Louis Sachar - Kidnapped at Birth?

He knew in his bones it was true. He could feel his royal blood swirling around inside him. I was kidnapped the day I was born, he said. I was just a baby but I can remember now. The kidnappers hid me in a hospital. and Mrs. and Mrs.

Redpost took me home from the hospital by mistake. You remember this? asked Mrs. North. From when you were one day old? Its kind of a haze, Marvin admitted. I dont remember exactly what the kidnappers looked like. One of them had a big black mustache.

The Marvin Redpost series by Louis Sachar Marvin Redpost #1 Kidnapped at Birth?
Marvin Redpost #2 Why Pick on Me?
Marvin Redpost #3 Is He a Girl?
Marvin Redpost #4 Alone in His Teachers House
Marvin Redpost #5 Class President
Marvin Redpost #6 A Flying Birthday Cake?
Marvin Redpost #7 Super Fast, Out of Control!
Marvin Redpost #8 A Magic Crystal? More books by Louis Sachar! The Boy Who Lost His Face
Dogs Dont Tell Jokes
Holes
Stanley Yelnats Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake
Theres a Boy in the Girls Bathroom

Text copyright 1992 by Louis Sachar.
Illustrations copyright 1992 by Neal Hughes.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published in the United States by Random House Childrens Books, a division of
Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House
of Canada Limited, Toronto. www.randomhouse.com/kids Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sachar, Louis. Marvin Redpost : kidnapped at birth? / by Louis Sachar;
illustrated by Neal Hughes.
p cm. A stepping stone book.
SUMMARY : Red-haired Marvin is convinced that the reason he looks different from the rest of his family is that he is really the lost prince of Shampoon.
eISBN: 978-0-307-79714-8
[1. RedheadsFiction. 2.

PrincesFiction. 3. Family lifeFiction.
4. Humorous stories.]
I. Hughes, Neal, ill. II.

Title.
PZ7.S1185Ki 1992 [Fic]dc20 91-51105 Random House, Inc. New York, Toronto, London, Sydney, Auckland RANDOM HOUSE and colophon are registered trademarks and A STEPPING STONE BOOK and colophon are trademarks of Random House, Inc. v3.1 Dedicated to Rebecca and Sam,
with special thanks to their parents

The End Marvin Redpost put down his pencil. He was the first one done. He took his report to Mrs. Mrs. Mrs.

North looked at it. I cant read this, she said. He had to copy it over. Neater this time, Marvin, said Mrs. North. Marvin frowned.

He was in the third grade. His class had been learning cursive writing. Its because Im left-handed, Marvin complained. Its impossible to write neatly when youre left-handed. Everything is backwards. North. North.

Oh, said Marvin. Were lucky to be left-handed, said Mrs. North. It means we have royal blood. She smiled at him. Youd write neater if you slowed down, she said.

It isnt a race. He returned to his seat. He picked up his pencil and wrote as fast as he could. He had to write twice as fast this time, just to catch up with everyone else. He had to write a report on something he read in Current Events. Current Events was a newspaper for children.

This is what Marvin wrote. The King of Shampoon is looking for his lost son. The sons name is Prince Robert. Prince Robert was kidnapped the day he was born. That was nine years ago. Prince Robert is nine years old.

He has red hair and blue eyes. Unless hes dead. The King is going all around the world looking for his lost son. He hopes he isnt dead. So do I. This week the King is in Washington, D.C.

The End Marvin finished writing just as the bell rang for recess. He gave his report to Mrs. North, then ran outside to play wall-ball. Marvin was nine years old. He had red hair. He had blue eyes.

He lived in a small town, not too far from Washington, D.C.

Marvin had two best friends, Stuart Albright and Nick Tuffle. After school they all went to Stuarts house. Put your dog outside, said Nick. Nick was brave. He once rode his bike full speed down Suicide Hill.

But he was afraid of Fluffy, Stuarts little white dog. Marvin petted Fluffy. Careful, hes going to bite you, said Nick. Fluffy growled at Nick. Hes a good dog, said Marvin. Fluffy licked Marvins fingers.

Stuart put Fluffy outside. Whered you get that stupid dog? asked Nick. Fluffys not stupid, said Stuart. He is too, said Nick. He looks like a rat that ran through a cotton candy machine. We got him at the pound, said Stuart.

I picked him out myself. Well, you picked the wrong dog, said Nick. I did not! Did too. Marvin was afraid theyd get into a fight. Nick and Stuart were always getting into fights. I think my parents picked the wrong baby, Marvin said.

Huh? asked Nick. What? said Stuart. At the hospital, said Marvin. They took the wrong baby home. Theyre not really my parents. He had been thinking about this all day.

He didnt really believe it. He just wanted to keep his best friends from fighting. I was kidnapped the day I was born, said Marvin. Youre Prince Robert! exclaimed Stuart. Stuart was smart. It sometimes amazed Marvin how quickly he caught on to things.

Say what? asked Nick. Marvins parents are really the King and Queen of Shampoon, Stuart explained. Wait a second, said Nick. Mr. and Mrs. Redpost? No way! No, said Stuart.

Dont you remember what we read in Current Events? The Prince was kidnapped at birth. So? said Nick. So Marvin is really Prince Robert, said Stuart. Say what? said Nick. I have red hair and blue eyes, said Marvin. Everyone else in my family has brown hair and brown eyes.

And Im left-handed. That means I have royal blood. Wait a second, said Nick. If your parents are the King and Queen of Shampoon, then how did you end up in the hospital here? Marvin thought a moment. He hadnt figured that part out. Simple! said Stuart.

The kidnappers had to hide the baby somewhere. Well, what better place to hide a baby than with a bunch of other babies in a hospital? Thats right! said Marvin. Or, said Stuart, maybe your parents didnt get you at the hospital. Maybe youre adopted. They just havent told you. I bet you thats it! said Nick.

The kidnappers left you in a garbage bin. Then a policeman found you and took you to an orphanage. And then Mr. and Mrs. Redpost adopted you. and Mrs. and Mrs.

Redpost might be the kidnappers. Youll get to live in a castle! said Nick. And youll have a hundred servants. Youll never have to make your bed again. Marvin shrugged. Youll have so much money, said Nick.

You could buy anything you want. You walk into a store. You see something you want. You just buy it. You could buy a car! Marvin laughed. Im too young to drive, he said.