Title of Novel: Fouling Out
Author: Walters, Gregory	ISBN: 9781551437149	Copyright: 2008

Recommended for Grade(s): 6,7

Estimated readability: At Grade

Plot / Reasons for Recommendation Craig is an intelligent, but isolated grade seven student whose long time friend, Tom, is the bad boy of the classroom. Tom comes from a dysfunctional family. He is fun to be with but can also be annoying, violent and cruel. Craig is at a stage in his life where he is finding the friendship more of a hindrance than a help but he can't seem to break way. When a crisis occurs and Tom runs away from home, Craig is forced to really look at his relationship with Tom and decide what friendship really means. The main character in this book is funny and engaging, yet gives the reader insights into the isolationand confusion that often plagues adolescence. The book is especially good at portraying the dynamics involved in cliques and groupings in classrooms. The plot is simple, but keeps the reader's interest. The short chapters and humourous writing make it an easy read that could work for reluctant readers. While the main characters are young men, the character driven nature of the book means that it may appeal to girls as well.

Any social considerations... The unconventional solution to the main character's problems at home need to be balanced with information provided by the teacher regarding the legal and ethical requirements to report abuse to the proper authorities. The story contains physical abuse. Though the use of the word "pissed" to describe anger fits the character using it, this could be offensive to some parents.

AUDIENCE
To What Degree: 0=Not at all, 1=Slightly, 2=Moderately, 3=Extensively
...language use is appropriate to the emotional maturity and cognitive level of students	3
...content is appropriate to the emotional maturity and cognitive level of students	3
...content appeals to the interests of male students	3
...content appeals to the interests of female students	2
LITERARY MERIT
...shows insight into the complexity of the human condition	3
...broadens students’ experiences and understanding	3
...provides opportunities for creative and critical thinking	3
...is stylistically rich	3
CURRICULUM
To what degree does this novel support the rationale and goals of the BC Language Arts curriculum?	3
DESCRIPTORS
Perspective Possible Uses  Aboriginal  International  Multicultural  Canadian  BC Other:   ESL  Literature Circles  Whole Class  Read Aloud/Discussion  Reluctant Readers  Cross-Curricular Specify:  Other:    Genre Literary Highlights  Adventure  Contemporary  Historical  Science Fiction  Auto/Biography  Fantasy  Mystery/Suspense  Anthology  Non-Fiction Other:   Complex conflict(s)  Rich characterization  Well-developed themes  Effective figurative language  Point of View Other:

SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A=Acceptable, U=Unacceptable, N/A=Not Applicable

A	General Considerations
A	Age
A	Gender Roles
A	Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation At one point, the main character's sexual orientation is called into question in order to put him down. It is consistent with the story, and the bully is shown to be the one with the problem.
A	Ability – Disability
A	Belief System
A	Socio-Economic One of the main characters is from a poor and dysfunctional family. The portrayal of the family is disturbing but realistic.
A	Violence The main character, Craig, sees his friend, Tom being beaten by his father. An adult driver jumps out of his car to attack the two boys, who are rescued by a classmate's father. Though ugly, the violence in the given situations is not graphic, and it is realistic. Tom's wish to shoot a squirrel and to cut it open fast enough to see the heart still beating is somewhat disturbing, but consistent with how a young person who has been physically abused might think.
A	Ethical and Legal The question that confronts both children and adults in the story is how to deal with parental violence and neglect. The solution is unconventional and makes for a good story but it raises serious questions around legal and moral obligations to report abuse to the proper authorities.
A	Safety There are a number of activities that are referred to including shooting guns and running away from home.
A	Language In several instances, the expression "pissed" is used to describe how Tom's father feels.

ERAC   |    Second Floor, 1580 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6J 5K8    |   Phone: 604-713-5920 Fax: 604-713-5921   |   Email: info@bcerac.ca

In order to serve you better, ERAC monitors the usage on its website.                        Copyright © 2003-2010 Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium All Rights Reserved

Please think about the environment before printing