Lawn Boy / Gary Paulsen 96 p.

A tale of a 12-year old's venture into the free-market economy is so believable and funny.  Grandmother gives Lawn Boy a used riding lawn mower.  One customer after another is added until a staff of 15 is needed. Arnold, customer and stock broker, pays with stocks and knowledge of local connections.  From earning enough to buy a inner tube to making thousands in a summer is enough to make one's head spin--  add in shares in a prizefighter, a hostile takeover and this 12-year old is flying high.   Loads of humor, great funny story about boys...don't miss the chapter titles, i.e., Capitol Growth Coupled with the Principles of Production Expansion and Conflict Resolution and Its Effects on Economic Policy.