TeenLit Book Reviews


October 2000

The Car

Gary Paulsen

The Car by the author Gary Paulsen is an exciting adventure about a teenage boy named Terry who has been abandoned by his parents. His father, an overworked mechanic leaves behind a car kit in the garage. “Tell your mother I’m not coming back-I’ve got all my stuff, or everything I want. I’m sick of the whole thing.” (Paulsen 9) Terry’s father says. Terry pokes around at the car kit a little, and soon he finds himself building the car called “Cat” alone in the garage. Soon enough, the car is built and Terry is on his way to Oregon seeking an uncle he hardly knows. Terry learns very quickly how to drive this car. On his way out West Terry picks up a very strange war veteran named Waylon. He teaches him many things about the world, and life. The two of them pick up one of Waylon’s war buddies on the way. They visit many people and places on thier journey. The story ends when the two men get into a fight and the police come. I think the author did an extremely good job on the whole story-except the ending. The story ends too suddenly! I wanted to know what happened next. I would rocommend this book to anyone who likes cars or somebody with a like for suspense.
Reviewed by Marshall. Grade: 7th Grade in Worthington, -