Spider Boy

Humorous story about a boy's adjustment to new surroundings and kids in a new school.

Packed with fascinating facts about spiders, the story is told through journal entries and scenes of events. Author Ralph Fletcher follows seventh-grader Bobby Ballenger as he moves from Illinois to upstate New York with an ailing pet tarantula named Thelma.

The new school tests him further when a dispute over an unmonitored science exam escalates into playground scuffles and hallway taunts. Drawing on realistic classroom dynamics, the narrative pits Bobby against an arrogant swim-team star while pairing him with an outspoken new friend named Lucky.

Contains a spider bibliography.

• Middle School: At Regina White Middle School, an honor system experiment puts students in charge of their own classrooms, raising the stakes during testing.
• Making Friends: Seventh grader Lucky Prescott shares her running goals, family telescope sessions, and knowledge of venomous spiders to help Bobby find his footing.
• School Bully: Swim champion Chick Hall mocks Bobby as "Spider Boy" until a lunchroom confrontation and a playground tackle force both boys to face the consequences.
• Also by This Author: Flying Solo, Hello, Harvest Moon and Fig Pudding.

Ralph Fletcher is the author of many well-received books for children, including the novels Fig Pudding and Flying Solo, and the picture books Twilight Comes Twice, Grandpa Never Lies, and Circus Surprise. He lives with his family in New Hampshire. Visit him online at ralphfletcher.com.