Today's read heads into the beloved sports direct...there never seem to be enough sport books for young readers. Better yet, this one even takes on a sport rarely seen in the kidlit realm—sport flying! When we lived in Germany, we would often head over to the little, local airports and watch the various flyers do their weekend training. Now, that I think about it, there always seemed to be a team of flyers no matter where we lived in Germany. I wonder if it simply more popular over there??? Guess I'll have to do some research to find out.
Anyway, today's read promises excitement and action, especially since it's sold as a Top Gun for kids. Let's see if this one lives up to that comparison or not.
JETT COOPER
by MAC Hill
Middle Grade Adventure /
Sports Fiction
308 pages
ages 8 to 14
High speed. Low altitude. No room for error.
Jett Cooper lives to fly.
When his father announces the first-ever Blue Wolf Junior Air Competition, held at their outback air show, Jett knows this is his moment. Win the race, earn a scholarship to the elite Flying Academy, and take one step closer to the sky he loves. There’s only one problem. After a devastating accident, Jett’s mum bans everything flying.
Grounded and grieving, Jett refuses to give up his dream. While his mum struggles to hold the family together and quietly sells the flying school to a mysterious buyer, Jett sneaks off to the Flying Club, risking everything. If she catches him at the air show, she’ll send him straight to boarding school.
With the help of his fearless, slightly unhinged Aunt Allie, Jett makes a dangerous choice. He’ll fly anyway.
Thrown into the brutal world of competition flying, Jett must battle gravity, survive razor-thin margins, earn the respect of a tough-as-nails team leader, and face his fiercest rival, his former best friend Ella Tao. Every race is faster, lower, and riskier than the last. One mistake could cost him far more than a trophy.
As the pressure mounts, Jett learns a hard truth. Gravity always wins. The question is whether he can outfly his fears, his rivals, and the limits placed on him before it’s too late.
Jett Cooper is Top Gun for kids. Packed with high-speed aerial action, humor, heart, and real emotional stakes, this thrilling adventure puts readers in the cockpit for loops, rolls, and white-knuckle races they won’t forget.
Jett Cooper lives to fly.
When his father announces the first-ever Blue Wolf Junior Air Competition, held at their outback air show, Jett knows this is his moment. Win the race, earn a scholarship to the elite Flying Academy, and take one step closer to the sky he loves. There’s only one problem. After a devastating accident, Jett’s mum bans everything flying.
Grounded and grieving, Jett refuses to give up his dream. While his mum struggles to hold the family together and quietly sells the flying school to a mysterious buyer, Jett sneaks off to the Flying Club, risking everything. If she catches him at the air show, she’ll send him straight to boarding school.
With the help of his fearless, slightly unhinged Aunt Allie, Jett makes a dangerous choice. He’ll fly anyway.
Thrown into the brutal world of competition flying, Jett must battle gravity, survive razor-thin margins, earn the respect of a tough-as-nails team leader, and face his fiercest rival, his former best friend Ella Tao. Every race is faster, lower, and riskier than the last. One mistake could cost him far more than a trophy.
As the pressure mounts, Jett learns a hard truth. Gravity always wins. The question is whether he can outfly his fears, his rivals, and the limits placed on him before it’s too late.
Jett Cooper is Top Gun for kids. Packed with high-speed aerial action, humor, heart, and real emotional stakes, this thrilling adventure puts readers in the cockpit for loops, rolls, and white-knuckle races they won’t forget.
MY TIDBITS
High flying adventure mixes with loss, determination, and following dreams.
Jett Cooper loves to fly and can't wait until his dad finally lets him join the competitions. So when he discovers that his father has suddenly signed him up for one, he can't believe his luck. Well, if he can get his mother to agree. She already doesn't know that his father sneaks him out of school to practice flying. When a tragic accident occurs, Jett's world changes, and he's not sure his mother will ever let him fly again. But he doesn't want to give up on his dreams, and that includes attending a prestigious flying academy. All he has to do is win a competition, but first he has to find a way to fly.
The world of sport flying comes to life in a way that even those, who don't know anything about the sport, will understand...and wish they had the chance to fly, too. Jett's passion for flying beams from the page and that while still bringing him across as an ordinary kid. While Jett might have a talent and love for flying, he doesn't have a passion for school and has troubles on that front. He's fine on the friend end and finds support from that side to achieve his dreams. Even when disaster strikes, he tries his best to balance sympathy for his mother with his own desire to chase his dreams. He makes some bad and daring choices, and while it's clear that things aren't going to go smoothly, it's still easy to see why he chooses the directions he does. It makes him relatable, likeable, and easy to root for until the end.
The flying terminology comes across smoothly and is helped by a glossary. It's no problem to sink right into the story and wish to be on Jett's side the entire time. The grief and loss come across clearly, while not dragging down the action and tension. Rather, it creates a balance with heart.
The text fits well to the middle grade age group and works nicely for even the lower end. It's a steady-paced story with grabbing moments and a character to enjoy.
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