Books like Dancing Carl by Gary Paulsen
The story begins in the snowy town of McKinley, Minnesota, where the rhythm of the season is measured by hockey games on the local rinks and the music of scratchy phonograph records played by adults. At twelve, Marsh and his best friend Willy stumble upon Carl, a mysterious figure who appears at the rink clad in a battered leather flight jacket. Carl’s dance is a strange, beautiful spectacle that captivates the boys—and carries a terrible secret. As Marsh and Willy dig deeper, they learn that Carl’s movement masks a profound struggle that threatens to destroy him. A small miracle turns his dance into a delicate expression of hope, illustrating the healing power of love and friendship.
First publish date: 1983
Genre: Young Adult Fiction/YA Contemporary Fiction
Authors: Gary Paulsen
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