Spider Boy

The narrative follows seventh grader Bobby Ballenger after a family move from Naperville, Illinois, to upstate New York. Filled with classroom comedy, the book charts Bobby's inventive tall tales about his father's career and his quiet devotion to a pet tarantula.

Author Ralph Fletcher surrounds him with sharp classroom dynamics, pairing the newcomer with a swift cross-country runner while a boastful swimmer targets his hobby. Grounded in authentic arachnid lore, the chapters follow Bobby as he defends his terrarium and navigates seventh-grade rivalries.

Packed with fascinating facts about spiders, the story is told through journal entries and scenes of events. Contains a spider bibliography.

• Middle School: At Regina White Middle School, an experimental honor system leaves the classroom unmonitored during exams, forcing students to decide whether to sign their names or report cheating.


• Making Friends: Track standout Lucky Prescott shares telescope views of Saturn and Andromeda, while chess captain Butch Fostick warns Bobby that surviving the lunchroom takes patience.


• Books About Insects: Between feeding live crickets and monitoring his tarantula’s molting, Bobby fills his personal notebook with curious science, from gossamer ballooning to venomous hunters.


• School Drama: Tension boils over when a playground tackle leads to a black eye, a confrontation in the science lab, and a sudden challenge on the football field.


• Also by This Author: Flying Solo, Hello, Harvest Moon and Fig Pudding.