The Phantom Tollbooth | Plot Summary

The Phantom Tollbooth Overview

Juster's story is about a boy who is not very interested in anything. Since most young people have, at some time or other, known someone much like the book's hero, Milo, who had too much time on his hands, or as the book describes it, "who didn't known what to do with himself," they should readily identify with the situation.

The Phantom Tollbooth is a book that makes learning fun. Like some young people, Milo does not care much for words or numbers. "I can't see the point in learning to solve useless problems," he says, "or subtracting turnips from turnips, or knowing where Ethiopia is or how to spell February." But meeting people who love learning, and who swear by its importance, makes him wonder.

As he uses words and numbers in his adventure, he begins to realize that learning is vital and necessary. What...
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