What do you think?
Rate this book
Splat!
Keegan and Alex are the only kids in Leamington who haven't volunteered to help out with the town's annual tomato festival. In an attempt to teach them a sense of responsibility, their fathers put them in charge of the tomato toss. The boys decide it's their responsibility to add a little excitement to the event. They exchange the traditional wooden targets for human targets and, before they know it, they are running the most popular event at the fair. The excitement may be too much for the sleepy town and soon the tomato toss is taken to the streets.
- GenresYoung Adult
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
3 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Eric Walters
158 books909 followersEric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Read
April 13, 2024This is part of a series of small books written by Canadian authors and me, being Canadian...Well, I want to go through and read a bunch of them. They're short but they're about people my age. This one was a lot of fun. It followed two boys as they put together an event for a fair in order to please their dads. Things didn't go as planned and it actually ended up better in a round about way.
May 7, 2017
Splat! was one of the best orca books I've read so far. It didn't feel rushed or stupid. I liked the whole tomato toss and even when things turned crazy, it was still fun. Also, the ending was nice. A good read!
October 6, 2017
Pretty artistic!
October 20, 2015
The book Splat is Realistic Fiction. It is about two teen boys doing a booth at a festival. Keegan is one of the teen boy who has a chief as a father. His friend Alex is also a teen boy and his father is the mayor. They both are friends that do a booth in a festival.
In the beginning, Keegan and Alex get caught by the cops, but they didn’t know why. I didn't like how their own parents ( even though they were cops) had to talk to them like that.Keegan and Alex wondered about what happened and why they are here. Then the chief explained that the mayor wanted Keegan and Alex to work on the Tomato Toss booth for the Tomato Festival and they didn't want to help. Keegan and Alex then left the office and they talked on their way to start the booth’s work. They both argued and threw tomatoes at each other.
The next day, Keegan and Alex go to the Leamington’s singing contest. Keegan sees Kelsey and feels jealous of a tuba guy named, Owen Kelsey likes. Alex and Keegan are building an alibi to hide that they just push Owen over in the port - a- potty. I liked this part because this part of the story had a good humor and made me burst out laughing. The day of the Tomato Festival came and Alex and Keegan were planning about how they should organize the place.
It’s time for the parade to start. When their fathers see them all covered in tomatoes he feels ashamed. Then when the Keegan threw a tomato at the tuba players tuba which was Owens. The other people grabbed tomatoes and threw them at the band. Then the parade ended up a big mess and it was a riot. The Tomato Festival still continues. When they turn on the CNN news they showed how people threw tomatoes and how they were having so much fun.
Then Keegan as Alex’s father's realizes that it wasn't bad after all. Keegan and Alex still got punished for the messes, but they're still in charge of next year’s booth called Tomatoes Fight. I liked the concept of having something general to some cool and fun. The tomato idea was a idea I have never thought about.
I like how the book ended. Some issues may seem bad, but they can still be very good. They also might sound bad, but after you show others might think that it was awesome.
In the beginning, Keegan and Alex get caught by the cops, but they didn’t know why. I didn't like how their own parents ( even though they were cops) had to talk to them like that.Keegan and Alex wondered about what happened and why they are here. Then the chief explained that the mayor wanted Keegan and Alex to work on the Tomato Toss booth for the Tomato Festival and they didn't want to help. Keegan and Alex then left the office and they talked on their way to start the booth’s work. They both argued and threw tomatoes at each other.
The next day, Keegan and Alex go to the Leamington’s singing contest. Keegan sees Kelsey and feels jealous of a tuba guy named, Owen Kelsey likes. Alex and Keegan are building an alibi to hide that they just push Owen over in the port - a- potty. I liked this part because this part of the story had a good humor and made me burst out laughing. The day of the Tomato Festival came and Alex and Keegan were planning about how they should organize the place.
It’s time for the parade to start. When their fathers see them all covered in tomatoes he feels ashamed. Then when the Keegan threw a tomato at the tuba players tuba which was Owens. The other people grabbed tomatoes and threw them at the band. Then the parade ended up a big mess and it was a riot. The Tomato Festival still continues. When they turn on the CNN news they showed how people threw tomatoes and how they were having so much fun.
Then Keegan as Alex’s father's realizes that it wasn't bad after all. Keegan and Alex still got punished for the messes, but they're still in charge of next year’s booth called Tomatoes Fight. I liked the concept of having something general to some cool and fun. The tomato idea was a idea I have never thought about.
I like how the book ended. Some issues may seem bad, but they can still be very good. They also might sound bad, but after you show others might think that it was awesome.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2013
This was the Orca book we needed.
Often the Orca books are about serious problems in life that sometimes the audience will encounter. While most of us probably don't have to worry about rotten tomatoes and organizing events, it's still a lesson.
Maybe because this is in the Juvenile section, it's different. You can't have some of the events that go on in YA in the Juvenile section.
So this book was much lighter and carefree, which was really nice. A lot of the turmoil or knowledge that something is going wrong really isn't present. Yes, in the last few chapters there's a bit of panic but it is different. Also you actually see the consequences, which is a lot of fun.
The book also really knows when to skim bits because they're boring, and when to tell us everything. I'm still curious what happened to the skate park though.
This was the Orca book to tell us that sometimes stupid things will happen, but sometimes they have good results.
Often the Orca books are about serious problems in life that sometimes the audience will encounter. While most of us probably don't have to worry about rotten tomatoes and organizing events, it's still a lesson.
Maybe because this is in the Juvenile section, it's different. You can't have some of the events that go on in YA in the Juvenile section.
So this book was much lighter and carefree, which was really nice. A lot of the turmoil or knowledge that something is going wrong really isn't present. Yes, in the last few chapters there's a bit of panic but it is different. Also you actually see the consequences, which is a lot of fun.
The book also really knows when to skim bits because they're boring, and when to tell us everything. I'm still curious what happened to the skate park though.
This was the Orca book to tell us that sometimes stupid things will happen, but sometimes they have good results.
February 3, 2013
This one will be a perfect literature circle book for a group of below grade level readers in one of my classes. It's funny, fast paced, and the protagonists are teens, which makes it relevant for my 12 year old readers. The element of slapstick abounds as protagonists, Alex and Keegan try to goof their way through life in a small town, Leamington, where the annual tomato festival is big . . . tomatoes for their dads, the mayor and the chief of police. Alex and Keegan have a plan to redeem themselves for their mischief making ways and make money for a new skateboard park at the same time, until all . . . tomatoes break loose. It's messy, and my students will love it.
July 25, 2013
I was quite surprised I picked up this book from the library and I am an avid Eric Walters fan. This book was shorter so I decided to give it a try. I actually really enjoy it! The characters both were mischief makers but never want to hurt people with their tricks. They learned after their mistake to own up and they ended up making a boring fair fun for everyone! A great read and I suggest to teachers to add this to their libraries and lit circle book colections!
July 16, 2014
Splat! was such a fun read! I wasn't expecting much, since a lot of the books in this line haven't been that good, but this book was great! It had me laughing a couple times and smiling almost throughout the whole book with the antics of Keegan and Alex. If you're looking for a quick read that's completely enjoyable, I'd definitely recommend this one.
March 18, 2011
Wow! I loved this book so much! Anyone who wants a story that is good but won't take long to finish, then this is the book for you!
August 2, 2013
One of the better Orca Currents books.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews