PAY ATTENTION, CARTER JONES by Gary D. Schmidt

Life takes a strange turn the day Carter Jones opens the front door and met the Butler. Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick takes charge of the Jones household. There will no longer be meals in front of the TV. The usual sugary cereal for breakfast is replaced by steel-cut oatmeal with cream. Carter and his three sisters are delivered to school in an eggplant colored Bentley that draws more attention than Carter wants.

The Butler expects good manners, proper English, and regular walks for Nate the family dachshund. All of this is a bit of a surprise for Carter and his sisters, but his mother welcomes the organization and stability. Carter's father is currently deployed in Germany, and the death of his younger brother Currier still has everyone dealing with painful memories.

Basically, Carter sees the Butler as "a pain in the glutes." This feeling intensifies when the Butler organizes a cricket team and insists that Carter and his schoolmates learn how to play this strange but traditional game of England. Sixth grade Carter is shocked when the Butler suggests the eighth graders on the cross country team should be involved as well. Carter knows well that sixth graders don't mix with eighth graders, but he is about to learn the Butler can handle anything.

Author Gary D. Schmidt shows readers that proper behavior and being a gentleman can create the confidence needed to deal with impossible situations. Quirky characters, humor, and a healthy bit of competition combine to entertain as well as inform in PAY ATTENTION, CARTER JONES. I confess I still don't have a working understanding of the game of cricket, but it makes me interested in learning more.