froggylibrarian1's review against another edition
4.0
Theo has grown 6 inches over the summer and now everything looks different. He still wants to be on the Brain Team for academics and he's good at it but he can't help being flattered at being asked to be on the basketball team. Only problem...he's really not that good at basketball. Added into the mix is a mysterious girl named Rain and some motorcycle guys who seem to be on her case, his dad's ventures into the online dating scene, his changing relationships with his best friend, and the discovery that his cousin's musical aspirations might have some validity. Taken together the book was engaging and interesting with a good plot twist.
When I think about the book as a whole I have to decide whether students at my school will be interested. For some reason sports books are not real big in my school so that is a point against it. With the main characters being 13 year old boys there is some sexual talk. It wasn't anything bad but my school now only goes up to 5th grade. Although I liked the book okay I probably won't get it for my library.
When I think about the book as a whole I have to decide whether students at my school will be interested. For some reason sports books are not real big in my school so that is a point against it. With the main characters being 13 year old boys there is some sexual talk. It wasn't anything bad but my school now only goes up to 5th grade. Although I liked the book okay I probably won't get it for my library.
jbojkov's review against another edition
3.0
At first, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I think it is fairly well-written and has good pacing. About halfway in, it just started to drag for me. This book is supposed to be a mystery and yet I was still waiting for something mysterious to happen. Also some of the conversations these 13-year-old characters were having did not seen genuine to me. So I lost patience. I stopped reading. That does not mean I would not recommend the book, I would. It just was not a book for me.
tcbueti's review against another edition
5.0
Newly tall basketball rookie Theo is terrified when his coach announces that the new team strategy revolves around him.
Meanwhile, basketball practice conflicts with prep for the academic team he’s been on for a while, and then Theo meets a mysterious girl, Rain, and becomes concerned about some threatening young men around her. And his nasty cousin is upset about unplanned sharing of his music.
Like how Theo resolved the issue with the academic team (stepped down to the junior team) and didn’t win the basketball game, but became a better player through practice and changing his attitude.
Great characters and development, and of course basketball play description!
Meanwhile, basketball practice conflicts with prep for the academic team he’s been on for a while, and then Theo meets a mysterious girl, Rain, and becomes concerned about some threatening young men around her. And his nasty cousin is upset about unplanned sharing of his music.
Like how Theo resolved the issue with the academic team (stepped down to the junior team) and didn’t win the basketball game, but became a better player through practice and changing his attitude.
Great characters and development, and of course basketball play description!
tricialprice's review
3.0
Great story for kids who like basketball, but also fun even if you're not a sports fan, because the main character is also on the academic team of his school. He's also going through some typical middle school issues, and some not-so-typical issues, like having lost his mom and standing up for a girl he doesn't even know who gets hit.
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