Maddox, Jake. Skateboard Idol. (Jake Maddox JV)

Maddox, Jake.  Skateboard Idol. (Jake Maddox JV)  Capstone/Stone Arch  2016  96p  $18.99  ISBN 978-1-4965-2631-1  elem/ms  Conflict    VG-BN

Griff and Annika are both excellent skateboarders. When a hometown hero who made it on the national skateboarding competitive circuit returns to town, they are very excited. A treasure hunt for three golden skateboards is under way, with daily clues given until all three boards are found.  When only one more board is left to be discovered, Griff and Annika read the clue together, and Annika is the one to decipher the location of the golden board, but Griff gets there first and claims it. Discord in their group of friends, who are rivals, makes Griff rethink his decision, and he admits that Annika solved the riddle and should be the one to skate with the famous hometown skater. Action on the skateboards, the intensity of the treasure hunt, and social interactions are all very well executed and will keep the reader engaged. Discussion questions, writing prompts, a glossary and skating facts complete the book.  The book is appropriate for grades 4-8, but it could also be a hi/lo book for grades 8-9, as the reading level is 3rd-4th grade.  

Summary: When skateboarders Griff and Annika find that a famed skateboarder is coming to town and will offer three winners of a treasure hunt the opportunity to skate with him, conflict arises between the friends.  Gr 4-8. Fans of Maddox’s previous shorter novels on sports will be able to continue reading his work into middle school as the new series, Jake Maddox JV, is set in middle school. The competitiveness, skills, and hard-core skateboarding action found in the earlier Tony Hawk book series continues in this series.

Skateboarding-Fiction, Competition-Fiction, Friendship-Fiction

--Lois McNicol

Bates, Sonya Spreen. Topspin. (Orca Sports)

Bates, Sonya Spreen.  Topspin. (Orca Sports)    Orca  2013  147p  $9.95 ISBN 978-1-4598-0385-5 ms/hs  Conflict, Sports  VG-BN

Kat, Miri and Hamish all have the same coach. On their flight to Melbourne for the tournament, Miri is jealous of her boyfriend’s (Hamish’s) flirting with the flight attendants. Upon arrival at Melbourne, Kat is overwhelmed by her first experience at the famed tennis courts. She has a chance of being competitive in the women’s singles for age 16 and under. And partnering with Miri, she has a chance at a doubles title as well. But from the first night on, Kat is suspicious of Miri and a boy named Dray, worrying that they are out to sabotage Hamish in his quest to be ranked number one internationally in the “16 and Under” division. In between tense tennis action, scouting the competition to get a handle on their weaknesses, and psyching out opponents, there are the sub plots of sleuthing, drug accusations, and the challenges presented by out-of-control parents. The junior level of international tennis competition is well depicted, with the fierce rivalries, training requirements, and the intense love of the game. The importance of grit and determination combined with skill comes across brilliantly. This will be a sure-fire hit with hi-lo readers who are tennis lovers and a good whodunnit suspense novel for mystery lovers.       

Summary: A hi/lo sports title. At a Melbourne Park tennis tournament, Kat has singles potential, and with Miri she may have a chance to win doubles. Hamish is trying to capture the men’s tennis championship. Subterfuge, skill and grit all interplay with great tennis action. Gr 6-12.

Tennis-Fiction, Sports competition-Fiction                        --Lois McNicol