The Big Splash - Softcover

Jack D. Ferraiolo grew up in southern Connecticut and still considers middle school to be the toughest time of his life. He has been writing and editing for television animation for close to ten years. He is the head of development at a children's animation production company and developed and currently writes for WordGirl on PBS, for which he won an Emmy. The Big Splash is his first novel.

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 FrankA" is in the clutches of a crime syndicate run by seventh-grader Vinny Mr. BiggsA" 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 OutsA" 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 FingersA" Finnegan. 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. Jack D. Ferraiolo revitalizes the noir novel while delivering a terrific, addictive mystery that crackles with wit and excitement.