Trouble

By: Gary D. Schmidt

Narrated by: Jason Culp

Length: 9 hrs

Publisher's Summary

Henry Smith's father told him that if you build your house far enough away from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you.

But Trouble comes careening down the road one night in the form of a pick-up truck that strikes Henry's older brother, Franklin.

In the truck is Chay Chouan, a young Cambodian from Franklin's preparatory school. The tragedy sparks racial tensions in the school - and in the town where Henry's family has lived for generations.

Caught between anger and grief, Henry does the only thing he feels he can: he sets off for Mt. Katahdin, which he and Franklin had planned to climb together. One July morning, he leaves for Maine with his best friend and the loveable stray, Black Dog, in tow. But when they encounter Chay Chouan on the road, fleeing demons of his own, Henry learns that turning a blind eye to Trouble only brings Trouble closer.

With moments of humor, tenderness, and remarkable strength, Henry and Chay travel a path to the mountain that neither of them expects.

©2008 Gary D. Schmidt (P)2008 Scholastic Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Contains Schmidt's eloquent language and compelling characters as well as compassionate examinations of the passage from childhood to adulthood." ( School Library Journal)
"Tautly constructed, metaphorically rich, emotionally gripping and seductively told." ( Publishers Weekly)
"A deeply moving and pleasurable read." ( Kirkus Reviews)

A Well Woven Narrative

Characters in this story make important journeys--individually and together--through inner landscapes of personal meaning and a social topography that includes racism, xenophobia, economic inequality and the awkwardness of adolescence. This novel is rich and meaningful, although some of the issues related to racism were presented in a stilted and stereotypical manner.

Regardless, each main character faced his/her inner self in the light of disturbing life events and emerged changed, and no longer living in isolation but in community.

This is an excellent book and is well worth a listen.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

THE BEST

Where does Trouble rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Number 1. I loved this book. I've listened to at least 40 audiobooks and this is still my favorite. It's easy to listen to, pick up any time and not lose your place and it's a feel good book. I wish there were more like it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Trouble?

When the boy rescued the dog.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Nice read

I liked this book because it has a lot of symbolism and things that you can interpret for yourself also it has a lot of life lessons that should be learned.

I love this book!

This is the best book I have ever read! This book was amazing and I would like to thank Jason for the reading and making it a whole lot faster for me to read! Thanks so much!

Not for me

I absolutely loved The Wednesday Wars, but this book seems 180 degrees from that in both spirit and narration. It was read in a wooden tone that plodded. Less than an hour in, a dog nearly drowns, is rescued by the protaganist and then brought to his home where it is kicked violently by the father.

I assume from the good reviews that there is redemption eventually, but I couldn't get that far. I'm not squeamish, but this was just too much of a feel-bad story for me to want to continue.

Great book.

The narrator was slower than i would like, but the book was amazing and the ending was dull. None the less, i loved THE BOOK.

Pretty Good

Would you try another book from Gary D. Schmidt and/or Jason Culp?

Possibly...this had my interest in and out

Would you be willing to try another book from Gary D. Schmidt? Why or why not?

possibly

Would you listen to another book narrated by Jason Culp?

yes

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

If the character development were better

Any additional comments?

Overall a pretty good book, I wish I had learned even more about Jay.