The Cardturner is a novel written by Newbery Medal winner Louis Sachar and published by Delacorte Press in May 2010.

As a result, he requires a cardturner - someone to read aloud his cards to him - when he plays duplicate bridge.

When Alton returns from his penultimate day at school, his mother agrees to allow him to be the cardturner for Trapp over the summer.

Alton takes Uncle Lester to his bridge club, where he plays with a woman of a similar age named Gloria as his partner.

Alton becomes entangled in the world of bridge, first learning how to play the game and then picking up on common moves.

Alton attempts to befriend Trapp, learning that he once had a bridge partner named Annabel King who was the sister of his wife.

Alton develops a romantic interest towards Toni, and begins to grow suspicious of her relationship with Cliff.

Trapp and Gloria later win the sectional tournament, and Toni calls Alton the next day to ask how it went.

Trapp begins performing well at the regionals, but is almost fifteen minutes late one day, and berates Alton for reading the cards too quickly.

Despite this not having any negative consequences, Trapp refuses to play for the rest of the day, telling Alton - who he finds out has been learning the game - he can take his place.

Despite praise from Gloria, Trapp demands to be taken home immediately, cancelling all his bridge games until the national tournament.

At the service, Alton asks Toni for another game of bridge at the club, where they play substantially better than the first time.

Alton concludes the book by saying that he continues to play bridge, and his relationship with Toni is "unauthorized information".

Toni tells Alton that she can hear her dead grandmother, Annabel King, who instructs her while playing bridge.

[3] Frank Cottrell Boyce of The Guardian writes that "The book feels like one long, deadpan dare, as though Sachar has made a bet with himself that he can make the most boring setting thrilling."

and praises "The genius of Sachar's prose is that it's so plain and unshowy you don't notice the daredevil artistry of his storytelling until it's too late.".

[4] The New York Times suggests that The Cardturner "might be young adult literature’s first novel best read with an experienced partner and a full deck.".

[6] It received the 2010 Alan Truscott Memorial Award from the International Bridge Press Association (IBPA).