Lyle Williams, nicknamed Mudshark by his classmates, is the go-to guy at school for finding lost items and solving small mysteries. His mind is always working....his memory is amazing. He can remember where he saw lost items and solve almost any mystery or problem. Pretty good for a 12-year old, eh? But he finds himself with a feathered rival when the school librarian gets a parrot. The parrot seems to be psychic. It can answer kids' questions about lost homework and misplaced books faster than Mudshark can. Rumors shoot around the school in lightning speed that the bird can out-think Mudshark. Will he lose his cool reputation at school? And, if he's being out manuvered by a bird who will find the escaped gerbil, solve the mystery of the faculty restroom and discover why erasers are disappearing from classrooms? Mudshark is on the case.....before he loses to a psychic parrot!

This book is incredibly cute and funny. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for months, waiting for me to notice it and start reading. I'm SO glad I finally took the time to read this delightful children's book! This is the first book by Gary Paulsen that I have read....I will definitely be reading more of his writing! Mudshark is a great main character. He likes his position at school....his reputation as an amazing brain. And he gets quite ruffled when he realizes his place might be usurped by a bird. The mysteries he solves are a hoot -- like the kid who wanted to be a magician and made his father's new car disappear.....then couldn't make it re-appear. :) Mudshark solved that problem quickly. :) (Never have a 16-year old cousin "help'' you do magic tricks!)

Sometimes I have to take a break from more serious adult reading. Those are the times I just love to read some children's lit. Stories like this make reading fun.....and clear the mind from more serious adult-type thoughts. I had a wonderful time sipping my morning coffee and enjoying this tale of middle school mysteries and challenges. :)

Fun read! ( )

I had to read Mudshark for a library class and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised by both its humor and its indomitable spirit.

My favorite things about the book are the beginning parts of almost every chapter where the school principal makes the most hysterical public announcements ("...and if you see the gerbil, would you please try to herd it toward room two oh six?")

Great writing made me jot down quotes such as:

-"It was all in the way your thoughts ran through your mind, the way you managed the flow of electrical charges jumping from one brain cell to another to form ideas."

-"The one thing that I knew was that I wanted to live in a way that could never possibly hurt another person or creature. Where I could spend the rest of my life seeking beauty. And joy."

And some of the laugh-out-loud scenes include a lost cat (Toby) being taken in a by a new owner and renamed Mr. Cuddles while lounging in a chair and being feed steak.

There are even tender moments where the school custodian (a really great guy called Bill) "whispers a request about where to find true love." He ends bonding with the school librarian Ms. Underdorf who is "wonderfully unhinged."

The sweet wackiness of Mudshark makes this a keeper! :)


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Mudshark is the boy that can find anything, but when the librarian gets a pesky new pet Mudshark has some competition. This book is a cute story that will help students know that it is okay for more than on "person"to be good at one thing. I highly recommend this book to all grades for both whole group or independent reading. ( )

This book is about a boy named Mudshark.
Weird name, right?
Well, he finds things.
Lost a shoe? Your phone? Your book?
He will find it with no questions asked.
But when the librarian gets a new parrot, Mudshark has some competition!

I give this book 4 stars.
I would of gave the book 5 stars if it had more humor.
The characters were good too, even the parrot.
But i wouldn't read it again.
That's my review on this book. ( )

A silly, fanciful, and fun book about a boy who thinks all the time, and remembers where to find lost items. ( )