The Car

by Gary Paulsen

Book Overview

Neglected by his parents, fourteen-year-old Terry Anders is used to taking care of things on his own. He even manages to assemble a car kit by himself. When the car is finished, Terry sets off from Cleveland to Portland in search of an uncle he barely remembers. Along the way, he is joined by a wise Vietnam vet who turns his journey into an adventure in learning.

Each book includes a reader's guide.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152058273
• ISBN13: 9780152058272
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.4" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

alone, and discovering America in order to discover himself

Gary Paulsen makes an enjoyable read for both young adults and adults. Terry Anders has never really had peace or stability in his life, his parents hate one another, his mother chances are having an affair with a man, they tolerate him at the best of times, his father a mechanic hates his vocation so much to the point that when a client pays him for work he did that he's paid with a George Blakey Bearcat kit car and Terry wants to build it he's told, "Let it rot, I want it as a reminder to me to get the money up front." Then one weekend after a particularly loud argument Terry wakes up to discover that his parents have abandoned the marriage, the house, and him. When he receives calls from bill collectors for utilities, Terry occupies himself by building the car, putting on a license plate from his father's garage it, and then after gathering up his tool box, clothes, and money from mowing lawns and then begins the trek cross country to Portland. He meets a hitchhiking Vietnam Vet who with his former platoon mate artist biker begin traveling America with him, mostly to make sure he's safe, and to show him the beauty of America and its people to shape him into the man he must and need be.

The Cat

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.

Trucking

Trucking. That's one of the things this book is about. Terry, Waylon, and Wayne, the main characters of this book, use the term "trucking" to describe what they do: travel to learn.The plot of this book is that, Terry, Waylon, and Wayne go trucking all across the United States. They go to all sorts of cool places. Some are good and some are bad. And they're not just trucking for fun; they're doing it for knowledge. They want to learn more, about people and the world.I think this book's message is this: Don't do somthing just for fun, do it also to learn. I think this is a good message. Every experience in life is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and the world. Terry, Waylon, and Wayne learn many important lessons about history, money, and friendship.I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. This is definitely a great book for someone who likes cars and adventure. If anyone asks me for a good book to read, I will tell them about The Car.

One of Gary Paulsen's Greatests

Fourteen Year-Old Terry Anders had just gotten off the phone with his mom and dad, both saying that they were tired of fighting with each other, and that they were going to leave Terry in the hands of the other parent. Terry was home alone. He liked not hearing tham fight. Later that day, he started putting together a 1974 Blakely Bearcat, which was a kit car. Terry then decided that he was going to drive the car. One problem, he didn't have a license to drive the car. So he starts on his journey and meets two interesting characters, Wayne and Waylon. They teach him to "LEARN". Gary Paulsen uses very well written descriptions that put you right there with what is happening. One example would be when Terry got the phone call, you could imagine what he was thinking. He has a very good word choice, and makes you think about what you just read. Like when Wayne and Waylon tell Terry to "LEARN" in life. The book left me with one question, am I learning all I can in life? This is a great book of adventure and endless possibilities.

A really great read!

The Car is about a fourteen-year-old boy whose parents abandon him and he builds a kit car. He decides to go to Portland where his uncle lives. He meets a man named Waylon and goes on the adventure of his life, forgetting his parents and his uncle. The Car is an excellent book and I loved it. Gary Pulsen was good at telling how the characters felt. Cat is the coolest car I have ever seen. It sounds like the kind of car I would want . I have read My Side Of The Mountain. It was about a boy who goes on a adventure, but I think the Car was much better. The book is suspenseful and it feels like you know the characters.It was the best book ever. The Car is very easy to understand. Over all it was a good book for young adults.

the greatest book ever

i never wanted to read this book.i was forced to at first i didn't read it.One day i had nothing to do i picked up the book and started reading. it was the best book i ever read.