The Guys Read series has consistently offered terrific short reads, ideal for kids who don't necessarily think of themselves as "readers." The latest, The Sports Pages, is no exception. As with the earlier titles, author and editor Jon Scieszka has selected a theme (humor with Funny Business; goosepimply chills in Thriller) and authors (David Lubar, Anthony Horowitz, Dan Gutman) with instant kid appeal and name recognition.
Stories that spotlight sports, from baseball to martial arts, as well as two autobiographical sketches, provide wide-ranging material for middle grade readers. In a funny tale about the 1986 World Series and a grapefruit, Dan Gutman shows just how far a fan's imagination will take him. Another of Jacqueline Woodson's great kid characters, Cashew (started as Cashay, ended as a nut) learns an important lesson about running track and living life. Gordon Korman's "The Trophy" presents two teams of city kids who, by vying for possession of a basketball award, deliver a lot of laughs while defining the mystique of the sport. A line from Joe Bruchac's "Choke" ("This time, fish, I'm going to gut you") will keep readers devoted to this story where mixed martial arts creates a hero with the confidence to face down a bully.
These 10 short pieces will provide middle school kids with food for thought, more than a few good laughs and hours of enjoyable reading. --Ellen Loughran, reviewer