Flat Broke: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Greed

Written by Gary Paulsen

Narrated by Joshua Swanson

As a punishment for lying, Kevin has lost his allowance. He doesn’t lie now, but he’s broke. He’s got to find a way to make money. Lots of it, so he can impress Tina Zabinski, the World’s Most Beautiful Girl, and ask her on a date.

So Kevin gets creative—and his life becomes a financial comedy of errors. Does he really have what it takes to get filthy rich at age fourteen?

In Gary Paulsen’s hilarious follow-up to Liar, Liar, Kevin’s schemes lead him into situations that are sweet, some that are sticky, and some that are downright stinky.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Jul 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781455814190

Gary Paulsen

<P>GARY PAULSEN (1939 - 2021) wrote nearly two hundred books for young people, including the Newbery Honor Books<em> Hatchet, Dogsong,</em> and <em>The Winter Room. </em></P>

Reviews for Flat Broke

[reader1009-863136 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

middlegrade fiction (14 y.o. boy's money making schemes get out of hand); series fiction.

[agrudzien_5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

After his lying idea didn't pan out too well, Kevin is stuck paying for his own driver's ed...but he's also not allowed to work for his Auntie Buzz. How will he ever save up enough money? And so Kevin does what he does best: schemes. He's got businesses he's running, businesses he's just taking money from, and businesses that might not be all too legal...but he is making money. At least he is until they start to fall apart.

Oh the schemes this boy comes up with! Like Liar, Liar, this book works out a little too neatly for it to feel real, but the story and lesson are enjoyable and quite funny.

[kimpiddington · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked that Paulson followed a similiar structure to the companion novel Liar, Liar. Once again, first chapter makes great read aloud.