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THE BAMBOOZLERS by Michael de Guzman

THE BAMBOOZLERS

by Michael de Guzman

Pub Date: Nov. 5th, 2005
ISBN: 0-374-30512-9
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

When this charming, loose-limbed, fairy-grandfather story begins, Albert Rosegarden, a 12-year-old boy who lives with his hardworking waitress mother, has just been suspended from school for insulting his teacher. Then Albert’s grandfather, a two-bit, silver-tongued swindler, breezes in from nowhere and takes Albert on a life-changing journey. The two of them wind up in Seattle, where Wendell has an old score to settle with a bad apple named Reo Bascom. Along with a tiny three-legged dog and a host of colorful Runyonesque helpers, Wendell sets the scene for one last scam, but a heart episode forces him onto the sidelines. Albert gamely takes over, learning competence and confidence in the process, and winning the accolade of “first class bamboozler” from his grandfather. Suspense is limited as the outcome of the con is never in doubt, and some might have misgivings as to exactly what lessons are being taught and learned. Still, the story hums, the slightly bittersweet ending is fitting and the characters are so affable that the reader just goes with it. (Fiction. 10-12)