Random, with the occasional fact as undeniably flabbergasting as, well, soccer-ball–sized hail.
A grab bag of soccer tidbits, gathered like so many acorns by Mills.
Mills took the soccer tree and gave it a good shake. Down came a rain of soccer thises and thats, a precious few basic to the game (like the size of a stadium), some meant to wow (like the stadium—it could only be in Rio de Janeiro—that once held 200,000), and a random swarm of crazies: the soccer field built on a tilt, the player who was traded for 33 pounds of sausage (in 2006!), and the Swiss soccer field that was overrun by frogs. (That is called an omen; game over, go home.) The book is composed of boxed items and free-floating paragraphs that come at readers like flashcards. The graphics are cheery and the photographs are sharp and telling, and there is a curious emphasis on scoring in a game known to go scoreless for ages and ages. Soccer greats are given 10 seconds of page time, and so are the hapless Joes. Women are given a nod, but men dominate. Does the sum of these parts give readers a greater appreciation of the game? No. Will they be able to lob a piece or two of trivia into a soccer conversation to establish street cred? Yes.
Random, with the occasional fact as undeniably flabbergasting as, well, soccer-ball–sized hail. (Nonfiction. 9-12)Pub Date: July 15, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-77085-730-8
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Firefly
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
In no particular order and using no set criteria for his selections, veteran sportscaster Berman pays tribute to an arbitrary gallery of baseball stars—all familiar names and, except for the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez, retired from play for decades. Repeatedly taking the stance that statistics are just numbers but then reeling off batting averages, home-run totals, wins (for pitchers) and other data as evidence of greatness, he offers career highlights in a folksy narrative surrounded by photos, side comments and baseball-card–style notes in side boxes. Readers had best come to this with some prior knowledge, since he casually drops terms like “slugging percentage,” “dead ball era” and “barnstorming” without explanation and also presents a notably superficial picture of baseball’s history—placing the sport’s “first half-century” almost entirely in the 1900s, for instance, and condescendingly noting that Jackie Robinson’s skill led Branch Rickey to decide that he “was worthy of becoming the first black player to play in the majors.” The awesome feats of Ruth, Mantle, the Gibsons Bob and Josh, Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb and the rest are always worth a recap—but this one’s strictly minor league. (Nonfiction. 10-12)
Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3886-4
Page Count: 138
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
An impeccably researched and told biography of Leonard Bernstein’s musical apprenticeship, from toddlerhood to his conducting debut with the New York Philharmonic at age 25. Rubin traces Lenny’s education, musical influences and enduring friendships. Lenny reveled in mounting elaborate musical productions in Sharon, Mass., his family’s summer community. As a student, he augmented support from his family by giving lessons, accompanying singers, transcribing music and more; the narrative sparkles with details that match its subject’s energy and verve. Especially crystalline are the links drawn between father Sam’s decades-long dismissal of his son’s musical gifts and the consequential importance of mentors and supportive teachers in the young man’s life. In exploring Lenny’s devout Jewish roots and coming of age during the persecution of Jews in Europe, the author reveals how dramatically Bernstein altered the landscape for conductors on the American scene. In an epilogue sketching Bernstein’s later life, she briefly mentions his bisexuality, marriage and children. Drawn from interviews, family memoirs and other print resources, quotations are well-integrated and assiduously attributed. Photos, concert programs, early doodles and letters, excerpts from musical scores and other primary documentation enhance the text. Excellent bookmaking—from type to trim size—complements a remarkable celebration of a uniquely American musical genius. (chronology, biographical sketches, author’s note, discography, bibliography, quotation sources, index) (Biography. 9-12)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58089-344-2
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: Jan. 8, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2011
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