The Reveal: Blind Date with a Book #2 (2018)

Review:

The Cardturner

Author: Louis Sachar

Publisher: Ember, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, 2010

Source: Personal Purchase

Bridge is a game that requires “judgment, patience, decisiveness, and most importantly, the ability to think clearly and plan ahead” (pg. 168).

Alton Richards does not know how to play bridge and probably doesn’t have a single one of the necessary attributes, but when his Uncle Lester Trapp – whom his parents insist is his favorite uncle (because he is very rich) – goes blind due to complications from diabetes, Alton is volunteered to be his cardturner/chauffeur at the bridge games which Trapp attends four times each week. Alton has nothing better to do for the summer. He didn’t get a summer job and his girlfriend has dumped him to date his best friend. That fact that he knows nothing about bridge is not a drawback. As far as Trapp is concerned, that is a positive point in Alton’s favor.

There is plenty of competition for those who want Trapp’s money (at least, that’s the way Alton’s parents feel). Mrs. Mahoney is his long-time housekeeper. Teodora is his naturopathic nurse who Alton’s mother says is just prolonging Uncle Lester’s agony. And then there is the Castaneda family. The “crazy” Castaneda family about whom Alton’s mother tells the strangest stories. Alton can’t quite figure out what their connection to Trapp is. His parents see this summer as the perfect opportunity for the Richards’ family to get in just a bit tighter with dear old Uncle Lester.

Alton begins playing bridge as Trapp’s cardturner and very quickly he realizes that there is much more to this game than he had ever imagined. Alton may not have had any initial interest in the game, but as he watches his uncle he finds himself learning. He’s determined that he will do a better job than Trapp’s former cardturner who apparently had the audacity to actually question one of his moves during a game. Alton has the chance to meet the first cardturner, too. It is none other than a member of the notorious Castaneda family, a girl named Toni who happens to be just about Alton’s age.

Some readers, like me, will not know anything about the game of bridge. And although this book contains many detailed explanations about the game, it is still enjoyable as a story. Sachar does take the time to explain some of the intricacies of the game, which the reader can explore or skip, but although they are important to the story, they are not the heart of it. Even if you choose to skip those explanatory passages, you will become totally involved in the game as Trapp and Alton head toward the championship.