Sink or Swim

by Bob Balaban Narrated by Bob Balaban

Overview

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!

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

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." — Henry Winkler

"Bob Balaban knows this world so well...you might think this actually happened to him...read it and you’ll see!" — Whoopi Goldberg

“A very funny and insightful exploration of what it means to be the REAL you.” — Julianne Moore

"The amiable drollery of The Creature From the Seventh Grade carries it a long way." — The New York Times

The New York Times

"The amiable drollery of The Creature From the Seventh Grade carries it a long way."

Julianne Moore

“A very funny and insightful exploration of what it means to be the REAL you.

Whoopi Goldberg

"Bob Balaban knows this world so well...you might think this actually happened to him...read it and you’ll see!"

Henry Winkler

“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."

School Library Journal

02/01/2014
Gr 4–7—This sequel to Boy or Beast (Viking, 2012) has a masterful mix of humor, mystery, and school-related problems. Twelve-year-old Charlie Drinkwater is a mutant dinosaur living in Decatur, Illinois. He's afraid of mummies, bullies, giving oral reports, tapioca pudding, and, most of all, the water. When someone begins stealing food around town, Principal Munchnick believes that Charlie is the thief and threatens to expel him if he doesn't join the swim team, the worst form of punishment for Charlie. So many people in town accuse him of being the robber that Charlie almost starts to believe them. Then his cousin Stanley (the real culprit), also a mutant dinosaur, shows up searching for a viral antidote to save the other creatures beneath Crater Lake from becoming extinct. Charlie is torn. Should he turn in Stanley for stealing the food or take the blame in order to save Stanely's friends in the lake? Charlie is a likable and believable character who will appeal to reluctant readers. The problems he faces are easy to relate to despite their unique twists. The illustrations are spare, but bold, detailed, and eye-catching.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175576208
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	08/08/2013
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Videos