The Rebounder is a great chapter book for boys in middle school. I liked this book for three reasons. First, I liked the character development of Chris (the main charter). The struggle he deals with of going back on the basketball court are real. Chris has a fear of playing basketball again until he is convinced that the injuries caused by his flying elbows are not his fault. The Rebounder really shows how a person feels, when they think they are responsible for a tragic accident. Next, the descriptive language used throughout the book shows how students should be treated when participating in sports. For example, Coach Fulton glanced at the student manager and said, “Don’t pressure him. It’s his decision.” Many student athletes are pressured into certain things and the athlete needs to know that ultimately they get to decide what they want to do. This is an important message that all student athletes should know. Lastly, this book teaches children that hard work pays off, which is a great message. Coach Fulton’s goal before the season started was to win a championship. His players knew from day one that if they worked hard at every practice and were dedicated to the team they would take a trip to the playoffs. At the end of the season the Coach asked if all the sweat and hard work paid off and the players shook their heads and said, “Yes Coach”. With hard work and dedication the Hamilton High Panthers won the championship. Overall, the main idea of this book is to not let a fear take you away from a game you love and that hard work pays off. ( )