Synopses & Reviews
Charlies problems have gotten monstrously big
There's a thief in town, and all signs point to twelve-year-old Charlie Drinkwater. Once you spontaneously morph into a giant mutant dinosaur in the middle of the school day, people will suspect you of just about anything. Charlie's principal decides that all he needs is a little discipline, so they make him join the swim team. The only problem is, Charlie is terrified of the water. (He's terrified of a lot of things.) Charlie and his friends vow to apprehend the real criminal and clear Charlie's name. Otherwise hell have to stay on the swim team for the rest of his life or eternitywhichever comes first.
The amiable drollery
carries it a long way.”The New York Times on Boy or Beast
Review
“Bob Balaban does it all (really he does). He directs, acts and writes funny (really he does). In my opinion, this book is a monsterpiece."
Review
"Bob Balaban knows this world so well...you might think this actually happened to him...read it and you’ll see!"
Review
“A very funny and insightful exploration of what it means to be the REAL you.”
Review
"The amiable drollery of The Creature From the Seventh Grade carries it a long way."
Review
"With occasional comic drawings and lots of humor regarding life as a dinosaur among humans (such as the scale of reptile farts), this romp is a balm for anyone who’s ever felt awkward in their own scales err, skin. . . . A wacky story of loyalty and self-discovery." Kirkus Reviews on THE CREATURE FROM THE SEVENTH GRADE: BOY OR BEAST
Review
"An endearingly quirky story about embracing oneself." Publishers Weekly on THE CREATURE FROM THE SEVENTH GRADE: BOY OR BEAST
Review
andldquo;Bob Balaban does it all (really he does). He directs, acts and writes funny (really he does). In my opinion, this book is a monsterpiece.andquot;
Review
andquot;Bob Balaban knows this world so well...you might think this actually happened to him...read it and youandrsquo;ll see!andquot;
Review
andldquo;A very funny and insightful exploration of what it means to be the REAL you.andrdquo;
Review
andquot;The amiable drollery of The Creature From the Seventh Grade carries it a long way.andquot;
Review
"A masterful mix of humor, mystery, and school-related problems. . . . Charlie is a likable and believable character who will appeal to reluctant readers."
Synopsis
There's a thief in town, and all signs point to twelve-year-old Charlie Drinkwater. Once you spontaneously morph into a giant mutant dinosaur in the middle of the school day, people will suspect you of just about anything. Charlie's teachers decide that all he needs is a little discipline, so they make him join the swim team. The only problem is, Charlie is terrified of the water. (He's terrified of a lot of things.) Charlie and his friends vow to apprehend the real criminal and clear Charlie's name. But when they discover who the actual thief is, Charlie's problems get a whole lot bigger . . . not to mention slimier, scalier, and smellier!
About the Author
Bob Balaban is the author of the McGrowl series and the Creature from the Seventh Grade series. He has appeared in nearly one hundred movies, including Midnight Cowboy, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Waiting for Guffman, and Moonrise Kingdom. He has been nominated for an Oscar, a Tony, four Emmys, a Producers Guild Award, two Directors Guild Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, one of which he won for his appearance in Gosford Park, a film he also produced. A Chicago native, Bob now lives in Bridgehampton, NY.