The Comic Genius of Jack Ferrialo

Jack Ferraiolo's The Big Splash is one of the best mystery books I have read by a Teen Book Festival author.   Last year, Josh Berk's book, The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin, was a pretty good.  But, for me, The Big Splash still comes out on top.

I think the reason why I love this book is because of the fact that Ferrialo draws heavily on the "tough guy" private investigator characters and crimes of the 70s and 80s.  What makes this book unique though is the fact that he takes these classic macho-style themes and characters (albeit overused and stereotypical) and uses them to bring to life the traditional social issues American pre-teens and young adults face as they move from elementary school to high school. 

I really enjoy Ferraiolo's use of hyperbole  as a means of presenting the archetype characters and scenery of middle school (hall monitors, bullies, popular girls....cafeteria, crowded hallways, lockers etc).

When reflecting on the questions Mizokawa & Hansen-Krening pose in their typology of questions to use when developing a critical reading response,  the question I am stumped by is the question:  What is the political,social, and historical context for the story?  When I think about the book with this question in mind,  I have to think that Ferraiolo is trying to make two comments about this time in American adolescence.   The first is that middle school can feel like a social war zone  -- while Matt is never faced with the kind of dilemmas that Parvana is faced with in The Breadwinner -- for many teens, middle school is a minefield.     Without having a trustworthy social network -- be they  good friends or at least honest and stalworthy classmates  -- one can feel like he/she is in the "Outs."      The second point I think the author is making with this book is the fact that being 11, 12, and 13 is a very unique time in one's development.   A time when one is trying on all sorts of identities, personas, and even social groups as he/she moves from childhood to middle childhood and adolescence. 


I think to fully appreciate this book, one has to learn a bit more about the author.  These are a few of my favorite online sources of information and insight into the mind (heart and soul) of Jack Ferriaolo:

Five Fun Facts about Jack:  from the TBF website

Jack's blog:  www.jackferraiolo.com 

A post from Jack's blog about his next writing project.   

The Author's Mind's Eye:  You Tube Video