Review: 4.5 Charming, Fun, Nice Balance b/t Mystery and Sports Tale
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 29, 2013
Disclaimer and promise: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinon. I'll try to keep this spoiler-free.Plot Summary: Tony's friend, Ashley Richardson, makes the cheerleading squad much to the irritation of Felicity. As the big game against a fierce rival begins, Tony notices that Ashley's missing. What follows is several chapters of an in-depth look at the big game that conjures fond memories of Matt Christopher books. (It does get a little technical, but if you understand a bit about football, you'll likely enjoy it anyway.) Afterward, Tony and his new friend, Judd, race to save their friend from an unknown fate.Could be Better:It's definitely for young readers. Sometimes I just had to stop reading and gaze at the periodic table or something to recover. I do read a lot of YA but this is definitely middle grade or younger target audience.The toadies needed better dialogue. I get that they're supposed to be mindless followers, but even chatty followers can do more than simply repeat every line spoken by the leader.Judd Judson's dialogue tended to grate on my nerves, though just as many people are going to find it charming.Neutral:The characters are exaggerated.Several events are either highly coincidental or defy a law of physics or simply would not happen in our lawsuit happy society.The mystery's resolution is predictable yet still believable.Although clearly aimed at a young audience, the story doesn't shy away from using higher vocabulary. While occasionally this comes off as awkward, mostly, the reading's a smooth ride. (ie. use of the word "wend")Good:Overall, the characters are good. They're often overblown or semi-charicatures, but the exaggerations usually work.Even the dog, Curly, turns out to be quite the central character.Despite the predictable nature of the story, it remains fun, exciting, suspenseful, and light-hearted.The author gives the reader enough background on each character so that you know who they are and mostly what they're about. At the same time, he doesn't overburden you with details on how each blade of grass looks, feels, and smells.The book comes across feeling like a cross between a Matt Christopher story and a Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer story, yet maintains its sense of self.Conclusion: If you're looking for a safe, kid-friendly sports story/ lighthearted mystery, look no further you've found a decent one. It's pretty short, but it looks like there will probably be a few of them in the near future.Who would like the series?Probably mostly 4-6th grade boys, but it's equally suitable for young ladies as well.