Paulsen, Gary.
LAWN BOY
New York : Wendy Lamb, 2007
IL YA
ISBN 0385746865

(5 booktalks)

What would an average boy want for his 12th birthday?  Well, this one gets an old riding lawnmower from his grandmother.  It had belonged to his grandfather and is old but works.  And now he has a job mowing lawns.  Actually, he has lots of jobs mowing lawns.  Each job brings more offers.  He can't possibly keep up with all the work.  When aging hippie Arnold offers to barter for lawn care, things change dramatically.  Arnold is a day trader and agrees to invest in the stock market in lieu of payment.  And then helps expand the lawn business.

Booktalk #2

One day you are 12 years old, broke and wondering where you are going to get the money to buy an inner tube for your 10-speed bike.  Now you have your own business, employees and you are rich, VERY rich.  And it all started with your grandpa’s old used riding lawnmower that your grandma gave you for your 12th birthday.  With help from a neighbor, who is a stockbroker, Duane learns about capitalism, the laws of supply and demand plus how to be a sponsor for a heavyweight boxer.  Anybody need a little extra money?   (New Hampshire Great Stone Face nominee, 2008-2009)

Booktalk #3

Have you ever thought how you can earn money so fast, well Arnold is a 12 year old boy, who is out of money?  Now Arnold decided to earn some money by mowing a couple of his neighbor’s lawns, with his grandfather’s mower.  So as the grass had gotten bigger, so did Arnolds wallet.  Now Arnold has some money to invest in, one of the things that Arnold had invested in was a professional fighter.  So now he is sponsored by Joey POW, the fighter.  Soon Arnold had been making millions of Dollars.  He invested in a couple more things like buying his parents things.  I recommend this book to people who like adventure books.  When I started reading this book, I've never wanted to stop, it’s a great book. (Dominic, student)

Booktalk #4

When a 12 year old boy gets a riding mower for his birthday he isn't very happy at all, but he decides to make the best of it. So he fixes the mower and decides to cut a few lawns for some extra money, and also to help his poor and needy family.
At first his business is small with a few houses and he's making  a little bit of money. Until one day he meets a new customer (Arnoald) get with the company , This 12 year old boys life will never be changed again.
This is a fast eliciting book that has an sup rising ending. A story about a young man that is helping his family, but does is work out in the end or will he fail miserably. It is a short reads that you can read for fun or in your spare time. I think the person who should read this book would be a person who likes realistic fiction. I love this book and I think you should read Lawn Boy By: Gary Paulsen. (Tyler L., K-12 student)

Booktalk #5

The book Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen is about a twelve year old boy who mows one persons lawn, and everything gets out of hand. His grandpa gives him his old riding lawn mower so he can make some money, but that’s when things get out of hand.

He has a client named Arnold. Who is a stock broker that offers to teach the main character about the beauty of capitalism. Over time the has 15 employees and, his company assets include stock in a coffin company, and an investment in a prized fighter.  

The book is very funny and very short. The main character tells the story in 3rd person throughout the whole book. I think that Gary Paulsen did a great job of description, but during the whole book Gary Paulsen never says the main characters name once. I though that was unusual. I recommend this book to people who like social studies, but I
liked the book and I really don't like social studies. So it depends on the person who reads the book.  (Ameer, K-12 student)