Safe at Home

Nick Crandell loves to play baseball. He is the catcher for the junior varsity team and is looking forward to playing on the summer baseball team. One day, he notices the varsity coach watching him practice and though he thinks little about it, he is amazed when the coach comes up to him and offers him the catcher's position on the varsity team—a position now not next year. The varsity catcher has broken a wrist and the team needs Nick. However, the uncertainty of being able to play with the older boys seeks to destroy the remarkable chance that Nick has been given. The older boys are not happy to have the JV player on their team and the pressure of their displeasure affects Nick's confidence and play. It is not long before the lack of confidence infiltrates all of Nick's life; his relationships with friends, with family, with school all suffer as he struggles to prove his ability to play varsity. One big blow out with his best friend, Gracie, and Nick knows that he must rethink his complaints against those who really do care about him. This is a sweet story of young teen identity and how sports can both help and hurt that process. Lupica's fans will enjoy this addition to his "Comeback Kids" series for young readers. This kid's book is for young readers reading levels ages 9-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kid's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

Safe at Home

Slam Dunk, Volume 1

Although Inoue's imported teen sport-romance manga Slam Dunk-a big hit back in Japan-is ostensibly about the love of basketball, it really starts out as a chronicle of love and rejection in high school. The series' towering, red-haired hero, Hanamichi Sakuragi, is first shown in utter dejection, after having been rejected by 50 girls in a row (apparently, people are keeping count). But saving him from utter despair is the appearance of the angelic Haruko Akagi, who flirtatiously swoons over his stature and wonders whether or not he plays basketball. After some gentle considerations of whether he's interested ("If only I could walk her to school!! Then I could die happy") Hanamichi sets about trying to get on the basketball team. Haruko disappears from the pages not long after she has conveniently set the plot device in motion, leaving Inoue free to depict Hanamichi's attempts be accepted by the arrogant upperclassmen who dominate the team. It comes as a disappointment to Hanamichi-a hot-tempered kid who prefers to pick fights and slam dunk than learn how to actually play the game,-that winning Haruko's heart is going to take some work. Inoue's pacing is frantic, if somewhat padded, but he manages to maintain a welcome sense of humor amid all the adolescent gamesmanship. This kids book is for kids reading levels ages 9-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

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Slam Dunk, Volume 1

Tough to Tackle

This kids book is geared toward readers with an interest in football, this sports novel is an endearing tale that speaks loudly of never giving up. Theodore "Boots" Raymond has his heart set on the position of quarterback when he decides to go out for football. He does not realize until the day of tryouts that he is too big for a quarterback and is assigned the right-tackle position. Boots experiences a series of changes beginning with a less-than-perfect attitude that eventually progresses to a desire to work hard for his team. Through correspondence with his brother, Tom, who is away in the military, Boots is encouraged to stick with playing football and to give it his all, no matter what position he is assigned to play. Boots also learns a great deal about friendship as one of his best friends, Duck, steps out on a limb to call Boots on his actions. This kids book is recommended for anyone with an interest in sports. Its positive message is a strong reminder of the value of teamwork in all circumstances. This kids book is for readers ages 9-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

Tough to Tackle