The Car [Paperback]

Gary Paulsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995

Terry Anders, a fourteen-year-old boy abandoned by his parents, makes his own way by constructing a car from a kit left in his father's garage and finds himself journeying across the country with a Vietnam vet loner. REprint. PW. AB.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a starred review, PW praised the Newbery Honor author for "his ability to create flesh-and-blood characters" in this story about a 14-year-old who sets out on a road trip and meets up with a Vietnam vet. Ages 12-up. Another Paulsen title, Dancing Carl, is being released simultaneously by Aladdin; $3.95 ISBN 0-689-80410-5. Ages 9-12. (Oct.) q
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-Used to being ignored, Terry, 14, is now alone. His parents have abandoned their marriage, not realizing that they each made the decision at the same time. Armed with a great set of tools, some experience with engines, and a detailed set of instructions, he works night and day on a kit car that his father had begun to assemble in the garage. When the little convertible is complete, he decides to drive from Cleveland to Oregon, where an uncle lives. On the outskirts of town, heavy rain forces him to the roadside. There he is joined by the Shakespeare-quoting Waylon, who is seeking shelter from the storm. The Vietnam vet convinces Terry to let him ride along, and later they are joined by Waylon's army buddy, who rides a Harley Davidson. This curious trio tours the West, encountering hostile rednecks, residents of a religious commune, and a history-teaching hermit, among others. This novel features a simple plot and an easy-to-read text; an intense young boy on his own; and the unmistakable message that one must always continue to learn if one is going to survive. The characters are familiar, and to a degree predictable, but they will be interesting to YAs. Excluding several segments on engines, the action is brisk. Paulsen fans will enjoy the book; those with an interest in cars will love it.
Tim Rausch, Crescent View Middle School, Sandy, UT
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440219183
• ISBN-13: 978-0440219187
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,431,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gary Paulsen is one of the most honored writers of contemporary literature for young readers. He has written more than one hundred book for adults and young readers, and is the author of three Newberry Honor titles: Dogsong, Hatchet, and The Winter Room. He divides his time among Alaska, New Mexico, Minnesota, and the Pacific.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Cat, March 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Car (Hardcover)

The Car by Gary Paulsen is a great novel about growing, rebellion, and America. The book begins in Cleveland, Ohio with a 14 year old boy named Terry. His parents, who spend all of there time arguing, decide to leave one another, coincidently at the same time - leaving Terry at home by himself. In his garage there is a little kit car of his fathers that he was forbidden to work on. Now that he has no supervision he decides to put the car together. Terry decides to go west with his new friend, he calls the "cat" since the car is a Blakely Bearcat, to see his only relative, his uncle. On the way he picks up a hitchhiker named Waylon, not by choice, a Vietnam veteran. Waylon is a "child of the sixties and seventies" and tries to teach Terry about "learning". They head to Wayne's house, who is also a Vietnam Vet and together they all three go "trucking". While "trucking" they learn all sorts of things about America, themselves, and each other. Gary Paulsen who also wrote The Hatchet, along with many other celebrated novels is an excellent author. He explains just enough to give the idea of what is going on, and leave the rest to the reader. Unlike some Authors who detail everything so much you don't even want to finish reading. For this reason I think that Gary Paulsen is one of the best authors ever. His books feel so realistic, probably because he writes from his own experience and has an excellent way to describe it. A possible alternate title that might have been better would have been The Cat, but that might not have caught to many peoples interest.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Car, February 23, 2000

By 

John D. (Anderson, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Car (Hardcover)

A fourteen year old boy named Terry is on a quest. He needs to get from Ohio to Portland, Oregon with two old Vietnam Veterans. Terry ends up with no parents as a result of them not liking each other. He was left all alone. When he found out he was alone he started building a kit car that was given to his father. He plans to drive to an uncle in Portland who he barely knows. Along his way he picks up Wayne and Walon. Both were in the Vietnam War. They wanted to show Terry America, it's wonders, and its people. I think most people would enjoy THE CAR if they would sit down and read. I highly recommend this book to people who especially like Gary Paulsen or who are interested in cars. I hope you will want to read this book after reading my review.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This Was A Great book in every aspect, December 10, 1999

By 

Nick Boelman (Ackley, IA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Car (Hardcover)

Abandoned by both his parents, 14-year-old Terry Anders decides to assemble the pieces of a car kit. The name of the car is a Blakely-Bearcat in which he takes off in. Then he meets Waylon Jackson, a 45-year-old Vietnam veteran who has spent most of the past 20 years trucking around the U.S., after he hopped in the car during a rain storm so that he wouldn't get wet. Their cross-country adventure had great impact on Terry: They go and visit an old man who recites history as if he were a participant, dine at a religious commune, and tour the site of the Battle of Little Big Horn. Waylon is a well-developed character in the book. Flashback memories reveal that a traumatic incident in Vietnam has left him mentally unstable, and references to government checks suggest some kind of permanent disability. Although the trip works well as a metaphor for Terry's journey toward maturity, not all the story's elements are as well developed. Terry's parents seem to exist mostly as a plot device rather than a source of real conflict, and Waylon's homosexuality is mentioned but never explored. Despite these flaws, The Car is a well-written, thoughtful coming-of-age novel.