Tiltawhirl John — Gary Paulsen

You have to take sides to survive -- even if the choice tears you apart. From the Newbery Honor winning author of Hatchet,

His uncle wants him to stay home and work the farm, but the boy knows there's a world out there he has to see. Yet being a runaway means you're outside the law -- you're fair game. That's how he gets caught on the farm gang. There seems to be no way out, that is until Tiltawhirl John picks him up and teaches him how to be a carnie. How to stay one step ahead of the suckers. But there's one man from the past even T-John can't keep ahead of.