Out of Patience
Grade 5-8–Toilets, tornadoes, buried treasure, and a curse play key roles in this enjoyable tale set in Patience, KS. Jake's father hopes to open a toilet museum, despite the objections of the townspeople and the embarrassment of his son. When his dad obtains the infamous plunger of doom, the 12-year-old is convinced that it has triggered a curse that will destroy his town. As thunderstorms hit and heated conflicts between longtime neighbors arise, his worries increase. Ultimately these events lead to Jake and his friends solving an old mystery. This all sounds pretty melodramatic, but the story unfolds with a light touch throughout. Repeated references to Jake's dad's obsession with toilets and to the manure plant that stinks up the community offer some funny moments. Crisp dialogue and a playful narrative voice add more, with a nice balance between humor and suspense. Jake's strong belief that the curse will bring true disaster doesn't always seem totally credible, but the varied plot threads blend nicely and come together in a far-fetched, but satisfying, conclusion. Themes of friendship, responsibility, and family come through without overwhelming the plot. This could be a good title to recommend to fans of Louis Sachar'sHoles(Farrar, 1998) and Carl Hiassen's novels for kids.–Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, ORCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.