Fouling Out [Paperback]

Gregory Walters (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up

Craig and Tom have been friends since second grade, but that was five years ago and Craig is getting sick of Tom's out-of-bounds behavior. When Craig begins to realize that he may have more potential in school than he ever thought, he starts to distance himself from Tom, who is both the class clown and the school bully. But severing ties with an old friend is never easy, and a foolhardy incident in a local park pulls Craig back into Tom's orbit. Faced with the realities of Tom's home life, Craig must determine the limits of this volatile friendship. (20080401)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–7—Craig Trilosky has been friends with Tom since second grade. Now he's beginning to reconsider their relationship; the older they get, the more trouble Tom gets them both into. Tom's father is abusive, and his own behavior is unpredictable. Things come to a head when he attempts to shoot a squirrel and Craig tries to stop him, leading to what the media labels a hate crime when the stray bullet shatters the window of a Chinese family's house. Consumed by guilt, Craig is shocked when Tom beats him up but then takes responsibility for the incident. However, the threat of foster care causes Tom to run away. Craig confesses everything to his mother, and when Tom, suffering from hypothermia, comes to them for help, Craig's mother takes charge, eventually helping to get him from Vancouver to an uncle in Saskatchewan. There is little build-up to Craig's abrupt confession, and it seems unrealistic that his mother doesn't contact the authorities. Craig's narrative voice doesn't always ring true; not too many 13-year-old boys use words like "buffoon," "guffaw," and "sleuthing." However, kids who are dealing with the desire to redefine themselves apart from a difficult friendship may relate to Craig's situation.—Laurie Slagenwhite, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

A teenager struggles to steer a course away from a risky friend in this conventional but not agenda-ridden debut. Thirteen-year-old Craig has hung out with Tom ever since third grade, but now all the pranks and blowing off schoolwork are starting to wear thin. Plainly drawing on his experiences as a teacher and principal, Walters tucks in seemingly authentic classroom dynamics, silly games, and horsing around while capturing Craig’s conflicting feelings as his longtime buddy exhibits increasingly erratic behavior. A scary near miss with a gun brings matters to a head. Tom runs away from home to escape the retribution of his violent, abusive father, and Craig, after much inner turmoil and with some unexpected adult assistance, helps Tom make a clean break. This isn’t likely to draw a wide audience, but there are some vivid moments, and Craig’s insight that “acts of charity should make a difference, not highlight a difference” is worth pondering. Grades 5-8. --John Peters

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551437147
• ISBN-13: 978-1551437149
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,179,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book!!!!, November 18, 2008

By 

H. Kalmus (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fouling Out (Paperback)

I bought this book for my godson who is not generally an enthusiastic reader. However, he really enjoyed this book. In fact, he told all of his buddies about it and now they have read it too. He keeps asking me when Mr. Walters' next book is coming out. I hope it's soon.

4.0 out of 5 stars How far would you go for a friend?, November 18, 2008

By 

Kim Baccellia, "YA Books Central reviewer... (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fouling Out (Paperback)

When is it time to move on? Craig asks himself this question as he's no longer amused by his friend's Tom behavior. They've been friends since second grade but Tom's been spinning out of control with not only his behavior in school but by his sudden crazy desires.

But breaking ties with Tom isn't easy. One day they go out and what was suppose to be a prank, turns into something on the news as a possible hate crime. Craig knows the truth and stays away from Tom. Things then go from bad to worse. Craig needs to decide whether this friendship is worth it even when he knows about the abuse going on in Tom's home. How far would you go for a friend?

I really enjoyed this tale of a seventh grader who though sick of his best friend's bizarre behavior doesn't know whether or not he should cut ties. The language was very realistic and so were the scenes of abuse and how an abuser was once the abused. I also felt the scenes at the middle school rang true.

5.0 out of 5 stars fouling out, July 20, 2008

By 

Lawrence G. Walters "book worm" (TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fouling Out (Paperback)

Excellent read.Ordered several copies for friends children, and they all loved it.Couldn't put it down,even when they arrived at "Sea World"