The Boy Who Lost His Face – Louis Sachar
March 8, 2010 § 13 Comments
Honestly, when I looked at the title of this book, I thought it was going to be scary. I mean, can you imagine what it would be like for a boy to actually lose his face?! How gruesome would that be? I’ve had nightmares like that, seeing people with no face! But on the back cover, I found this:
A wildly funny and thought-provoking book…
Immediately, my brain went “Whoa!” How is a boy losing his face ‘funny’?
As it turns out, the book is immensely hilarious. It starts of with a boy, David, who goes along with his ex-best friend Scott and a couple of ‘cool boys’ to play this prank on an odd old lady. They throw lemonade in her face, break the pitcher, trip her rocking chair so that she falls on her back, causing her underpants to show, and steal her cane. David, having done none of the naughty things, decides to ‘show her the finger’ because he has something to prove. They say she’s a witch, and that she cursed David.
Soon, bad things start to happen. It seems that everything that happened to the old lady is now happening to David. He’s getting all the bad luck for something that he didn’t do. He tries to convince himself that everything’s just a coincidence, but really, is that what it is? Or did the old lady really put a curse on him?
*
The book was a really quick read, and a rather enjoyable one. At the back of my head, I kept thinking, so what has all this got to do with the boy losing his face? How does he lose his face? Does he ever? What’s it going to be like when it happens?
Definitely a funny book, very witty. And for the life of me, I can’t see why this book had been banned/challenged. I’d pass this book on to my 10-year-old cousin if I had one.
Rating: 3.5
su[shu] 
Interesting review! The name of the author rings a bell, but am surprised that the book was banned.
I’m always surprised at the books that get banned. I never understand why.
Interestingly and slightly oddly titles normally sell a book to me that I would have possibly ignored for the premise. This book is the other way round. The title alone made me go ‘oh no I dont think so’ but am glad I read your thoughts as actually it sounds interesting.
I know how you feel about titles. 8 times out of 10 I pick up a book based on how the title just jumps out at me and pulls me in.
Definitely putting this down as one my kids can pick up. I’ve never heard of it before, but they love Sacher!
This is the first book by Sachar, and if your kids love him, I think it’s probably because he writes funny stuff that are at the same time witty as well. Hope you have fun with your kids reading this book.
I love it when a book surprises me with its humour. This does sounds like a fun of fun.
I like good surprises that way as well. That’s kind of what makes reading fun: the surprises.
The title, if thats all I had to go on,would put me off! But the premise sounds interesting, and I’ve read Sachar before and enjoyed it.
It doesn’t sound like there’s much in the way of questionable content, but then I can never understand the need to ban a book rather than discuss whatever issue is raised in it!
No, I don’t think it’s about the content, but I still don’t know what it might be about. I’ve seen books banned based on it ‘not being suitable for intended audience’. When that happens, I’m tempted to ask, why the blanket ban on books some people find unsuitable for their children, while others might think that their children are ready? It’s all a matter of perception, and banning books is just the easy way out of needing to take into account different perceptions.
I finished reading this like a week or so and its really good! Not what i was expecting.. Lol. Um, was it banned?
It was banned in certain parts of the US, I think. Basically for being too gruesome for its targeted readers.
Well … here is the scoop… forget about “it” being hillarious etc… My 10 year old son, was shocked and disturbed by the words dipshit and questions such as how would you like a hammer up your ass? So for now, you know what keep the vulgarity away from 10 year olds!