Carl and his dad have different ideas on the word ‘Rich’. Dad believes they are rich on experiences of life, time,  the way they are looking after the world by recycling, and rebuilding things, and bartering for what they need instead of paying with money.

Dad’s view on life was easy to believe in and follow when Carl was younger but now he is nearly thirteen and trying to catch the attention of a girl at school, garage sale clothes and dumpster diving doesn’t quite cut it.

With his best friend Pooder alongside, Carl decides he is going to retrain his dad out of garage sale trawling, bartering his time and skills for useless items they’ll never use and giving him things that any normal-nearly-teen wouldn’t wear even on threat of their life!

A puppy training pamphlet is his guide and while in desperation to have the special girl notice him, Dad seems oblivious to his son’s goal. He even finds more reasons to raid dumpsters which inadvertently puts Carl right where he doesn’t want to be – where everyone can see him.

Will he ever wear normal clothes? Will dad ever behave a little more like normal dads? Will Carl impress the girl?

By the author of Hatchet, this story of growing up with a different lifestyle to his peers is really funny. The main character Carl is determined to show his dad a better way of life from his bartering and dumpster diving ways.

Carl’s best friend Pooder is always standing by, supporting Carl with pieces of advice, whilst constantly looking for ways to ‘make coin’. Once Pooder decides on an idea, he commits 110 percent no matter how many times things go wrong. Toss in a wily pitbull called Carol, a dad who loves rebuilding and tinkering with things – especially engine fuel systems, and a girl Carl is trying to impress, and you have a hilarious read.

Narrated directly to the reader and often going off on funny tangents and explanations, I really felt for Carl and his predicaments.

Author – Gary Paulsen

Age – 10+

Read an Excerpt here

(Funny, Humour, Dumpsters, Recycling, Garage Sales, Harely Davidson, Pitt bull terrier, Dog, Best mates, Friend, Dad, Father, Impress a girl, Rebuilding, Eco life, Growing Up, Animals)