Though Hobie didn't really mean to miss his dental appointment or to ride his bike through wet cement, his father says he'll have to pay for repairing the cement; moreover, his behavior had better be perfect on the soccer team's overnight trip. Hobie really does try—it's not his fault that he wrecks a wedding at the motel where the team stays: the clowns performing at the wedding asked Hobie to wear the penguin suit, and he does his best to convince Mr. Crook that he's not part of the murder mystery weekend that's also going on. Gilson quickly establishes characters and conflict in this latest fast-paced story about the popular Hobie; fans will recognize familiar characters like know-it-all Molly and RX the tease. The plot hangs on an unlikely number of coincidences, but there's a lively blend of sports, mystery, and laughs: the dialogue's both funny and believable, while some of the antics— like playing elevator tag—are hilarious. (Fiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: March 18, 1993
ISBN: 0-688-12021-0
Page Count: 148
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1993
Having overcome his fear of drowning in When the Water Closes Over My Head (1994), Mikey advances further down the road of self-discovery when he witnesses a fencing demonstration and catches the fever. It's perfect: He can indulge his interest in weapons while truthfully assuring his parents that it's a sport, and not fighting. Meanwhile, he shores up his battered, middle-child's self-esteem and creates a class report on the history of swords that he hope will win the Olympic medal his fourth-grade teacher hands out every week. To his delight, Mikey has an aptitude to match his enthusiasm, and what he learns in his first few classes about balance, strategy, sensitivity, and sportsmanship pays immediate dividends—not just on the practice floor, but in a series of more conventional situations into which Napoli places him: dealing with a bully, nurturing a new friendship, and holding his own in his busy, good-natured family. The author writes authoritatively of this unusual martial art, and lays on lessons with a light hand. (Fiction. 9-11)
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-525-45759-3
Page Count: 149
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 1996
Dennis O'Malley, 13, learns to conquer his fear in this palatable but sugar-coated sports adventure from the late Christopher. Dennis is a likable character, an avid and talented skateboarder who is eager to convert to snowboarding, if he can overcome his lingering anxiety after a skiing accident years earlier. Dennis's friends, Tasha and Robbie, ease him into the sport, and his cardboard cut-out parents—pretty, overprotective mother; jock father—are there to cheer him on. Eventually, Dennis confronts his angst in a snowboard race against bully Rick Hogan on the same ski slope where he'd broken his leg, but his swift victory smooths over any qualms. A final contest between Dennis and the town snowboarding hotdog leads to a tie and some celebrity for both boys, in an affable but indulgent suburban fantasy. (Fiction. 10-12)
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-316-14261-1
Page Count: 152
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1997
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
