A stellar collaboration that introduces an important and intriguing individual to today’s readers.
Two bestselling authors imagine the boyhood of the man who became the legendary boxing icon Muhammad Ali.
Cassius was a spirited child growing up in segregated Louisville, Kentucky. He had a loving home with his parents and younger brother, Rudy. Granddaddy Herman also was an important figure, imparting life lessons. His parents wanted him to succeed in school, but Cassius had difficulty reading and found more pleasure in playing and exploring outdoors. Early on, he and Rudy knew the restrictions of being African American, for example, encountering “Whites Only” signs at parks, but the brothers dreamed of fame like that enjoyed by Black boxer Joe Louis. Popular Cassius was especially close to Lucius “Lucky” Wakely; despite their academic differences, their deep connection remained after Lucky received a scholarship to a Catholic school. When Cassius wandered into the Columbia Boxing Gym, it seemed to be destiny, and he developed into a successful youth boxer. Told in two voices, with prose for the voice of Lucky and free verse for Cassius, the narrative provides readers with a multidimensional view of the early life of and influences on an important figure in sports and social change. Lucky’s observations give context while Cassius’ poetry encapsulates his drive, energy, and gift with words. Combined with dynamic illustrations by Anyabwile, the book captures the historical and social environment that produced Muhammad Ali.
A stellar collaboration that introduces an important and intriguing individual to today’s readers. (bibliography) (Biographical novel. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-316-49816-6
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson/Little, Brown and HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
PERSPECTIVES
Realistic characters, believable dialogue and a genuine feel for the rhythms and issues of middle-schoolers make this a...
Middle-grade boys will welcome the latest installment of this popular sports series, this time featuring football.
In the third entry in the 4 for 4 series, the group of youngsters readers met in Top of the Order (2009) and Eyes on the Goal (2010) are back, and this time their focus is the turbulent world of middle-school football. Now that they are sixth graders, Jackson Kennedy worries about all the things they have to get used to, from chaos on the school bus to challenging teachers and subjects in their classrooms: “We’re not going to be stuck with one boring teacher.” “No, now we’re going to have lots of boring teachers,” Gig says. Jackson and Gig have been best friends since kindergarten, and now they have no classes together, something particularly difficult as Gig is still having trouble coping with his father’s deployment to Afghanistan. Jackson’s and Diego’s mothers are concerned about the dangers of football, potentially threatening their ability to play the game they love, and they almost lost their friend Isaac to another school. As with the others in the series, there is a nice balance between the sports action and the portrayal of young people navigating the difficulties of growing up both at home and at school.
Realistic characters, believable dialogue and a genuine feel for the rhythms and issues of middle-schoolers make this a satisfying addition to a solid middle-grade set. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-312-37331-3
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2011
A sparkling tale of survival.
A family camping trip in the mountains turns interesting after an earthquake.
Eleven-year-old Vivian is so excited to be going camping with her 12-year-old cousin, Owen, and her 8-year-old sister, Amy. She’s talked her mother and Uncle Mike (both veterans of the outdoors) into camping at Sequoia National Park and, what’s more, letting the kids stay by themselves for 24 hours (the adults will camp just over a short mountain pass). Dusk comes, and Owen, who loves to cook, fixes a stellar meal on his little camp stove; the kids are blissful in their independence. Then comes the earthquake, shaking rocks down onto the trail and blocking the way back to the adults. Taking charge of the frightened Amy and disassociating Owen, Vivian determines that their only choice is to walk out the long way. While Owen has packed more food than necessary for one overnight, it’s not enough. Nevertheless, they start out. This is a tale of adventure and survival, but it’s far from grim; instead, it’s filled with effervescent writing and humorous dialogue. Vivian’s confidence and her joie de vivre in the beauty of her surroundings embrace Amy and Owen—as well as readers—with the usefulness of a positive attitude. If a story about three kids alone in the mountains with little food could ever be described as cheerful and uplifting, this one is it. All main characters read white.
A sparkling tale of survival. (map) (Adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2024
ISBN: 9781536234725
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2024
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