved the way the author has introduced and built up each and every character in the book – especially the three central characters of Tamaya, Marshall and Chad. The plot is simply awesome (especially if you see this boo as children’s book) that brings social and environmental issues together with mystery/thriller element.
The cover and book presentation only makes the book more attractive. Even though green (any shade) is a colour that I do not like at all, I can see how the bright colours and the ‘warning’ tag could be attractive to kids. Even the boo formatting as small things to offer to make the book look more inviting than a simple layout.
Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and seventh grader Marshall Walsh have a unique relationship. They have been walking to and from school together since they were in elementary school. However, no one knows that they are friends as they never speak to each other in school. Being friends with a fifth grader would be a ‘social’ suicide for Marshall especially if Chad, the bully, ever found out. One day Chad decides to follow and catch up with Marshall on the way home and in order to avoid him, Marshal takes Tamaya through the woods. But Chad catches up with them and what happened next leads to an adventure of a lifetime.
This book is supposed to be Middle-Grade Children’s’ book and yet being in my 30s, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I am pretty sure that the author’s narrative style and language is well known for being exemplary and needs no testimonials from me. So, I will move on to the characterization. I absolutely loved the way the author has introduced and built up each and every character in the book – especially the three central characters of Tamaya, Marshall and Chad. The plot is simply awesome (especially if you see this boo as children’s book) that brings social and environmental issues together with mystery/thriller element.
The cover and book presentation only makes the book more attractive. Even though green (any shade) is a colour that I do not like at all, I can see how the bright colours and the ‘warning’ tag could be attractive to kids. Even the boo formatting as small things to offer to make the book look more inviting than a simple layout.
August 3, 2021
عنوان ترجمه فارسی: تاول
نشر پرتقال
داستان دربارهی یه بیماری واگیرداره که از گلولایی در جنگل به چند بچه مدرسهای منتقل میشه و از اونها به بقیه. شهرشون قرنطینه میشه. دو تا از بچهها که گلولای به صورت و چشمهاشون خورده، کور میشن. بدن بر اثر تماس باهاش، تاول میزنه ولی دردی نداره، چون عصبهای درد توسط دشمن میکروبی خورده میشه
حالا این گلو لای چطوری بوجود اومده؟
چون جمعیت جهان در حال افزایشه و منابع انرژی کمه، دانشمندا سعی کردن یه سلولی بسازن که تکثیر راحتی داره و میشه ازش بهجای بنزین و سوخت استفاده کرد
ولی ظاهرا سلولها جهش پیدا میکنن و تو جنگل و سطح شهر پخش میشن و باعث این بیماری میشن
موقع خوندن کتاب، مدام یاد کرونا میافتادم و این روزهایی که دنیا گیر کرده داخلش
کاش درمان قطعی کرونا هم پیدا بشه بزودی
نویسندهی کتاب، نویسندهی کتاب محبوب "ته کلاس ردیف آخر صندلی آخر" یا همون "یه پسر تو دسشویی دختراست" است.شخصیت برادلی چاکلز یکمقدار شبیه شخصیت چاد بود
کتاب تخلیه و نوجوونهایی که از ماجراجویی خوششون میاد، این کتاب رو دوست خواهند داشت
برای بلندخوانی سرکلاس هم کتاب خوبیه
نشر پرتقال
داستان دربارهی یه بیماری واگیرداره که از گلولایی در جنگل به چند بچه مدرسهای منتقل میشه و از اونها به بقیه. شهرشون قرنطینه میشه. دو تا از بچهها که گلولای به صورت و چشمهاشون خورده، کور میشن. بدن بر اثر تماس باهاش، تاول میزنه ولی دردی نداره، چون عصبهای درد توسط دشمن میکروبی خورده میشه
حالا این گلو لای چطوری بوجود اومده؟
چون جمعیت جهان در حال افزایشه و منابع انرژی کمه، دانشمندا سعی کردن یه سلولی بسازن که تکثیر راحتی داره و میشه ازش بهجای بنزین و سوخت استفاده کرد
ولی ظاهرا سلولها جهش پیدا میکنن و تو جنگل و سطح شهر پخش میشن و باعث این بیماری میشن
موقع خوندن کتاب، مدام یاد کرونا میافتادم و این روزهایی که دنیا گیر کرده داخلش
کاش درمان قطعی کرونا هم پیدا بشه بزودی
نویسندهی کتاب، نویسندهی کتاب محبوب "ته کلاس ردیف آخر صندلی آخر" یا همون "یه پسر تو دسشویی دختراست" است.شخصیت برادلی چاکلز یکمقدار شبیه شخصیت چاد بود
کتاب تخلیه و نوجوونهایی که از ماجراجویی خوششون میاد، این کتاب رو دوست خواهند داشت
برای بلندخوانی سرکلاس هم کتاب خوبیه
June 3, 2021
Adult readers might think it too short, quick, superficial. But the intended audience doesn't have enough time to sit quietly and read this in or two sessions. Sachar makes every word count... and they all add up to thrilling near-future SF with great characters and lots of stuff we hope that the kids reading this will remember when they become parents, teachers, scientists, engineers, politicians, and voters.
Sachar is wonderful. I fell in love with his Wayside School stories a couple of decades ago, and have read everything else since (except Redpost as my library didn't have them).
Sachar is wonderful. I fell in love with his Wayside School stories a couple of decades ago, and have read everything else since (except Redpost as my library didn't have them).
September 10, 2018
I always liked Louis Sachar books from when I read them with my son when he was younger and including the two most recent ones that I read, Holes and now Fuzzy Mud. This is a great Middle Grades story about the environment, with some values and morals a huge part of the story. It is a thrilling, suspenseful story that borders on a horror story as well.
Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and seventh grader Marshall Walsh have been walking to and from Woodridge Academy together since elementary school. One thing they have always been told is not to go into the woods. When new student and bully Chad Hilligas challenges Marshall to a fight, that is exactly where he heads. Tamaya follows him as she has been told by her parents that she is never to walk home alone. Chad catches up with them and when Tamaya throws a handful of mud into his face, the trouble begins. This story goes back and forth between Senate hearings and the story being narrated by Tamaya. It appears that there is a company near the woods trying to genetically engineer a solution to clean energy. But as history has taught us and will continue to teach us, there are consequences to playing the role of creator...even if you're just creating microorganisms. The problem is, "The smaller something is, the harder it is to keep contained. You can put a tiger or a grizzly bear inside a cage, but it's a lot harder to keep a tiny microorganism from escaping."
I don't want to give away any more of the story, but suffice it to say that this story had an element of surprise, some humour, family dynamics, bullying, character development and the issues with the environment when there is a spill or escape of things being experimented on or developed in secret. This is a great story to read with or to Middle grade students, especially as they will be the developers of the future. There are a lot of things that can be discussed along the way, with a lot of teaching points. This is a great story for family, classroom, school or public libraries. Bravo Louis Sachar, you have done it again.
Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and seventh grader Marshall Walsh have been walking to and from Woodridge Academy together since elementary school. One thing they have always been told is not to go into the woods. When new student and bully Chad Hilligas challenges Marshall to a fight, that is exactly where he heads. Tamaya follows him as she has been told by her parents that she is never to walk home alone. Chad catches up with them and when Tamaya throws a handful of mud into his face, the trouble begins. This story goes back and forth between Senate hearings and the story being narrated by Tamaya. It appears that there is a company near the woods trying to genetically engineer a solution to clean energy. But as history has taught us and will continue to teach us, there are consequences to playing the role of creator...even if you're just creating microorganisms. The problem is, "The smaller something is, the harder it is to keep contained. You can put a tiger or a grizzly bear inside a cage, but it's a lot harder to keep a tiny microorganism from escaping."
I don't want to give away any more of the story, but suffice it to say that this story had an element of surprise, some humour, family dynamics, bullying, character development and the issues with the environment when there is a spill or escape of things being experimented on or developed in secret. This is a great story to read with or to Middle grade students, especially as they will be the developers of the future. There are a lot of things that can be discussed along the way, with a lot of teaching points. This is a great story for family, classroom, school or public libraries. Bravo Louis Sachar, you have done it again.
June 6, 2021
With all the books I have read, I have only read a few by Louis Sacher, less than a half dozen, in fact. I had plans a few years ago to read and review more, but never got around to it. And I was surprised when I went to review this one to find that I had only reviewed one of the four others I have read. My youngest daughter read this in school this year, in 5. I was intrigued by the cover and asked her about it as she worked on assignments around the book. So I picked up a copy to give a read myself. I was not disappointed but the book was much deeper than I expected. But considering the topics in Holes I should not have been surprised. But this volume does not have the same humour or lightness that comes through in Holes.
This book is written in an interesting fashion. The chapters alternate between congressional hearings and events in and around the town of Heath Cliff, Pennsylvania, Woodridge Academy, and SunRay Farm. The main children in the story are Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi her friend Marshall Walsh who is in the seventh grade, and Chad Wilson a new kid at the school and bully who is focusing on Marshall. And the bullying sets off a chain of events that lead to a disaster that could impact the whole world. But those events are because of some experiments at SunRay.
But the story goes well beyond school bullying. It is also about friendship. Doing what is right. And maybe even forgiveness.
I will be honest as a father of 4 reading about a strange new disease and children impacted was not easy. And even reading about the emotions and feelings of Marshall as he lived through the bulling was not easy to read. But that being said it was a good book to read. I have had conversations with my daughter who read it, and my son who is older has his interest piqued by those conversations and is now reading the book.
This is a book that will really make you slow down and think. And though parts of it were hard to read it was well worth reading. A great book for Middle Grade Readers and even for us older folks.
This book is written in an interesting fashion. The chapters alternate between congressional hearings and events in and around the town of Heath Cliff, Pennsylvania, Woodridge Academy, and SunRay Farm. The main children in the story are Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi her friend Marshall Walsh who is in the seventh grade, and Chad Wilson a new kid at the school and bully who is focusing on Marshall. And the bullying sets off a chain of events that lead to a disaster that could impact the whole world. But those events are because of some experiments at SunRay.
But the story goes well beyond school bullying. It is also about friendship. Doing what is right. And maybe even forgiveness.
I will be honest as a father of 4 reading about a strange new disease and children impacted was not easy. And even reading about the emotions and feelings of Marshall as he lived through the bulling was not easy to read. But that being said it was a good book to read. I have had conversations with my daughter who read it, and my son who is older has his interest piqued by those conversations and is now reading the book.
This is a book that will really make you slow down and think. And though parts of it were hard to read it was well worth reading. A great book for Middle Grade Readers and even for us older folks.
November 4, 2018
Sachar’s masterful storytelling continues to enchant me; with a simple but intelligent plot, this story was captivating but not too overwhelming (considering the scientific words and concepts it makes up or adapts for the purpose of the story). As always, the structure of the narrative adds to the reading experience (the order in which Sachar chooses to reveal information to the reader ensure me that they are captivated and reassured at different times- at least I was!) I truly don’t think there are many authors who can better encapsulate the emotions and nuances that children experience in their day to day lives (and so simply at that). I always finish one of Sachar’s books with the impression that his characters are raw, relatable and that they have developed individually - Fuzzy Mud is on par with There’s a boy in the girl’s bathroom, in my opinion, and I didn’t think that could be possible. Absolutely loved every minute I got to read this.
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