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The current COVID-19 crisis made me think back to this book. The suspense hinges on understanding exponential growth. The chapters end with ever-growing equations, showing how fast 2 x 1 = 2 becomes 2 x 536,870,912 = 1,073,741,824.
Tamaya is puzzling over all the changes in the social "rules" as she starts 5th grade at Woodbridge Academy. Marshall, the older neighbor she walks home with, has managed to bring the wrath of the most popular boy at school down on himself. Rather than face this bully, Marshall detours through the forbidden wooded area behind the school. Tamara follows. The bully follows. And their world gets turned upside down by dangers no one has ever seen before...
Louis Sacher takes on a lot of issues in thi ...more
Louis Sacher takes on a lot of issues in thi ...more
What a terrifically fast read. This is a nice slim, fast-paced book, that would be great for reluctant readers. There are no subplots. The main plot line is brilliantly broken up by 'confidential interviews' explaining about a clean energy company and its comical founder Fitzy that contributed to fuzzy mud--a dangerous organism growing in the woods were two kids Tamaya and Marshall take a short cut home to avoid the school bully. This creates marvelous dramatic irony. The reader knows the mud is
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This was a book recommendation from my daughter, so, of course I had to give it a try! It was a quick read, and I wish it was actually a little bit longer. If so, Sachar could have given the kids more time to develop and drawn out the mystery a bit more.
That being said, it has diverse characters, a quick moving plot, and touches on very common school relationships/issues. Recommended.
That being said, it has diverse characters, a quick moving plot, and touches on very common school relationships/issues. Recommended.
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this story about three children at a private school who stumble into "fuzzy mud" and discover germs that eat away at the skin. It is a story about what it means to a good friend, and I loved the development of the characters, but I thought the ending was not quite satisfying.
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Good read, full of suspense. Liked that the female character overcame fears to become quite the hero.
I'll be interested to see what my students make of this.
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Environmental awareness for kids. Very exciting and consise story about a 5th grader and a 7th grader who stumble upon some weird, fuzzy mud in the woods that turns out to be a dangerous, multiplying plague for human beings. It is a man made substance created during the process of making Biolene-- a fuel alternative.
Well done Louis Sachar. Grade 5 and up.
Well done Louis Sachar. Grade 5 and up.
Apr 13, 2015
Dan
marked it as to-read
Aug 18, 2015
Julie
marked it as to-read
Aug 26, 2018
Ellen
marked it as to-read
Jun 22, 2025
Nefret
added it
