Sports books

I don't usually read a lot of sports books nor do I follow football, but this year I've read two different books about football. Mike Lupica's Comeback Kids: Two-Minute Drill
is a middle grade reader about a smart kid who loves football but can't seem to do anything but kick. He teams up with the star of the sixth grade team--Scott provides tutoring and Chris provides football coaching. Of course both succeed. But the real heart of the story is about how even though you may love the game, it may not love you back and how you have to keep trying even when things get difficult--in school, sports and life.

The other football book is Deadline by Chris Crutcher, a young adult book about a boy who finds out he has incurable cancer and decides to live his last year to the fullest. Even though he's small, he goes out for the football team and plays his heart out. The football writing kept me on the edge of my seat as did the rest of the story.

Both books will be available in September.

July 9, 2007

The Aurora County All Stars, by Deborah Wiles

I've been reading this out loud to my kids. She writes so well for that. The words want to be spoken out loud. Every once in a while I think "Good garden of peas!" to myself, an expression from her book Love, Ruby Lavender. No particular phrase is sticking in my mind from this book but the characters are well drawn. There is a mystery about an old man's past. And suspense--will the Aurora County All Stars get to play their traditional 4th of July baseball game (the only game they play all year) or will the whole team have to participate in the pageant commemorating the founding of Aurora County? Baseball, over the top theatricality and southern charm are all there in equal parts. Good garden of peas, it's a good read.