Part I: Bibliographic information
Type: Novel
Title: The Cardturner
Writer: Louis Sachar
Copyright Date: 2010
Publisher: Delecorte Press
ISBN: 9780385736626
Genre/subgenre: Young Adult/Juvenile Fiction -- Family Drama
Interest Age: 13+
Reading Level: Upper Grades (UG 9-12)
Pages: 336
Awards: Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2011.
Part I: Reader’s Annotation, Plot Summary, Critical Evaluation
Reader’s Annotation -- A teenager goes to work for his eccentric great uncle who has lost his sight and needs help to keep playing his beloved bridge league. The caustic old guy treats the boy like an idiot initially until they bond as the boy proves he’s able to tolerate the old man’s disgruntled .
Plot Summary -- Seventeen-year-old Alton has been told all his life to tell his uncle, Lester Trapp, that he is his ‘favorite uncle.’ The uncle is really his mother’s uncle so his great-uncle, and he’s rather elderly and in poor health. The uncle’s wealth has the family members fawning over him as his declining health and means he’s probably going to die soon. Alton, who has only recently learned to drive, is recruited to drive the old man to his bridge league and to be ‘the cardturner’ for him since Trapp’s sight has diminished as a result of diabetes. Their conversation is limited at first but he agrees to pay Alton $75 per day.
Alton uses his keen ability to observe as a means to learn the game of bridge by osmosis. The uncles is pretty awful to him as he’s bitter and not quick to trust. The author starts introducing bridge related outtakes in which the game is and its rules are described. This starts off with the basics but becomes more sophisticated and we are forced to appreciate its subtle plays and strategies. Meanwhile, Alton starts to see that the old guy is not as cold-hearted as he is assumed to be and Trapp starts to warm to the kid. They break down on the highway and the uncle takes him to buy a new car, for instance. They head to a regional tournament and the stakes and sophistication elevate. Everywhere there is talk of scenarios and comparisons to others play and Alton can now understand some of it. His uncle’s bridge friends Gloria and Wallace are there, and these two older characters talk to the teen and help him piece together that which Trapp never fully explains.
Meanwhile, Alton’s best friend Cliff is interested in Alton’s ‘sort of’ love interest, Toni. He has also been seeing Alton’s ex-girlfriend, Katie. Alton is too shy to speak up or to act on his interest in the dynamic Toni, who used to be the uncle’s cardturner before Alton. Trapp begins to open up to Alton and even reveals to him some inner thoughts -- they discuss what it means to be “alive” and phenomenon like synchronicity. When Tony asks Alton to partner with her at the local bridge club, he’s hesitant but he agrees and sets out to master the 11-page bidding rules overnight though he does not tell Trapp he’s starting to play himself.
At the regionals, he learns about a story of Trapp’s history with a woman that he had loved long before, Annabelle. She had been his original bridge partner, and they went to the nationals together. Alton learns that the family rumors of her insanity were false, and a sad story of her fate is revealed to Alton by Trapp’s old bridge friends. She had been dragged away by bullies hired by her husband and locked up in an insane asylum against her will. This breaks Trapp’s heart -- and he gives up bridge and throws himself into work; and, he becomes fabulously wealthy but basically unhappy. The tournament does not go as planned but Alton’s boyish view of his uncle is changing and his respect for the old man increases. But they are forced to withdraw from the tournament and leave early for home; Trapp passes away shortly there after.
The family gathers for a memorial. Alton is able to see the larger picture of his family in a new light. This includes some dark family secrets that help Alton put into perspective both his uncle’s coldness and his own strained family’s dynamic. He wants to say something to honor Trapp at the memorial but cannot seem to put his feelings into words. As memories are shared, the atmosphere lightens through a shared memories of all there who had known Trapp -- many are humorous and it emboldens Alton. Finally, he tells about his first day as the cardturner and how his uncle calls him an “imbecile.” He also gets the confidence to ask Tony to continue to play bridge with him, which is a big step since she is still dating his best friend Cliff.
Alton is feeling some stress of the loss and it manifest in strange thoughts about being able to communicate with Trapp. Toni also has some history of mental issues and they mutually acknowledge their struggle to hold it all together -- and she acknowledges her perceived connection to Annabelle. They decide to Chicago for the national bridge championship and in honor of the memory of Trapp and Annabelle -- and as Trapp and Annabelle. They go to Trapp’s house and find the already paid-for entries and tickets. This they do behind their parents back -- and Alton pretends he is going to look at colleges. Tony tells Cliff about the trip so that Alton will not be in trouble with his best friend. The perform fabulously at the nationals using their connection to Trapp and Annabelle to propel them to the final rounds. Alton’s blossoming as a young man is nearly complete and though his parents find out about their scheme he’s now a master of his own fate.
Critical Evaluation --
Sachar use of the first person voice through the teen character allows him to view the complicated world with a sense of innocence and naivety. Young Alton is hardly confident to function in life until he starts helping his “Uncle” Trapp play cards. The boy is very observant and yet hardly seems to know what to make of life. His time with Trapp allows him to build some boldness, however. He sees that he is bright and the game of bridge becomes a conduit where he can express himself. We see him struggling to make sense of his normal life -- finding independence from his mother, building confidence with girls. The relationship with Trapp changes Alton, however -- he develops confidence as he learns the game of bridge with its complicated strategies and demanding mental component.
Later in the story we realize that bridge has become an analogy for Alton’s life. He has to use strategy and apply his wits to make the right choices -- or what he thinks is the best choice at the time. Trapp does not hand over his fortune to anyone. But his legacy remains with all. His flashes of inspiration that he shares with those he lets closer to him are memorable. He also prepares Alton for the idea that life is not a bowl of cherries to use a metaphor.
Tony and Alton’s relationship -- a tender but forbidden attraction since she is dating his best friend -- parallels his uncle’s relationship with Annabelle, who was married. When the two young people, Toni and Alton, decide to go to the nationals using the already purchased tickets that his uncle left behind, the parallel between the two couples is obvious. As they play and succeed together at the table, their bond grows but Alton’s fumblings at romance continues. Still the young cardturner is now an adult in his own right and he is able to better understand through Trapp’s story that not every experience in life is a good one. He finally builds the gumption to kiss her.
Part III: Author Info
Sachar explains his life on his website: “When I was nine years old, we moved to Tustin, California. At that time, there were orange groves all around, and the local kids would often divide up into teams and have orange fights. The "ammo" hung from the trees, although the best ones were the gushy, rotten ones on the ground. Now most of the orange trees are gone, replaced with fast food restaurants, and big box stores” (Sachar, n.d.).
He continues to explain: “I enjoyed school and was a good student, but it wasn't until high school that I really became an avid reader. J.D. Salinger and Kurt Vonnegut were the authors who first inspired me. Some of my other favorite authors include E.L. Doctorow, Margaret Atwood, E.B White, Richard Price and Kazuo Ishiguro.”
“I write every morning, usually for no more than two hours a day. I never talk about a book until it is finished. I spent two years on my latest novel, and nobody, not even Carla or Sherre knew anything about it until it was finished. Then they were the first to read it.
That book is called Small Steps, and will be published in January 2006.
In my spare time, I like to play bridge. You can often find me at the bridge club in Austin, or at a bridge tournament somewhere around the country,” according to Sachar.
Part IV: Curriculum Ties, Diversity, Booktalk Ideas, Challenge Issues
Curriculum Ties, if any -- Historical accounts of the revolutionary period targeted to young people are frequently very dull and textbook.
Diversity of Cultures -- This work is pretty set in a white, upper middle class experience of the world. There are issues of mental health and illness addressed.
Booktalking Ideas -- This story focuses on the game of bridge. This was somewhat risky since it’s not an action packed game. Why do young people find this unusual book to be a good read? What aspects of bridge appeal to us (a higher sense of order, the logical approach).
Challenge Issues -- It’s hard to imagine this work would be challenged. Sachar discusses Alton’s romantic aspirations but they hardly go anywhere beyond a kiss. Alton’s mental health is somewhat in question at times but it’s not in an unrealistic way. He's also dishonest with his parents when sneaks off to the Chicago national bridge tournament.
Part V: Reasons chosen
Part VI: Citations
I sensed that this work was something of a Catcher in the Rye novel, and it is. Young Alton is not to enthused about life. He lacks confidence and direction. After an initial start in reading it that petered out I decided to reread it, however. That was mostly because it won a YRCA, and I was curious about how Sachar managed to tell a story about bridge without boring young adults to death. The answer is that the characters involved are tenderly portrayed, and it's really a wonderful coming-of-age tale that anyone with a sense of that being a difficult time can identify with. Also, Alton's family has dark secrets that he's not initially privy to. But his keen ability to observe in silence allows him to piece together the tale, which is really a tragedy. His own life risks following a similar road but young Alton seems to have learned through his uncle's experiences. The work also teaches the reader quite a bit about bridge. The game is complex and takes some patience to hear Sachar out about the intricacies. But at some point in the read you resign to it and really listen to these explanations. It's a journey worth taking since this not fairly obscure game is rather fascinating and exciting. Besides Sachar was right! He could write a novel about bridge that would succeed with young people. That alone makes me want to include it.
Sachar, L. (n.d.) Louis Schar: Author Bio. [webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.louissachar.com/Bio.htm
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