Martin's new job delivering soda for Pure Spring has some perks: he gets a free soda every day, and he gets to flirt with pretty Gerty McDowell each time he makes a delivery to her grandfather's store. But there's also a problem with the job-Randy, who drives the delivery truck. Randy constantly makes Martin uncomfortable, railing against Jews and Communists and showing him dirty pictures. Most objectionable of all, Randy has been cheating customers (including Gerty's grandfather) and forcing Martin to help.
Summary Martin poses as a sixteen-year-old to take a job as a driver’s helper with Pure Springs. He is assigned to the truck of Randy, a conniving and crude bully. When he learns that Martin has lied to get the job, Randy uses it to blackmail Martin into helping him cheat customers. Martin doesn’t like it, especially because one of the customers is Gerty’s feeble grandfather, and he sets out to make things right. Meanwhile, in a series of flashbacks, we learn how Martin was orphaned and wound up living with Granpa Rip.
Topics Names. Jobs. Age. Lies. Child abuse. Moving. Swindling. Girls. Blackmail. Communism. Senility. Family trips. Spies. Sexual exploits. Pornography. Anti-Semitism. Dinner invitations. World War I. "A Streetcar Named Desire." The Marx Brothers. Honesty. Heartache. Making plans. Restaurants. Autism. Missing documents. Distraction. Mental hospitals. Revenge. Beatings. Escape. Confessions. Death. Happiness.
SRC Level 5.300000
SRC Points 10.000000
Lexile 740L
Trim Size 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Language English
JLG Release Date Apr 2007
Minimum grade 9
Maximum grade 12
Reading level High
Format Print
Young Adult (Grades 9 & Up)
Young Adult
Young Adult (Grades 9 & Up)
For Grades 9 & Up
Your older teen readers will appreciate the 12 selections in this category, a diverse mix of fiction and nonfiction covering complex issues and more mature content, from crushes and body changes to friendships and sibling rivalry.