First published 1995
Albert is the new boy at school, and he's eager to fit in. Sid, the class troublemaker, takes him under his wing, regaling him with outlandish stories - the most unbelievable of which is the tale of the dreaded Japanese "marble crusher," a machine so powerful it can grind even the sturdiest of toys into dust. At first, Albert is enthralled, but as Sid's lies spiral out of control, he begins to wonder if there's any truth to the rumors. When the school's obsession with the marble crusher reaches a fever pitch, Albert must decide whether to expose Sid's deception or let the legend take on a life of its own.
Genres: fiction, school-stories, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
96 pages · Paperback · Farshore