Hughes, Alison. Kings of the Court.

Hughes, Alison. Kings of the Court. Orca  2017  192p  $9.95  Paperback  ISBN 978-1-4598-1219-2    ms/jr  Sports  VG-BN 

When a belligerent basketball coach is fired, the team wonders if their season has ended. A drama teacher, fond of Shakespearean quotes, combines fencing skills with motivational speeches based on Shakespeare to motivate the only seven players left. With humor and perseverance, the boys excel and even in a loss feel as though they are victors. Each person finds his inner strengths, including the team scorekeeper and mascot who goes on to become the lead in Henry V, the unexpected play that caps a roller coaster ride of a sports season. With a multi-ethnic and multi-racial cast, this book shows readers that self-confidence and hard work can make the impossible possible.  It is strongly recommended for young teens because of the themes of acceptance, self-confidence and overcoming obstacles.

Summary: A brutal basketball coach is fired, to be replaced by a drama teacher who loves Shakespearean quotes. The team eventually rallies around the new coach and excels even without their star scorers. Humor, perseverance and drama abound. Grades 5-8.

Basketball-Fiction, Drama-Fiction                           --Virginia McGarvey

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Old School.

Kinney, Jeff.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid Old School.  Harry Abrams  2015  217p    

$13.95  ISBN 978-1-4197-1701-7      elem/ms     Realistic fiction  VG

In this new addition to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Greg Heffley is once again up to his tricks and will delight young readers as he struggles to relate to the voluntary community effort to go electronics-free for a weekend.  As he tries to capitalize on the initiative he is also faced with the decision that his grandfather will come to live with his family. The action races forward to reveal Greg’s antics and typical adolescent comprehension of these events, and he suddenly changes his mind and decides to go on the school trip to Hardscrabble Farms where the typical Diary of a Wimpy Kid humor and fun abounds.  When the plentiful fiascos of the trip send their cabin chaperone home, Greg’s dad is the replacement, and Greg discovers a whole other side of his dad.

Jeff Kinney has once again created a hilarious novel that will delight young and reluctant readers.  Due to the fast-paced, multifaceted plot, readers will not be able to put this book down.  The fun and simple illustrations break up the text and enhance the story.  This is yet another book in the series that will engage and entertain adolescent readers.

Summary: As Greg Heffley’s community voluntarily goes electronics-free, he can’t quite comprehend the advantages that the adults see, and, facing family changes along with his sudden change of mind about attending the school camping trip to Hardscrabble Farms, Greg learns about a whole other side of his dad.   

Field trips-Fiction, Humor                            --Virginia McGarvey

Roman, Dave, and John Green. Teen Boat: Race to Boatlantis.

Roman, Dave, and John Green.  Teen Boat: Race to Boatlantis.      Houghton Mifflin/Clarion      2015  150p  $14.99  ISBN 978-0-547-86563-8  ms  Graphic novel  E-BN

The sequel to TeenBoat!, this silly story about a boy named TB who transforms into a yacht whenever his ears get wet will be a hit with middle schoolers who want a fun story and bright illustrations.  They will laugh (or possibly roll their eyes) at all the boat puns throughout and crack up when they see the love story between TB’s mom and his long-lost dad, a submarine, whom he finds in Boatlantis.  TB is not a perfect character by any means, but he will be relatable whether he is in human or boat form.  The graphic novel can definitely be read as a stand-alone story.

Summary: TeenBoat (TB) is a yacht living as a teenage boy who transforms whenever his ears get wet.  He is going through the ups and downs of high school like any normal teenage boat would.  He has a crush, a best friend with a secret, a need to be popular, and of course a new TeenBot who shows up at his school who is not quite a yacht himself, but a captain’s chair.

Humor, Boats-Fiction                                        --Erin Daley

Sick in the 16th Century.

Senior, Kathryn.  Sick in the 16th Century.  Scholastic/ Childrens Press      2014  35p   $29.00  ISBN 978-0-531-21176-2  elem/ms     series:  You Wouldn't Want to Be  Nonfiction, Humor  E-BNS

     

This book provides a frequently humorous look at the practice of medicine in 16th-century Europe.     What a fun book, and a great way to learn about the butchery of medicine in the 16th century.  So many interesting tidbits are here, such as the differences among the “four humors” and information about the rudimentary prosthetics that were available.  Who knew?

The illustrations, with their associated quips and informational captions, enhance the text.  Each double-page spread covers a specific aspect of 16th-century medicine, and includes not just the text and illustrations, but also a “Handy Hint” that can be read as a point to be remembered.  While some are also a tad sarcastic, all are valid.  Very fun!  The book concludes with a glossary and an index.

The You Wouldn’t Want to Be series now comprises many historical titles.  Each is engagingly illustrated and written, and while intended for elementary and middle-school students, would be fun reads for all ages.

Summary:  This is a frequently humorous look at the practice of medicine in 16th-century Europe.      What a fun book, and a great way to learn about the butchery of medicine in the 16th century.       

Medicine-History                                      --Lynn Fisher

Still Life (series Tune: Book 2).

Kim, Derek Kirk.  Still Life (series Tune: Book 2).  Macmillan/First Second  2013  201p.  $16.99  ISBN 978-1-5964-3760-9  hs/adult  Graphic novel  VG-BN     

Andy Go is an artist who can’t find a job.  He decides to accept what he believes to be a one-year offer to live in an alien zoo.  Andy soon realizes that he was tricked into signing a life-long contract. He can’t see the other exhibits in the zoo, but speaks to his neighbor through a vent.  The zoo decides it is time to bring a female into the exhibit, and Andy convinces them to get the girl with whom he is in love.  The graphic novel is humorous and will appeal to high-school students.  Andy, who is in his early twenties, makes some references that many teens may not understand, such as to Bill Hicks and Curb Your Enthusiasm. There are a few brief mentions of sex and virginity, but overall the language is relatively tame.  This is book two in the Tune series, and while it was easy to follow the story, it would be helpful to read this series in order.       

Humor, Zoos-Fiction, Science fiction            --Stephanie Pennucci