Gantos, Jack

Sarah's cat Rotten Ralph tries to help her create a school project based on ancient Egypt, but he is more of a hindrance than a help.

A little monster, having disobeyed his mother by eating the watermelon intended for the family's dessert, suffers for his greed in a subsequent dream.

When sixteen-year-old Walker gets caught up in a witch-hunt against homosexuals, he is left to stand by and watch as a tragedy unfolds.

When his father moves the family to Barbados, thirteen-year-old Jack learns that life is not always idyllic on an island paradise.

Sarah's rotten cat Ralph goes to a Halloween costume party dressed as her and creates horrible mischief under the protection of his disguise.

Jack's diary helps him deal with his problems which include dog-eating alligators, a terror for an older sister, a younger brother who keeps breaking parts of himself, and next-door neighbors who are really weird.

When he goes to a carnival with Sarah and his cousin Percy, Rotten Ralph learns that winning is not everything.

An alligator who loves to play in mud and slime is given a birthday bath by his friends.

Despite the calamitous experiences of Aunt Bernice and her awful dog, Ida learns to love her outrageous relative.

The author relates how, as a young adult, he became a drug user and smuggler, was arrested, did time in prison, and eventually got out and went to college, all the while hoping to become a writer.