PLAY-BY-PLAY

Readers who like Matt Christopher's sport stories will find more of the same here, though they will have to make their way past extended episodes of breast-beating on the part of the main character before they get to the action. Jeremy is not particularly athletic, a fact of which best friend Lloyd often reminds him. But when a new gym teacher introduces soccer, Jeremy feels this might be one sport he can play well, and though he suffers doubts, in the clutch he comes through. Characters are all much simplified and sound older than the fourth-graders they are supposed to be. Jeremy also seems too self-analytical; he spends part of the first chapter telling us how average he is, and later he says--actually says!--""I want to feel good about myself."" The author does show how individual effort and teamwork can dovetail, and readers who understand Jeremy's frustration will also enjoy his sense of accomplishment.