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shazzerwise's review against another edition
3.0
Three and a half stars.
Busy, busy book. There's coming of age drama, domestic drama, a mystery, a sports team, an academic team, a deceased parent, and some prejudicial tension thrown in for good measure. That being said, I liked it. I think this book accomplishes something that is hard to do for a realistic middle grade novel. Theo, though hardly an anti-hero, is far from perfect. He has hangups, says and thinks things he shouldn't, and goes about certain things in a way few parents would be pleased. But few lessons can be learned from a perfect character, and a person in whom one can find no faults might be terribly boring. Theo is anything but boring. I wanted to wring his neck half the time, but he was never boring, nor were his friends or family. The "villains" of the piece were somewhat one dimensional, and I would love for the authors to explore their motivations (especially Brooke's) in future books in the series.
I already know of a handful of kids who will want to read this, and I'm sure there are many, many more who will find amusement and excitement in Theo's tale.
Busy, busy book. There's coming of age drama, domestic drama, a mystery, a sports team, an academic team, a deceased parent, and some prejudicial tension thrown in for good measure. That being said, I liked it. I think this book accomplishes something that is hard to do for a realistic middle grade novel. Theo, though hardly an anti-hero, is far from perfect. He has hangups, says and thinks things he shouldn't, and goes about certain things in a way few parents would be pleased. But few lessons can be learned from a perfect character, and a person in whom one can find no faults might be terribly boring. Theo is anything but boring. I wanted to wring his neck half the time, but he was never boring, nor were his friends or family. The "villains" of the piece were somewhat one dimensional, and I would love for the authors to explore their motivations (especially Brooke's) in future books in the series.
I already know of a handful of kids who will want to read this, and I'm sure there are many, many more who will find amusement and excitement in Theo's tale.
bickie's review against another edition
4.0
Theo Rollins lives with his police-officer dad in Orange County, California, and is in 8th grade at a mostly Asian and Latino middle school. His best friend since 2nd grade, Brian, is on the Aca-lympics team with him, but Theo has also just joined the basketball team after having grown 8 inches over the summer. Theo is trying hard to learn about basketball (he's not even a fan and has never heard of Dr. J.), and when he joins a pick-up game at the park, he meets a smart, basketball-playing, trash-talking and enigmatic girl, Rain, who seems to be being pursued by two motorcycle riders. When one of them threatens Theo, he wonders whether he should tell his dad. Everything comes to a head on "Black Friday" - Will he get kicked off the Brain Train team? Will he get kicked off the basketball team? Will Motorpsycho kill him?
This book captures adolescent confusion, changes in friendships and self-perception, and typical middle school issues without being preachy or lame. Adults are generally positive role models, and there are positive messages about religious (and other) tolerance. A great book to put into the hands of Kwame Alexander fans or kids who can't get past checking out sports books.
Best for ages 11-14.
This book captures adolescent confusion, changes in friendships and self-perception, and typical middle school issues without being preachy or lame. Adults are generally positive role models, and there are positive messages about religious (and other) tolerance. A great book to put into the hands of Kwame Alexander fans or kids who can't get past checking out sports books.
Best for ages 11-14.
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.