One day I was 12 years old and broke. Then Grandma gave me Grandpa's old riding lawnmower. I set out to mow some lawns. More people wanted me to mow their lawns. And more and more. . . . One client was Arnold the stockbroker, who offered to teach me about "the beauty of capitalism. Supply and Demand. Diversify labor. Distribute the wealth." "Wealth?" I said. "It's groovy, man," said Arnold.
If I'd known what was coming, I might have climbed on my mower and putted all the way home to hide in my room. But the lawn business grew and grew. So did my profits, which Arnold invested in many things. And one of them was Joey Pow the prizefighter. That's when my 12th summer got really interesting.
On sale: March 24, 2009
Age: 8-12 years
Grade: Grades 6-8
Page count: 96 Pages
ISBN: 9780553494655
Reading level: Lexile: 780L | Fountas/Pinnell: V
Gary Paulsen is the distinguished author of many critically acclaimed books for young people, His most recent books are
The Legend of Bass Reeves,
Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day,
The Time Hackers, and
The Amazing Life of Birds. He lives in New Mexico and Alaska.
Starred review, Booklist, April 15, 2007:
"[A] short and hilarious tale . . . When it comes to telling funny stories about boys, no one surpasses Paulsen, and here he is in top form."
“Paulsen has mastered the very hard trick of sounding exactly like a twelveyear- old without being either cute or condescending.”
—The New York Times Book Review
