World Book Day Book Review by the Hobbit
Book: Cardboard
Author: Doug TenNapel
Publication Date: 2012
Suggested Age: I would suggest 12 and up. (the book has some pretty scary scenes and deals with the aftermath of a mother’s death. Overall the themes are for young adult to adult)
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Summary: Cam’s father Mike is out of work, and his birthday is the next day. Mike, a widower, is searching for anything to give his son when a mysterious stranger offers him a cardboard box…..
Cardboard Review:
This book has a lot of “Twilight Zone” to it. Mike is isolated – he is trapped in the memory of his dead wife, and financially trapped in an economy where there is no work. Cam is, in turn, not only affected by this – but by the taunts of his wealthy neighbor Marcus. Mike accepts a cardboard box since he has no money to buy Cam anything else for his birthday. The twist? When you make something out of the cardboard it comes to life. Mike, Cam, and Marcus are all going to face challenges from this that will affect the course of the lives.
The book deals with some real issues – both for young adults and adults. Loss, grieving, moving beyond grief, economic difficulties (see discussion question on what makes you wealthy), responsibility, what is truly courageous, etc. There is a strong emphasis on family – Mike and Cam are close to each other and support each other.
There is a fascinating discussion about what makes us human about 2/3 of the way through the book. So – it is a fun read, and can be just that – but it can also be a very meaty read. It is a book that deserves to be read more than once.
Discussion questions:
(1) Marcus has a lot of money and Cam does not. Who is really richer? Which one would you rather be? Why?
(2) Marcus, Cam, and cardboard Marcus talk about why cardboard Marcus is not just cardboard. Cam says that “we are not trapped by what we are made of”. In other words, we are more than flesh and blood, more than just atoms. What makes you more than just a physical body? How would you explain this to a friend?
(3) This theme – we are more – is further carried out in the book by the cardboard boxer Bill, who sacrifices himself to save the others. Is Bill just cardboard? Is he something else? Does what happens at the end of the book affect your answer? Why?
(4) Marcus cries out to his father that, “I’m bad. I don’t want to be bad anymore. Help me.” Does everyone have bad in them? Do most of us want to be good and not bad? Who can help us with that?
Check out the book here…
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