Category: Family Publisher: Book Guild
ISBN-10: 1846240212
Type: Fiction
Pages: 216
Copyright: 2006
ISBN-13: 9781846240218
Eric is twelve, going on thirteen, and this is the account of that year in his life. Prone to disaster, Eric limps from one hilarious catastrophe to the next.
Eric attracts trouble like dung attracts beetles - or so his sister tells him. This is the story of a year in Eric's life as he turns twelve and becomes a teenager. Eric and his friends Slasher, Gormless, Kevin and Colin struggle to keep out of trouble. Cynthia, Eric's older sister, and her friend Clara seem to have but one purpose in life - to tease Eric. His mother is not quite 'with it' and his father seems to take everything in his stride although he does lose his cool when he finds Eric drunk on his best cognac.
Amongst Eric's disasters is his first attempt to take a girl out to the local Halloween Fair which, predictably turns out horribly wrong. He fares no better when he decides to take up archaeology in his back garden.
On holiday in France with his parents he loses much more than his cool and in seeking revenge on Cynthia he makes a terrible mistake.
Along the line he becomes involved with the school exchange to France and his difficulties with the language lead him to make a serious mistake - much to his horror when he discovers it in France.
But Eric has the luck of the devil and comes out of his ordeals with more than he bargained for.
An epub version of this book is available from the author.
Excerpt
Eric has just turned 13 and is on holiday in France with his family:-
“I’m going for a swim,” Eric informed anyone who might be interested.
“Umm!” his father said enthusiastically, managing to open one eye.
Most of the swimmers were lazing in the shallow end and the space beneath the diving boards was clear. Eric made a beeline for the ladder and climbed to the first level. It was a nice day and he was hot so he decided on the second board. When he got there the third didn’t seem very far above; after all, he was a teenager now! He screwed up his dwindling courage and climbed on.
The pool looks different from here, he thought, a deeper blue, and smaller. He stood up, swaying slightly as he tested the spring in the board. Not much bounce, he decided. Perhaps he was too light. He took another step and, leaving the support of the ladder, he could feel the air was cooler. Nobody was stirring below and he took the remaining paces to the end of the board, bounced and flew into the air. It had been his intention to dive bomb the water and make the biggest splash he could but, half way down, he changed his mind, straightened and made a spectacularly clean dive into the pool.
The bottom rushed towards him and the cool water refreshed him. He kicked, moved his arms and turned. He surfaced, dived down and swam a few strokes before coming up again. His head clear of the water, he caught a ripple of applause. He was delighted! Success! He could even hear Cynthia calling out to him.
“Eric!”
He tried to focus but the water in his ears made it difficult.
“He’s my brother,” he heard her say to the crowd which had gathered around the pool. “Eric!” she called again, “Birthday Boy!”
He flicked the water out of his eyes and looked around. There was a lot of chatter and laughter. The pool seemed to have come alive between the time Eric left the diving board and the time he surfaced. It must have been a spectacular dive, he thought as he swam to the side and heaved himself out. His exit from the pool was greeted by another round of applause. He bowed.
As he bowed, Eric saw that he was no longer wearing swimming shorts. As he straightened, Eric saw that Cynthia, on the far side of the pool, was waving them above her head.
Professional Reviews
ChezChristie
Although classified as a children’s book, adults will enjoy reliving those embarrassing moments of early teenage times.
Characters come to life, as we realise we have all experienced moments like this. It is funnier to relive these moments in adult hood, than to experience them as a teenager.
Well and honestly written, funny and thoroughly enjoyable, hope there will be more moments of Eric to come.
I didn't know what to expect when I first picked up this book. I started reading and didn't want to put it down. I've got to admit that although intended for 14+ years you can still enjoy it with a few chuckles if your verging on 44+ (there goes my street cred), as there are some good lines that may be missed by the youngsters. I will be looking out for the next by the author.’
‘Eric, on the verge of teenagerdom, is a new kind of hero for pre-teens, who may well grimace while reading about his trials and tribulations.
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