TAKE A SHOT, KIPP

A determined tween lacrosse player faces setbacks on and off the field in Miao’s spirited middle-grade book.

Eleven-year-old Kipp Wei Pettit wants nothing more than to make the travel lacrosse team. Unfortunately, his small size, his new glasses, and his uncertainty and lack of confidence threaten to keep him off the roster. His life is further complicated by the fact that his mom has filled his schedule with other, unwanted activities, including violin lessons and a class at the local YMCA. When a cocky newcomer challenges him for the coveted attack position, Kipp digs deep to compete—aided by his loyal friends, his sometimes-clueless but well-meaning dad, and even his dog. But just as he’s poised for success, Kipp must reckon with an unexpected turn of events that forces him to see how music lessons, gymnastics, and even household chores can sharpen skills that he thought he could only hone on the lacrosse field. Over the course of this novel, Miao keeps the story moving at a brisk clip, weaving together humor, action, and heartfelt moments with ease. Kipp’s voice is authentic and endearing and his struggles with insecurity and parental expectations will resonate with young readers navigating their own growing pains: “A PB&J sandwich always makes me happy, but not today,” Kipp narrates at a low point. “I slump down in the kitchen breakfast nook, like nothing’s right.” Although the prose can sometimes overexplain the story’s lessons, it delivers messages with warmth and clarity: that resilience comes from unlikely places, and that parents can also be members of one’s team.

An energetic and relatable tale of sports, self-doubt, and the surprising ways that kids can rise to the occasion.