Mudshark

This book is a 2010 Blubonnet Award Nominee

Exposition: This is a fun story about a boy nicknamed Mudshark due to his his agility and quickness in a sport called Death Ball. Mudshark is also incredibly cool, not because of his clothes but because he is a thinker. He can solve problems like nobody's business. His observational skills are off the chart. In the school that he attends his classmates are quick to come to him when they have a problem.

Conflict: Mudshark is the number-one-go-to-guy for his fellow classmates when it comes to solving problems. However, the eccentric librarian at the school, Ms. Underdorf, brings a parrot into the library as a school pet. This parrot can solve problems just as quick as Mudshark and soon his classmates are going to the parrot for assistance. Mudshark also notices that strange events are occurring around the school. Specifically, all the erasers are missing.

Rising Action: Mudshark collects clues while observing his classmates behaviors. Kyle is becoming increasingly good at magic, especially in making things disappear. Betty can make some pretty stinky concoctions in the science lab, and the custodian, Bill, is receiving strange packages.  

Climax: Mudshark discovers Bill has been taking the erasers. He doesn't like things of beauty being erased from the chalkboards. He also discovers the parrot stealthily escapes and explores the hallways. That is why he is so knowledgeable.

Falling Action: Ms. Underdorf declares that electronic blackboards are going to be installed. Bill is thrilled that things can now be stored and not erased. With the help of Kyle, Betty, Ms. Underdorf, and Bill, Mudshark is able to get all the erasers back into the classrooms.

Resolution: The schoolboard approved electronic blackboards for every classroom. The parrot was sent away due to Bill's allergies.

This is a fun story that has disappearing cars, a pet armadillo that is really a change purse, an art-loving custodian, and a cool boy that wears poodle sweaters to school. It uses several repeat and rhyming terms to grab the attention of the reader. A boy is named Risdon Risdon, triplets named Sara, Kara, and Tara, and the Amazing Armadillo. It also has some great figurative language. Written on the chalkboard was, "I can hear the color green and taste the color blue."

Paulsen, G. (2009). Mudshark. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.