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Booktalk: Jake's dad is a collector. But he doesn't collect stamps or state quarters or anything like that. He collects...toilets. And chamber pots. And toilet plungers. Anything having to do with toilets or plumbing. Jake's dad wants to open an ATM: an American Toilet Museum. It's his greatest dream. But Jake doesn't think that's such a great idea. Who would want to see a toilet museum all the way out in little-town Patience, Kansas? Then Jake's dad buys something special on E-bay. It's the first toilet plunger ever made and it was made right in Patience, Kansas by Jake's great-great-great grandfather. Unfortunately there is a curse associated with that first-ever plunger. It is said that if the plunger ever came back to Patience, the town would be wiped off the map. Jake is really concerned now. He's afraid for the whole town. What could possibly happen? He's too scared to even sleep in his own house! Jake needs to figure out what to do before the curse runs everyone OUT OF PATIENCE.

This book, in a lot of ways, reminded me of the book "Holes". A small town by the name of Patience has a curse hanging over it. However, I think I liked this book more because of how humorous it was. If you think the book is quirky head over to the authors website for more quirky info.

Summary:

Jake Waters lives in the town of Patience, Kansas. The place was settled by his great, great, great, great-grandfather. Once upon a time the town was properous until the founder married and his wife insisted they have an indoor bathroom like they had in London. To please her he put one in. The town preacher claimed it was the devils work and a gateway to Satan himself. This is where the trouble begins. When the town finds out they are going to be robbed they put all of their treasures in a trunk and have Mr. Water's bury it because they consider him the most honest person in town. He makes a map of its location. When the thieves come to town the blabber mouthed preacher sends them to Mr. Water's house. He is severely beaten for not giving up the information. The problem is he can no longer remember where the map is or the treasure. They tar and feather the preacher and as they run him out of town he curses the town and claims the town will die and it will fall on the heads of Mr. Water's ancestors. Fast forward to present day. Jake is a decendant of the founder. His father is a plumber and is trying to open The American Toilet Museum. It isn't bad enough that their town is made fun of because of the fertilizer plant. His stepmother blows out of town because Jakes father has purchased another item for his museum. It is the infamous Plunger of Destiny. This is the first plunger ever made and the one that created the curse. Jake never believed in the curse before, but now he isn't so sure.
I won't say anymore about the story. It has several twists and turns that made it a great read. I believe the cover alone will cause several of my reluctan readers to pick it up. After all if you saw the face of a kid on a book cover and above his head were gold framed pictures of an old outhouse, a plunger adn an old fashioned toilet wouldn't that entice you? It did me. ( )