The Adventures of a "Common Man" vs. the Scientist's Hearing

The story of 'Suspicious Mud' is largely composed of two axes.
One axis is the everyday story of the children at Woodridge Private School.
The main characters are three children: Tamaya, a model student, Chad, a problem child, and Marshall, who is bullied by Chad.
Tamaya, 13 years old, is a good child who has grown up studying well, following rules, and listening to her teachers.
However, he experiences confusion as his friends tease him by calling him a 'normal person'.
Chad, two years older, is a troublemaker who has been kicked out of several schools for causing trouble.
The children look up to Chad, yet fear him.
Marshall is the kid who is out of favor with Chad.
Marshall has always loved school and has shown enthusiasm for everything he does.
But as Chad begins to bully her, each day becomes a series of misfortunes and shame.

Another axis of the story is Sunray Farm.
This place is a farm in name only, but it is actually a research institute developing a fuel to replace gasoline.
Here, microorganisms called 'ergonims' are created through genetic engineering to develop cheap and environmentally friendly fuel.
However, a great disaster strikes when Ergonim, who was expected to be a great hope for humanity, undergoes a mutation.
"Suspicious Mud" is a story that exquisitely weaves together two seemingly incompatible stories.
The story intersects the conflict between scientists and politicians surrounding Ergonim with the events unfolding among teenagers, including Tamaya. The fun of trying to figure out the connection between the two stories, like putting together a puzzle, is truly exceptional.

Children who grow by breaking their own limits

The themes that run through Louis Sachar's work are adventure and growth.
Each of these children, with their own set of problems, embark on an adventure, and through these adventures learn virtues such as tolerance, cleanliness, courage, empathy, dignity, humility, honesty, patience, prudence, and temperance (virtues that are especially emphasized at Woodridge Private School, where the three main characters of "Mysterious Mud" attend). They also grow up realizing the value of friendship and love.
Tamaya, who was passive and old-fashioned, closes her eyes tightly and breaks the school rules to save Chad who is in danger.
Chad, who had a distorted view of the world and bullied other children, opens his heart to Tamaya's sincere touch and honestly reveals his wounds.
Marshall, who was more eager to avoid problems than face them, even risks dipping his toes in the 'suspicious mud' when he learns that Tamaya is in danger.
And the three children who seemed like they would never get along end up becoming close friends.

Which of the two evils will you choose?

"Suspicious Mud" is a young adult novel about the friendship and adventures of three children, but it is also an environmental novel that addresses the serious crises facing modern society.
The various issues presented in the novel, such as the population explosion, energy crisis, biotechnology, epidemics, environmental pollution, and the ethics of scientists, can be called the 'Pandora's box of the 21st century.'
One of the most eye-catching is 'Hobson's Choice', where one must choose between two evils.
In "Suspicious Mud," politicians are torn between the possibility of another great catastrophe and the danger of energy depletion, but ultimately vote unanimously in favor of producing energy sources.
No one can guarantee what consequences that choice will have later.
Although the other series of events were resolved amicably, the work ended with the spark of danger still lingering.

With this, Sacker asks readers who want to close the book with satisfaction, saying that it is a happy ending.
What if the newly commercialized ergonim proliferates and mutates again? What if it encounters a new natural environment and creates another mysterious mud? The "one small ergonim" left behind like a spark at the end once again raises questions that will inevitably persist as long as humanity continues to develop within the limited environment of Earth.
Like Ergonim, artifacts created with good intentions but with bad consequences could be developed in the future, and decisions made by politicians, scientists, and businesspeople could directly impact ordinary people.
So, this work urges us to look steadily and carefully at the problems facing modern society and the decisions made by adults.
In the epilogue, the author's message is conveyed in a scene where the three children leave their everyday space and climb to the top of a tall tree to look out at the world.

- Louis Sachar blends mystery, suspense, and school life into a gripping story that addresses environmental issues.
Publisher's Weekly
- A captivating story that captivates readers while also making them think about the environment.
School Library Journal
- The pages turn in a frenzy.
It quickly shifts from a gripping school story about bullying to a reflection on the vision and dangers of modern science.
Kirkus Review