Review: Bounce Back by Hena Khan

BOUNCE BACK

Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream

Book Three

by Hena Khan

Salaam Reads

Middle Grade Sports

114 pages

ages 8 to 12

From the critically acclaimed author of Amina’s Voice comes the third book in an exciting middle grade series about a scrawny fourth-grader with big dreams of basketball stardom.

Zayd has a plan. He’s ready to take the reins as team captain of the Gold Team.

But when an injury leaves him on the sidelines, his plans get derailed. Can Zayd learn what it means to be a leader if he’s not the one calling the shots?

MY TIDBITS

This is the third book in the series and while it is more fun to follow Zayd from the very beginning, these can be read as stand-alones.

Zayd's basketball life is looking up. He has a brand new, straight hoop at home to practice with, and he has a real shot at becoming team captain. But when a misstep during practice ends with a sprained ankle four weeks of sitting out might be more than he can handle. To add to his troubles, his grandfather suffers a heart-attack and his entire family is on edge.

I'm liking this series more and more as it progresses. Zayd is a normal kid who loves basketball. It's his dream to become a star player, and he's doing everything he can to achieve it even though it's not an easy path. His disappointment at the injury is understandable and his frustration believable. The only thing which bugged me here was that he didn't attend practices during this period but sat on the couch. For those kids who were that interested in their team and the sport, this is unusual as they would still be on the sidelines following everything as much as possible. (The coach would even insist on it). But this is only a small issues which doesn't hurt the story.

The author does a great job of balancing Zayd's interest and troubles with basketball with real life. His family is close knit and adds a wonderful note to the court troubles. Zayd's care and concern for his grandparents and his way of handling it are heart-warming and very natural. It's a mix which makes him easy to identify with and a story which draws in book after book. The addition of his family's cultural difference also adds a nice dash of spice. The author builds these small details in so smoothly and naturally. I'm excited to see what happens to Zayd next.

And here she is...
Hena Khan is author of several books including Amina's Voice; Power Forward: On Point; Bounce Back; It's Ramadan, Curious George; Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns; and The Night of the Moon. Hena lives in her hometown of Rockville, Maryland, with her husband and two sons. You can learn more about Hena by visiting her website at HenaKhan.com.

Review: Inside the Star by Barry Wilner

INSIDE THE STAR

The Ultimate Dallas Cowboys Fan Guide

by Barry Wilner

North Star Editions/Press Box Books

Middle Grade Sports / Nonfiction

112 pages

COMING...

JANUARY 1st, 2019!!!

There's a good reason why the Dallas Cowboys are called America's Team. As the most popular franchise in the NFL, the Cowboys have millions of passionate fans from sea to shining sea. Those fans expect nothing less than greatness-and for much of the team's history, the Cowboys have delivered.

This action-packed book offers a front-row seat to everything that makes the Cowboys great. The classic games. The iconic stadiums. The fierce rivalries. Not to mention the Super Bowl championships and the Hall of Fame players. Whether it's top-tier quarterbacks, powerful running backs, or hard-hitting defenders, Dallas has been home to some of football's best. 

Season Ticket: Teams uses engaging and informative storytelling to take readers into the past, present, and future of their favorite sports teams. With chapters exploring historic moments, team traditions, and today's hottest superstars, Season Ticket: Teams is your all-access pass to the most iconic franchises in sports!

MY TIDBITS

Football fans...in this case Dallas Cowboy fans...can sit on the edge of their seats as they are lead through important moments of team history, recent plays and future hopes.

This book is packed. Every chapter holds exciting moments either from the past or recent games, players and dreams. The descriptions hold all of the excitement promised, making sure the reader feels drawn in while being offered bits of information and facts. Anyone who loves the Dallas Cowboys will enjoy and probably know many of the stories mentioned in these pages. Other moments, however, will probably be new. In any case, it's a treasure trove of Dallas Cowboy information.

The writing is fast-paced and doesn't let a boring moment settle in as it tries to hold the same tension as the games. Still, this never completely reads like a fiction novel but rather sticks to a realistic recount and discussion of the topics. The drier facts sprinkle in with the excitement at just the right places, guaranteeing that trivia heroes as well as more action interested readers will both find what they're looking for.

While the writing itself isn't bent down for younger readers, older ones (ages ten/twelve and up) will be at home. Even adults will enjoy the scenes and rarely have the impression that the intended audience is aimed younger than them. It's an interesting mix, which I'd normally predict reluctant readers might try to steer clear of. But in this case, the sport's theme will lure in the Dallas Cowboy fans among them and thanks to the short length of 112 pages, even they will probably dive into this read.

This is definitely a read for Dallas Cowboy fans, and one that they won't want to miss.

Review: Full-Court Press by Elena Delle Donne

FULL-COURT PRESS

Hoops, Book Two

by Elena Delle Donne

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade Sports Fiction/Contemporary

160 pages

ages 8 to 12

From 2015 WNBA MVP, 2016 Olympic gold medalist, and global ambassador to the Special Olympics Elena Delle Donne comes the second novel in a brand-new middle grade series with as much heart as there is game.

When the basketball team is invited to have a service day at the school-affiliated after-school program, Elle falls in love with working with kids with special needs. So she begins to volunteer on two days a week when she doesn’t have practice and makes new friends there.

Now, Elle finds herself juggling her new passion, basketball obligations, and schoolwork. But when her grades start to slip, she’s going to have to make a tough decision.

Can Elle really do it all? Or will she find herself being pulled in too many directions?

MY TIDBITS

Elle and her friends are back with more sports, fun and a wonderful dog, who makes life more stressful than Elle imagined.

With the dance behind her, Elle is ready to hit school and basketball. Unfortunately, things aren't moving that smoothly yet. Her coordination is causing problems and she finds herself in a new slump. She's began volunteering, too, but between that and a new dog, she finds herself under a time crunch. School isn't running as great as it should either, and she's finding it almost impossible to spend time with her sister. Somehow, she's got to figure everything out or might just drown in her schedule.

This is another lovely book in the Hoops series. Elle loves sports and basketball holds a star spot in the tale. The court moments are true to life and feel like home to basketball fans. But this isn't only about sports. Elle is as active in sports as the rest of her life. The moments at school come across natural, and the time with her family is inspiring as well as natural. Add the fun moments with a great dog, and it's a wonderful, well-balanced mix.

The added dash of her volunteering and working with special needs children throws in a nice touch and wakens understanding as well as awareness for this area. It's obvious that the author has experience in this area, and she brings the moments across nicely.

This is a short read, which makes it great for the intended age group and reluctant readers. Girls, who love sports, will dive right into the pages and enjoy the familiar situations. The writing is smoother than in the first book, but it still is directed for the slightly younger end of the middle grade group, making it a better read for ages 7 to 10. 

And here she is...

Elena Delle Donne has been a professional women's basketball player since 2013, when she was selected by the Chicago Sky second overall in the WNBA draft. She was the 2015 WNBA MVP and won the gold medal with the USA's women's basketball team in the 2016 Olympics. She is the global ambassador for the Special Olympics and became the first national ambassador for the Lyme Research Alliance. Elena also plays host to De11e Donne Academy, a basketball camp that runs throughout the year, where she mentors and coaches girls ages seven to eighteen. She now plays for the Washington, DC, Mystics. 

Review: On Point by Hena Khan

ON POINT

Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream

Book Two

by Hena Khan

Salaam Reads

Middle Grade Sports

ages 7 to 10

144 pages

From the critically acclaimed author of Amina’s Voice comes the second book in an exciting new middle grade series about a scrawny fourth-grader with big dreams of basketball stardom.

Now that Zayd has made the Gold Team, he’s hustling hard and loving every minute of the season.

But when team starts to struggle, Zayd can’t help wondering if it has something to do with him. Even worse, his best friend Adam suddenly starts acting like he doesn’t care about basketball anymore, even though they are finally teammates. He stops playing basketball with Zayd at recess and starts hanging out with other kids. Then, Adam up and quits the Gold Team to play football instead.

While his uncle’s wedding preparations turn life into a circus at home, Zayd is left on his own to figure things out. He has to decide how to still be friends with Adam and step up to fill the empty shoes he left on the court. Does Zayd have what it takes to be on point and lead his team back to victory?

MY TIDBITS

Basketball on and off the court take on exciting twists in a novel for sport fans.

Zayd is now on the team, just where he always hoped to be. But nothing's going quite like he expected it would. The team's unbeatable season the year before seems like a forgotten dream as they lose game after game. To make matters worse, Adam, the team captain and best player, is thinking about switching to football. Zayd finds himself lost as all others begin to look to him for direction. But then, even his family seems to be doing odd things with the wedding coming up.

I did read the first book in the series and suggest starting with it before hitting this one, since much of the character grounding happens in book one.

Zayd's enthusiasm dies quickly in this book and his disappointment is tangible. He never comes across as a whiner either. Zayd is simply at a loss and insecure now that the coach expects more from him. The emotions are real without being over-emphasized, and it's something kids will easily identify with. Especially when it comes to the problems with his best friend, as Adam chooses a different road. There's a lot changing, and it's exactly this which the book looks at.

The author does a nice job at balancing Zayd's family life with his sport one, while building in a wonderful parallel. While Zayd is having trouble in his new leading position, his uncle is having similar problems when it comes to the wedding organization. It's a clear message without feeling preachy.

Like in the first book, the basketball moments come across smoothly and spot on. Zayd is in the game as any boy his age would be. The traditions of the Pakistani wedding also fall subtly in along the sidelines, giving the story a nice flair while gently informing the reader about the culture.

In other words, this is again an interesting read sport fans are sure to enjoy, and the short length makes it easy to read.


And here she is...

Hena Khan is the author of several books including Amina's Voice; Power Forward; On Point; Bounce Back; It's Ramadan, Curious George; Golden Domes and  Silver Lanterns; and The Night of the Moon. Hena lives in her hometown of Rockville, Maryland, with her husband and two sons. You can learn more about Hena by visiting her website at HenaKhan.com.

Review: Power Forward by Hena Khan

POWER FORWARD

Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream

by Hena Khan

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade Contemporary / Sports

144 pages

ages 7 to 10

From the critically acclaimed author of Amina’s Voice comes the first book in an exciting new middle grade series about a fourth-grader with big dreams of basketball stardom.

Fourth grader Zayd Saleem has some serious hoop dreams. He’s not just going to be a professional basketball player. He’s going to be a star. A legend. The first Pakistani-American kid to make it to the NBA. He knows this deep in his soul. It’s his destiny. There are only a few small things in his way.

For starters, Zayd’s only on the D-team. (D stands for developmental, but to Zayd it’s always felt like a bad grade or something.) Not to mention, he’s a bit on the scrawny side, even for the fourth grade team. But his best friend Adam is on the Gold Team, and it’s Zayd’s dream for the two of them to play together.

His mom and dad don’t get it. They want him to practice his violin way more than his jump shot. When he gets caught blowing off his violin lessons to practice, Zayd’s parents lay down the ultimate punishment: he has to hang up his high tops and isn’t allowed to play basketball anymore.

As tryouts for the Gold Team approach, Zayd has to find the courage to stand up for himself and chase his dream.

 MY TIDBITS

Of all the sport fiction for middle graders I've read so far this year, this one makes the slam dunk. SIZZLE.

Zayd is a fourth-grader who dreams of becoming famous, preferrably as an NBA basketball player. But right now, he's on the D-league, which means he's going to have to move up to the gold team first. He's determined and actually has the chance to shine at the next tryouts, but his parents and their dream of him playing the violin is getting in the way. Somehow, Zayd's going to have to work things out if he wants a prayer of achieving his goals.

The author does a fantastic job at bringing Zayd and his problems across naturally, and has a real talent for getting into kids' heads. Zayd is a good boy with a big dream, and he is willing to put in the work and time to make it. His attitude and occasional slip-up are completely understandable and human. He's a lot of fun, has heart and is a joy to cheer for the whole way through.

The writing flows smoothly and at the right level for the intended audience, making this an easy read. It's not too long and the occasional illustrations make it perfect for even more reluctant readers, who'd rather hit the court than hold their nose in a book. Considering it's the beginning of a series, it will be fun to see where each book takes Zayd on his journey toward basketball dreams.

There's a wonderful balance between the basketball scenes and Zayd's everyday life. When he touches that ball, the scenes hit as a real practice. The movements, thoughts and terms are true to life and allow the reader to sink in and feel at home in the game. But this is also true of Zayd's family life. His family has Pakistani origins, which is never forced but flows with the story while keeping the cultural uniqueness in an American setting. Zayd's grandparents still carry their slight accent and influences from the culture sit in his everyday life. It's a great balance and very natural.

Fans of basketball or sports will love following Zayd as he battles to achieve his dreams not only on the court but also takes on everyday life.

And here she is. . .

Hena Khan is the author of several books including Amina's Voice;Power Forward; On Point; Bounce Back; It's Ramadan, Curious George; Golden Dames and Silver Lanterns; and The Night of the Moon. Hena lives in her hometown of Rockville, Maryland, with her husband and two sons. You can learn more about Hena by visiting her website at HenaKhan.com.

Review: Elle of the Ball by Elena Delle Donne

ELLE OF THE BALL

Hoops #1

by Elena Delle Donne

Simon & Schuster 

Middle Grade Sports

160 pages

Elle Deluca is a seventh grader who is tall—not just sort of tall. She’s six feet tall. And for a twelve-year-old girl, this means that her basketball team has high hopes for her changing positions and becoming their starting center. But a new position is not the only footwork she has to learn. Her class’s dance unit in gym is coming up, and that means she has to learn ballroom dance steps with a boy much shorter than her—and perform publically for a grade. 

MY TIDBITS

This isn't only a book about a girl who plays basketball, but it dives into problems many sixth through ninth graders face.

Elle has a problem after summer break. She's tall. Super tall, and while her basketball team sees this as a chance for a great season, she's trying to figure out how to handle her changing body. Not only does she seem to have troubles handling her long legs and big feet, but a new challenge comes at her when she's faced with ballroom dancing.

There aren't many books out there, which center around middle grade girls and basketball. So this one is a treat in that sense alone. But this one goes a step further than that. Elle is a pretty average girl, except for the fact that she's a giant when compared to other girls her age. Her uncertainty and self-criticism is something very common for the age group, as kids try to figure out what to do with their developing bodies and where it puts them. But it's so much more than that. Even seemingly ridiculous things like ballroom dancing for a class pose problems as she has to find a dress and deal with dancing with someone much shorter than her. It's these types of 'little' problems kids will connect to and understand Elle's difficulties and uncertainties.

Elle isn't alone in this but has friends and understanding parents at her side. It's a wonderful balance between figuring things out for herself, while having the extra support when needed. The friendships are inspiring. . .not always perfect. . .but as they should be.

The author brings across a realistic, middle grade world. The concerns, actions, reactions and hopes fit the age group well. Some of the dialogue is a little unnatural at times, but not enough to bother the flow of the story. There's always something going on, and it's easy to empathize with Elle as she figures things out. The basketball scenes and how the age group views the sport are spot on, which will please basketball fans.

Girls who like basketball and tales of the troubles of growing up during middle grade are sure to enjoy this tale.



And here she is. . .

Elena Delle Donne has been a professional women's basketball player since 2013, when she was selected by the Chicago Sky second overall in the WNBA draft. She was the 2015 WNBA MVP and won the gold medal with the USA's women's basketball team in the 2016 Olympics. She is the global ambassador for the Special Olympics and became the first national ambassador for the Lyme Research Alliance. Elena also plays host to Delle Donne Academy, a basketball camp that runs throughout the year, where she mentors and coaches girls ages seven to eighteen. She now plays for the Washington, DC, Mystics.