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Pivotal
Kids Book
The Big Splash
 |
by
Jack D. Ferraiolo |
Ages: 9-11
Review
Welcome to Franklin Middle School, where a junior gang
of petty thieves and mobsters shakes kids down and
humiliates them with water guns. Seventh-grader Matt
Stevens, the class detective, is hired by fellow middle-schooler
Vinny Biggs (something of a pint-sized Godfather) to
recover a lost trinket from Nikki "Fingers," one of the
fastest shots in school. Nikki has decided to go
straight because her younger sister has entered the
school. This knock-off noir kicks in when Nikki, about
to hand over the charm to Matt, is "taken out" - soaked
in a place to make it look like she's had an accident.
This humiliation, a highly visible and common practice,
immediately turns victims into social outcasts. Matt's
detective instincts tell him that Vinny may have set him
up, and he sets out to learn who was really behind this
act. Matt Stevens may turn out to be a bankable
franchise: His first-person present-tense narration
carries in it echoes of Marlowe, and the simple plot
makes some crafty twists and turns as it goes along. (Kirkus Reviews)
Product Description
Snappy, pulp-inspired noir set in the mean
hallways of middle school, from an exciting debut
author.
The treacherous, hormone-soaked hallways of Franklin
Middle School are the setting for this sharp, funny
noir novel about tough guys and even tougher girls.
“The Frank” is in the clutches of a crime syndicate
run by seventh-grader Vinny “Mr. Biggs” Biggio, who
deals in forged hall passes and black-market candy.
Double-cross him and your number is punched by one
of his deadly water-gun-toting assassins. One hit in
the pants and you are in “the Outs” forever. Matt
Stevens is a proud loner with his own code of
justice. He’s avoided being pulled into Vinny’s
organization until now: Mr. Biggs has offered him a
job he can’t resist, one that leads to the
surprising downfall of Vinny’s top assassin, the
beautiful and deadly Nikki “Fingers” Finnegan, at
the hands of an unknown assailant. Matt thinks he
was used, and he becomes determined to find the
trigger-guy or -girl, even if it means bringing down
one of his oldest friends.
New talent Jack D. Ferraiolo
revitalizes the noir novel while delivering a
terrific, addictive mystery that crackles with wit
and excitement.
--- Read an
interview with Jack Ferraiolo
here
--- Get a free water gun
here - while stocks last
|
Indian in the Cupboard Study
Guide
 Omri receives several conventional gifts for his ninth birthday,
including a
longed-for skateboard. However, two gifts you would expect to be of
least
interest to a young boy prove to be magical and exciting. Suitable for
primary aged students this study guide has learning outcomes in key
learning
areas such as English, Art and Society and Environment.
Make a book for Grandpa
 Help your child make a book
about Grandpa (or another older friend or relative). When it’s finished it will make a great gift to give to Grandpa.
|
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