Cricket Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a heart-warming story that all family members will enjoy...
Brannon has done well in capturing the essence of life in the baseball
community of kids, parents and coaches....He is a student of the game,
of the game, which certainly contributes to making Cricket an enjoyable
read for the most ardent fan....

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Nine-year-old Kristie "Cricket" Adams doesn't believe the stereotypethat girls are supposed to play house, carry dolls, wear pretty dresses, andnot get dirty. She'd rather play baseball.
A talented pitcher, first baseman, and hitter, Cricket loves to play thegame. After participating in her town's Minor Little League program fortwo years, she dreams of being selected for one of the upper-level teams.Cricket works hard and prepares for tryouts, but she's disappointed whenshe's not chosen because she is a girl.
Cricket refuses to give up. She's asked to return to her Minor LittleLeague team to play another year. Somewhat discouraged over theoutcome, she agrees and is determined to be a good baseball player,teammate, and friend. With tenacity and motivation, Cricket proves thatdreams really do come true.
Filled with the sounds and sights of America's favorite pastime, bothboys and girls who love baseball will want to read about Cricket'sjourney to beat the odds and come out a winner!

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Box Out Review

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(More customer reviews)Tough issues abound in teenage life, and this book is filled with insightful, challenging situations to which teenagers can relate. John Coy's research into the teenage experience regarding sports, coaches, relationships, and decisions is obvious in the characters and plot of the novel.
Liam Bergstrom's life revolves around the basketball court, and he embraces the opportunity to play varsity ball after a teammate's injury. Coach Kloss tells him, "We're a tight team. If you ever have anything you need to talk about, come on down. My door is open." Liam is ecstatic! On his first big game day, he cannot believe he is wearing a Horizon High School varsity uniform. But when Coach comes into the locker room for the pre-game talk, Liam learns the one big difference between Varsity and JV: prayer. Though raised in the Catholic faith, Liam is not so sure the inclusion of prayer should be part of high school athletics.
Something else troubles Liam about Coach's behavior. Supposedly a believer in team basketball, the man clearly has favorites and disapproves of the style and attitude of the only black player on the team, Darius. When Darius quits, Coach and the teammates act like he was never really a team player, yet others do not receive similar treatment. Darius, however, maintains that Coach does not really respect the game.
When Coach and his teammates encourage (even expect?) him to attend weekly before-school Horizon Athletic Fellowship meetings, where prayer and expression of one's faith are foremost on the agenda, Liam becomes even more uncomfortable in his new role. The members wear HWJC bracelets (How Would Jesus Compete?), and some hypocritical players communicate a totally different opinion in front of other than they express to individuals. Coach, who was always willing to discuss any issues and concerns, assures Liam he has checked out the prayers, and all is legitimate. Frustrated, Liam eventually contacts an organization called Americans United for Separation of Church and State for guidance.
The author builds upon the conflicts on the court and in school to guide Liam to a difficult decision, one which broadens his definition of basketball and enables him to discover the courage within him to do what is right, not always what is easy.
Athletes will find the basketball details accurate and engaging. Non-athletes will understand the terminology and explanations based on the author's contextual information. All readers will be challenged to defend their positions on racism, prayer in schools, peer pressure, and team sports.


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Simon Says Review

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(More customer reviews)Even in kindergarten, Charles knew that he didn't want to play Simon Says. He didn't want to do what somebody named Simon said. He wanted to be himself. If it was a choice of playing Simon Says or standing in the corner, he stood in the corner. Charles is a sophomore in high school now, and he is still determined that he will not play Simon Says.
But people have always been dissatisfied with who Charles is. His life is full of Simons telling him to be different. Don't use his left hand; don't paint pictures that make them feel uncomfortable; make them proud of him; study for the right kind of job. The more he uses his paintings to show people how he feels, the more they hate him. They make fun of him, tear up his class assignments, and call him names. Teachers harass him, and his parents are ashamed of him.
That's why Charles wants to meet Graeme. When Graeme was a freshman at Whitman High School for the Arts, he wrote a book, The Eye of the Storm, that was published and made people sit up and blink. Charles knew as soon as he read it that he had to go to Whitman, too, and meet Graeme. Here was somebody who knew all about the Simon Says games people play, and yet he obviously never played them himself. Charles knows that he can learn from Graeme how to be himself without playing the game, either.
But Graeme is not what Charles expected him to be. Graeme is a senior at Whitman now, and he hasn't written another book since his first one. Graeme himself doesn't know why. Nor does he know why he's a disappointment to Charles. What does Charles want from him? The relationship between the two boys becomes more and more complicated, until it erupts in a storm that will change them both forever.
The themes of this book are desperately thought-provoking --- Always be yourself, because the alternative can be deadly. But to be yourself, you have to know who you are. And what we are in any given moment is not the whole truth of us. It can be more terrible to live than to die, but death takes away everything. And Simon Says might be a game we all play, even when we don't want to.
--- Reviewed by Tamara Penny


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Goalkeeper in Charge (Matt Christopher Sports Bio Bookshelf) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a good book. In the story, shy Tina is a fan of soccer, especially the fact it's a team sport where she won't stand out to much, which is good, because Tina hates getting attention. When she joins a new soccer team, everything is great until her coach asks her to do something for the team...play keeper!!! That horrifies Tina. Everything about keeper, even the uniform, stands out! Can she overcome her shyness to play the best she can? This book appeals to me partly because I am rather shy, and play a lot of keeper on my team, so I stand out. However, playing keeper has helped me overcome most of my shyness and be a good player, on and off the field, just like Tina.

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Tina Esparza loves everything about soccer, but especially the fact that it is a team sport where no none player is in the spotlight.Imagine her surprise when the coach asks her to train as the team's goalkeeper!Will Tina be able to overcome her shyness and accept a position that puts her in the center of attention?

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Football Nightmare (Matt Christopher Sports Bio Bookshelf) Review

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(More customer reviews)This exciting book starts when Keith Steadman drops the winning pass. He decides not to play football anymore because he feels like a loser. He has nightmares every night about the dropped pass. It is a good story because it shows how he overcomes his mistake with his family's help. I think you should read this book to find out more!

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Pinned Review

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(More customer reviews)Wrestling isn't just a sport to Bobby Zane and Ivan Korske. It's a way of life. From the midnight runs to the cutting weight to plotting maneuvers in their sleep, wrestling is all they think about during the winter sports season. Both compete in the 129-pound weight class, and both refuse to let anything stand in the way of the state championship title.
Beyond their mutual love of wrestling, however, Bobby and Ivan couldn't be more different. Bobby's school wrestling team is known throughout New Jersey for its winning record. His family, though rich, is troubled by his mother's long working hours and his father's infidelity, and news that Bobby's girlfriend might be pregnant leaves Bobby wondering exactly where his life is headed.
Meanwhile, Ivan and his small-town farming father are grieving his mother, who was a strong influence in both their lives, and Ivan's anger and loss are felt by everyone except for his neighbor Shelley, who encourages Ivan's talents. Ivan's only hope of leaving his backwater town of Lemmings is a scholarship to Western Arizona University, but his father wants him to attend college close to home.
Each chapter alternates a point of view, taking the reader through both Bobby's and Ivan's journeys to the state championship. Alfred C. Martino, a wrestling fan, brings the excitement of their matches into the story. Both characters have depth and devotion to the people they love, even though their commitment to wrestling sometimes eats away at their relationships. Reading this book will make you think twice about the dumb jock stereotype.
   --- Reviewed by Carlie Webber


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Farm Team Review

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(More customer reviews)In this book a familiar character returns in Billy Baggs. He has discovered his great skill in baseball however he can't play on the city team. Together he and his mom decide to make flyers and bring kids in from around the countryside. For one night kids can play baseball with each other for fun. On one of theses nights the coach from the town team comes over and Billy challenges the town team to a game. Using skill and ability the town team is defeated by Billy's squad of country players. I enjoyed reading this novel and certainly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good sports novel.

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