The Big One-Oh

by Dean Pitchford

Charley Maplewood has never been one for parties—that would require friends, which he doesn’t have. But now that he’s turning ten—the big one-oh—he decides to throw a birthday party for himself, complete with a “House of Horrors” theme. Of course things don’t work out as he plans. In trying to make friends, he ends up inviting the class bully Cougar to come, and that’s before he ruins the cake and sets the garage on fire. Will Charley be able to pull it together before the big one-oh . . . becomes the big OH-NO!?

From start to finish, The Big One-Oh is a laugh-out-loud riot, and any reader will relate to the pressures Charley faces both at school and at home in planning his special day. So dive into The Big One-Oh and join the party today!

Genres: Humor, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile, Middle Grade, Friendship

176 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny! The humor is very broad with loads of slapstick that will appeal to tween boys.

The narrator is Charley, the kid who hasn't been invited to a birthday party since the age of 6, when his experience with a party pony ride almost scars him for life. A note from his absent dad weeks before his 10th birthday and the fear that he is a "friendless freak" like his eccentric next door neighbor, triggers the desire to have his own birthday party. Instantly, there are problems, because in order to have a party he has to invite kids; first on his to-do list: make friends. The second problem: he needs a "theme" and NOT the cowboy theme his mother's slimy boyfriend has suggested. Charley's own tastes lean towards the bizarre--he's a big fan of monster movies--the gorier the better. The theme he chooses requires a lot of help which comes from an unexpected source: his eccentric next door neighbor.

While the characters and situation lend themselves to predictability, it is evident the author really cares for his creations so none of them become cliche. Besides, nothing can prepare the reader for the finale!

[Rosalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up the audio of this because I needed one more book to use during my booktalks. It looked like it might appeal to boys. It was by far the most enjoyable kids book that I've read in a very long time. It was written and narrated by the author and the narration was stupendous!! Basically it's the story of a nerdy 9 year old kid who is facing his big 10th birthday. He wants to have his first birthday party but realized to have a party you need to have friends and saddly this guy has none. The boy, Charlie loves to read Monsters and Maniacs comic books and really doesn't relate to most of the kids in his class. Just by chance, the neighbor across the street happens to make special effects like eyeballs and mutulated body parts for the movies. Charlie makes friends with this odd fellow. I won' spoil the ending....but if you need a book for your son or know a boy looking for a good story the he can relate to, try this one.

[Foreign Grid]

I still remember his cake advice.

Also get the audio book, the authors voice makes the story 100% better.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

J Not my favorite of this year's Black eyed nominees but I can see the appeal it would have for kids. A nine year old decides he needs to have a big party for his 10 year old birthday. First he needs to make some friends to invite, then he has to come up with a theme, then he's supposed to disinvite the people he has invited because his mom can't be home that day, and then he has to figure out how to have this party since he did not disinvite these classmates. Obvious chaos with humorous, albeit predictable results.

[Jenny K]

In listened to the audio version, and it was fantastic. I was stunned when I realized it was the author reading -- he was over the top! Then I read his bio, and realized he is probably the most famous guy I never heard of. In all, a good kid read. Not deep, but way fun. Especially as an audiobook.

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this with my 7 year old grandson on our way back from the beach. I think what made this so funny was the narration by the author. His voices are hilarious!!
I think Charlie got off too easy in the end for throwing an “illegal” birthday party snd all
the chaos it caused.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book for my nephew in a used book sale. I bought it because he turns 10 this fall and I thought that it might be a fitting story. I decided to listen to it so that I could talk to him about it if he ever reads it. Plus then I could give it to him with more of an authority that he would enjoy it. It is a zany book about Charley and his quest to have a birthday party. He realizes that he is turning ten and that is a big deal. His mom suggests at party and at first he is reluctant. Then he begins to think through the steps to have a party. One main step is having some friends. He observes other and tries to make some friends. He finds it is harder than it seems. So he decides to work on the party itself deciding on a house of horrors theme. He takes some invites to school and it seems that kids are inviitng themselves. The party starts to fall apart and Charley thinks all is lost. Does he pull off the party? You have to read it to see. I liked the book it was more substantial than I imagined since it is all geared around a birthday party. I wanted a bit more depth and less predicability. Overall I will give it to my nephew and we will see what he has to say.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, fun read and Charley was a very relatable character.

Charley had a very rough month leading up to his birthday. I didn’t expect a lot of what happened. Especially burning down the garage and the police showing up at the party. What a memorable birthday!

I was glad to find out that Garry was eccentric and not just a weird, creepy dude and that Charley gave him a chance and helped Garry move forward with his special effects.

I laughed quite a bit when Charley’s mom walked into Garry’s house to find Charley’s head in a mold. I probably would’ve reacted the same way she did.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I read this around the age of one-oh myself, I barely remember anything about this book. But what I do remember was that I liked this book and related very much to the main character, especially his apprehension and curiosity about his tenth birthday, the big “one-oh”. But now I’m turning twenty, the big “two-oh”. I’ve come so far since I was ten, but I have still so far to go.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun read!

Very likable character.

Can recommend to girls/boys alike

[Nicole Livingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my 10 and 8 year old. We all enjoyed it!

[Julie Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids would love this book! It'd be a great read aloud!

[Diya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weird

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was a bit unbelievable and strange.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audio with my 10 year old. Such a boy book. We laughed out loud.

[Megan Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caroline is going to be in the musical this summer so , we had to read the book! We listened to the audio on the way to and from school for the past two weeks. We all three laughed out loud and enjoyed it together. I think I got them hooked on audio books and I can't wait to see the play!

[Pamela Hatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUMMARY: Charley Maplewood has never been one for birthday parties -- that would require friends, which he doesn't have. But now that he's turning ten - the big one-oh -- he decides to throw a birthday party for himself, complete with a "House of Horrors" theme and a big birthday cake. Of course things don't work out as planned. Trying to invite a few "friends" from school, Charley ends up inviting the class bully to come. In the meantime his Mom has ended up working and thinks the party has been cancelled, the garage almost burns down, and his decorations wouldn't scare anybody. Will Charley be able to pull it together before the big one-oh becomes the big OH-NO!?

I read this book when it first came out in 2007. I came across it at the library and decided to read it again since I remembered it fondly. However, I almost gave up because it started so slow. But I stuck with it and after about a third way through it starts to pick up and the humor begins and the rest of the book is a delight.

Charley's fondness for horror draws him to the weird neighbor that he has seen with a sawed-off leg bone (turns out to be a fake -- with blood and everything). Garry is a special effects person creating horror scenes for movies and the theater. It turns out that a fake eyeball is just what he needs to start making friends.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no idea how children will react to this -- there are 'unbelievable' things that come up, that aren't really that extraordinary. This is a story about a 10-yr-old who doesn't really have friends, and his well-thought-out plan of action to have a birthday party. His father is absent, his mother has a new boyfriend, his sister is a typical older sister, and he befriends the 'weird' neighbor in the process. It just didn't hold my interest, but it might appeal to young boys who read above their grade level. I have no idea.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's hard for me to give an accurate assessment about the content of the book because I was so distracted by the Pitchford's reading. His more outrageous voices are funny- for about 5 minutes. Then they become grating and irritaing. His phrasing waaaaaas- kindofannoying to boot. He makes a good argument foooooooor- writersnotreadingtheirownbooks. I probably wouldn't have finished listening to it if my son hadn't been into it. The ending was kind of fun, if a bit over the top, and there were some genuinely funny moments. But if you have the choice, read it instead of listening to it.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids and I listened to this on a road trip, and we were so hooked on the story, when we pulled into the driveway, we had to bring the last cd in so we could hear the ending. Pitchford is a fantastic narrator for his book. Charlie is quirky and funny and believable and likable as he tries to figure out how to celebrate turning the big "1-0", and the gross-out factor (Charlie's neighbor makes effects like latex eyeballs and fake stab wounds) makes this a huge hit for most kids. Great classroom read-aloud, too.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book on CD, and since it is read by the author, I felt that all of the characters' voices were in the style that the Pitchford envisioned them to be. There are some really hilarious parts to which most school-aged kids could easily relate. In an effort to make his 10th birthday, the big one-oh, most unforgettable, Charley gets in over his head in the planning, festivities and invited guests. After wondering if anything will ever go right for him, the book packs some wonderful surprises.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a kid that is going to have his 10th birthday. He the decides to have a party. Throughout the book it talks about him setting up the party and making friends. This story was amazing. It was humorous. At parts, it had a theme about friends and family. The main character Charley was my favorite character. He was cool and funny. This story was so interesting and unique. The characters are all such a variety of people. Some are funny some are interesting. I recommend this book to anyone. 5/5!

[Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so funny and quirky that I think it rivals Holes as a great new book for second through sixth grade. It is about a boy who doesn't have friends so he spends his time reading horror comics. When a special effects guy moves next door, Charley makes a new friend and begins to branch out and expand his horizons.

This is one of the 2009-2010 Mark Twain award nominees, and it is funny! If you're wanting to vote this year, I think this is one of the books you should definitely read!

[Susan Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charley is about to turn ten - and wants to celebrate with a big birthday bash. There's just one problem: he doesn't have any friends to invite. Despite this minor detail, Charley decides on a theme (House of Horrors), makes his own cake (which falls), and inadvertantly invites the school bully and his nasty cohort. And oh yeah - his mom has to work so there won't be any adult supervision. But Charley has it all under control - or so he thinks...

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very kool.Charley Maplewood is a 9 year old going to 10. He doesnt have alot of friends. Charley's dad lives in Switzerland all acroos the world.Charley lives with his mom and his sister so theres not really a father figure there to Charley.When Charley Decides to through a Horror theme Birthday party to make friends .So i think you should check out this book at your libary today. To find out if Charleys party is a Must or a bust.

[Judy Desetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud reading

Humor grades 3-6


This was so funny, laugh out loud funny! I am sure kids will LOVE this read. I think it would be a good read aloud for 3rd- 4th grade. Charley is about to turn ten and he decides to have a party. First he has to make friends, decide on a theme and figure out how to throw a party without help. It takes a bit to set the story but it is worth the wait to find out how it all turns out.

Read this one.

[Kara Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 14 and 9 year olds and I listened to this on audio tape-what a pleasure! It is about a boy who has never had friends and never cared until he has to plan for a big 10 year old birthday party. He systematically goes about discovering how to make friends, how to plan a party, etc. It is so heart warming and funny we didn't know if we should laugh or cry at many parts!

[Lacy :D · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well its kindof dumb. Im not that far into it and I'm only reading it because i finished my book from the library and I picked a random book off of Mr Waguespack's shelf and I guess it happened to be this one. Its pretty dumb so far and I dont really like it all that much. I'm not even wuite sure whta it's about. Soooooo yeah.

[Ashley Marvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book on my 10th birthday 2 years ago and I read it all in about a month I personally loved the book the characters the plot. The book is funny and is a nice story for children and possibly older. I enjoyed this book and if you are looking into reading this book I hope you enjoy it!
Love,
Kat<3

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of Briana's book. It was soooooo funny and then so sad. i laughed and cried the kids thought I was more crazy than usual. This is the story of Charley who wants to have his first birthday party for his big one oh, his first double digit year. He tries to throw himself a party and then you will have to read the rest yourself :)