Fuzzy Mud

This week I finished Fuzzy Mud- the latest by Louis Sachar. I think Fuzzy Mud was a very interesting book that my students will really enjoy.

My favorite thing about this author is his diversity. From Holes, to Marvin Redpost, to Wayside School- Mr. Sachar certainly has many original ideas. One thing his books  have in common is that they are all entertaining and easy to read. Fuzzy Mud is no exception.

This book tells the tale of fifth grader Tamaya who finds a strange kind of "fuzzy mud" while cutting through the woods on her way home and the medical consequences of her touching this unknown substance. This story has a few different plot lines happening. First, Tamaya is running through the woods with a friend trying to escape the class bully, and second, the mud is the byproduct of a science experiment gone wrong. It also tackles the difficulties of telling the truth when the truth might bring a punishment or cause a dip in popularity.

The author blends all of the story lines together beautifully. It's suspenseful and flows nicely between a few time jumps. Also, this book teaches more than one valuable lesson to the tween/teenage set. Besides its young readers, it made me stop and think about the repercussions of advancing science. I think both genders will like it and I think it's a great choice for kids who want something with a little depth. This does not have a cookie cutter plot, and it was a really refreshing read!