The Cardturner

Alton’s mother insists that Uncle Lester is their favourite relative. He also happens to be their richest. When the blind, cranky old man takes a ‘turn for the worse’, Alton is summoned to help him play bridge at his club by turning over and identifying his cards. Seventeen-year-old Alton smells a summer of boredom, while his mother sniffs wills. But acting as his uncle’s eyes, Alton learns a lot more than the rules of bridge.

This tender, whimsical book, by the bestselling author of Holes and a self-confessed bridge nut, lifts the lid on family tragedy while unveiling a world of trumps, tricks, quacks and discards. Although the bridge details may baffle, they are separated from the main story by the picture of a whale (read the book) and summarised in boxes, allowing readers to choose their focus. With his elegant, honest prose and extraordinary take on the ordinary, Sachar’s journey to the fuzzy fringes of reality is convincing and captivating. Wise, warm and witty, The Cardturner is a quirky tale of love, discovery and growth that will delight bridge doyens and yes, dummies, alike.