Lost in the Sun

Book talk: Playing sports always brought Trent joy. Everyone in town knew him as the golden kid who could excel at any type of game, and he took pride in his reputation. Until the day a pick-up hockey game changed his life forever. One slapshot to the chest combined with an un-diagnosed heart condition made Trent a killer. Now it's a new school year and a new baseball season. It should be a fresh start, but Trent can't leave the past behind. He's changed into someone his friends and family don't recognize and he's not sure if he can ever go back, or if he even wants to. Will he ever play sports again? Who will he be without them?

Rave: The characters in this story are simply fantastic. It would take a very cold heart not to sympathize with Trent as he recovers from the grief and guilt of accidentally killing another kid. The adults around him seem to think that just telling him it's not his fault should be enough for him to get over it, which sadly reflects the lack of knowledge around mental health in our society. I appreciate the way Trent's struggle is depicted, but I think kids will just enjoy the compelling story. Those who enjoy sports will be especially impacted by the loss Trent feels at his inability to play the way he did before. Misfits and sports neophytes, on the other hand, will relate to the other main character Fallon, who helps Trent adjust to his new life. A little something for everyone.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to students looking for a moving novel, especially sports enthusiasts. 4th grade and up.

Topics and Trends: mental health, grief, guilt, sports, baseball,

Extras:

There's a fan-made book trailer




Source: public library

Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff: buy it or check it out today!

Conviction

Book talk: Braden wants nothing more than to keep his head down and play baseball. But his entire world is turned upside-down when his father is arrested for killing a police officer. His father is a well-known christian radio personality, which makes the case a field day for the press. Braden is the key witness in his trail, and in the midst of this circus he has to decide how he will testify. Everyone takes sides, and naturally his team has his back. The nephew of the cop Braden's father is accused of killing plays baseball at a neighboring school, and when the two teams face off everyone feels that there's much more than a game at stake.

Rave: This book is unflinching in its portrayal of abuse, which makes it a difficult read at times. The family dynamic is complex and the characters are far from perfect. I'm not a baseball fan, but this book made me care about the game. Religion, politics, sexuality, sports, race: this book sounds like the recipe for an awkward and contentious dinner conversation but somehow Gilbert pulls it all together into a fantastic and compelling novel.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to fans of baseball or contemporary fiction. It's pretty intense so I'd say 8th grade and up.

Topics and Trends: baseball, LGBTQ, police, religion

Source: kobo ebook

Conviction by Kelly Loy Gilbert: buy it or check it out today!

Crossover Review

Book talk: Twins Josh and Jordan were raised with a ball in their hands by their father, a retired professional basketball player. On court they dominate and make an unbeatable team. Off court, things aren't going as well. When an off-court argument leads to an on-court lash out Josh gets kicked off the team. Then, just when everything in his life seems to be coming apart at the seams, things take a turn for the worse.

Rave: I absolutely adored this novel even if it did rip my heart out and dribble it around for a while. I know next to nothing about basketball but the language of the poetry kept me completely enthralled even when describing games. The main draw of the story though is the family relationships at play which are slowly revealed through the first person verse narrative.

Every book its reader: I'd give it to fans of basketball or poetry or just those looking for a good story with a strong emotional impact. I'd say it's 5th grade and up.

Topics and Trends: basketball, award winners, family, twins, poetry, hip hop, school stories, illness

Extras:






Source: school library

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander: buy it or check it out today!