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The Big Splash Audiobook
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(3.12) - 215 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A hot debut about an average middle schooler with a knack for solving crimes.
Format: 5 CDs, Unabridged
Matt Stevens narrates this story of how he got sucked into his school's "organization," a mafia-like syndicate run by seventh grader Vincent "Mr. Biggs" Biggio. Matt works to preserve his integrity while avoiding the "Outs," the group of kids who've been publicly humiliated by one of Vinny's Super Soaker-wielding henchmen.
NARRATED by Sean Schemmel
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"Such a clever book - I love the voices and settings and the general aura of noir. I had the guilty party pegged pretty quickly, but had no idea what the motive was, so I enjoyed watching the case unfold. The plot revolves around bullies and bullying and, if I'm recalling correctly, the book has a couple of swear words but nothing else that might be considered questionable. This one will be enjoyed by middle schoolers who like their mysteries believable or who are intrigued by popularity, cliques, and bullying. I am looking forward to reading The Quick Fix."
— Heather (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“The Big Splash will make you laugh out loud.”
— Jeff Kinney, New York Times bestselling author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid -
“As in any proper noir, the story is marked by twists and turns, and the writing is cynical and tough, riddled with the sort of hard-boiled jargon you expect from a B movie…Much of the thrill of this novel—and it is entertaining and thrilling—comes from its vision of a world in which kids play all the adult roles: they run the mobs, write the articles, chase the killers, haunt the (kid-owned) saloons, punish the (kid-committed) crimes.”
— New York Times -
“Twists and curve balls keep readers guessing; extended jokes like one about a petty thief’s desperate need for cash (“On the surface, Peter was a happy-go-lucky model student, but underneath, he had a dirty little secret. He was a Pixy Stixer”) will keep them laughing. With crisp prose and surprisingly poignant moments, Ferraiolo’s debut entertains on many levels.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“As Matt ferrets out a water pistol sniper, narrator Sean Schemmel nails his narration. Teenage criminal kingpin Vinny boasts a raspy menace. Hall monitor Katie, drunk on power, dominates her scenes with brute force. Throughout, Schemmel presents Matt as a clever character seeking justice in a world gone wild. Listeners will shiver when Schemmel reproduces the giggles and screams of the victims. Mild cursing adds a startling, if realistic, effect. The Big Splash triumphs as an edgy detective story reminiscent of film noir.”
— AudioFile -
“Delivers plenty of laughs, especially in the opening chapters, and fans of private-eye spoofs will enjoy this entertaining read.”
— Booklist -
“Well paced, funny, and suspenseful, with some real commentary on bullying and mob mentality, this book will have fans eagerly awaiting the next installment in this faux noir detective series.”
— School Library Journal -
“[Ferraiolo is] great at moving the action along and providing comic book characterizations and humor. Each character is more devious and intelligent than most of us, regardless of age. The resolution of the story is a shocker that makes sense but comes out of nowhere—Ferraiolo has taken us down, in a matter of speaking. Good fun.”
— Kliatt -
“This fabulous mystery will have teens laughing and racing to get to the last page…Readers will enjoy this funny mystery, written in the spirit of classic noir detective novels of the 1930s and 1940s. Everyone has a catchy nickname, and the witty banter is endless…A great whodunit.”
— VOYA
Awards
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Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award
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A 2009 Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Novel
The Big Splash Listener Reviews
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" This was a pretty good YA read although I think 11 year old Nihal enjoyed it more than I. Really does a nice job addressing intricacies of the social structure when kids are in middle school and at times very clever. 3.5 stars. Fast read! "
— Manisha, 1/18/2014 -
" A very fun MS detective romp that every MS boy, and girl, will relate to, recognizing themselves or fellow classmates in the characters. "
— Ruth, 1/7/2014 -
" It's okay. I liked the detective angle, the "noir" flavor, some of the humor. I'm not sure how much of the "noir" flavor or humor middle school kids will get. I was a bit put off by the amount of bullying, mistreatment of students by students. It seemed to me that so much activity like this could go on in a school building with little or no intervention by faculty or staff - a bit too incredulous. Again, maybe this is aspect is something that would not bother middle school readers. "
— Virginia, 1/6/2014 -
" It's "The Sopranos" for the tween set. Squirt-gun assassins, a mob boss, body guards and goons with Matt, the school's private eye to figure out the mystery. Lots of fun "
— Kim, 12/28/2013 -
" a film noire detective movie set in a jr high. fantastic "
— Dru, 12/22/2013 -
" A fantastic upper middle grade novel with a complex plot and tons of laugh out loud humor surrounding a middle grade run by "mobsters". Loved the kids spun out on pixie sticks and the water gun shoot outs. "
— Jessica, 12/21/2013 -
" Fun idea and well-executed. The similies alone are worth the read. I wish I could go back to read this for the first time again. Cross your fingers for a series. "
— Mfly, 12/19/2013 -
" Funny spoof of crime noir set in eighth grade. I'm not sure what age group this would appeal too, though. "
— Kate, 11/26/2013 -
" A fun YA book, and certainly a great example of the gumshoe detective, with fun writing. However, this is so unbelievable as a middle school set of characters. I couldn't get past that to really relax into reading it. "
— Hope, 10/14/2013 -
" What a FUN read for middle schoolers. Clever and sarcastic - - perfect for the middle schoolers @ my house. "
— Dawn, 9/30/2013 -
" Such a good book! Can't wait to read the next one! "
— Taylor, 7/21/2013 -
" Oh man, spot on private detective novel set in middle school. "
— Alexa, 4/28/2013 -
" Really great idea, but I have to admit I didn't finish it. This is not because the book wasn't good, but because I am up to my eyeballs in work and the library wanted it back. "
— Adrianne, 2/6/2013 -
" I read this book as Abrams sent me it and the sequel, and I enjoyed it. :) Review coming soon! "
— Emily, 10/12/2012 -
" There is a perfect mix of humor and mystery in this story of a corrupt middle school that is secretly run by a criminal organization. This is a re-read for me, and it definitely holds up. "
— Carrie, 9/27/2012 -
" Loved it. Noir for the middle school set. Great narrator, fun. I hope there's another Matt Stevens mystery in the works. "
— Marilee, 7/6/2011 -
" This is a quick read, but really fascinating! I loved it. "
— Laura, 5/19/2011 -
" I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would when I first started reading it. I thought the pulp novel terminology would get on my nerves really quickly, but it was actually pretty funny - phrases such as "my head felt full of cotton like a cheap stuffed animal." "
— Emily, 9/25/2010 -
" What a FUN read for middle schoolers. Clever and sarcastic - - perfect for the middle schoolers @ my house. "
— Dawn, 9/19/2010 -
" A fun YA book, and certainly a great example of the gumshoe detective, with fun writing. However, this is so unbelievable as a middle school set of characters. I couldn't get past that to really relax into reading it. "
— Hope, 1/3/2010 -
" Oh man, spot on private detective novel set in middle school. "
— Alexa, 10/30/2009 -
" I love the suspense in the book "
— Simi, 10/21/2009 -
" Funny spoof of crime noir set in eighth grade. I'm not sure what age group this would appeal too, though. "
— Kate, 8/2/2009 -
" Fun idea and well-executed. The similies alone are worth the read. I wish I could go back to read this for the first time again. Cross your fingers for a series. "
— Mfly, 7/12/2009 -
" This is a quick read, but really fascinating! I loved it. "
— Laura, 6/29/2009 -
" It's "The Sopranos" for the tween set. Squirt-gun assassins, a mob boss, body guards and goons with Matt, the school's private eye to figure out the mystery. Lots of fun "
— Kim, 4/28/2009
About Jack D. Ferraiolo
Jack D. Ferraiolo is the author of The Big Splash and Sidekicks. As the head of development at a children’s animation production company, he has developed and writes for WordGirl on PBS, for which he won an Emmy Award. He lives in northern Massachusetts.
About Sean Schemmel
Kathleen McInerney won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration in 2011 and was a finalist for the Audie in 2010 and 2015. Her narrations have also earned several AudioFile Earphones Awards. She has performed in New York and around the United States in both classical and contemporary theater. Her credits also include television commercials, daytime drama, radio plays, and a broad range of animation voice-overs.