Lovely! I really enjoyed this. Lori felt like a real, nine-year-old. She ain’t got it all together, and she still wants her mom’s time.

For Lori, ball is life, and she wants to stop being a benchwarmer. Her friend group is a little tense, and it feels like she’s always walking on eggshells because no one really gets her humor. The conversation at the end with Lori and her was the best!

Overall, I thought the illustrations were cute, and I liked the story a lot. ( )

By no means bad, but I liked the first book better. I was waiting for the heart-to-heart conversation where Lori's mom realized she was being too hard on her/living vicariously through her, but it never came.

In a way, I think it's relatable for kids who are going through difficult situations with their parents. You may never get an apology. ( )

4th grader Lori is really enjoying playing basketball, even though she's not on the regular team. Love how this book is about falling in love with a sport/activity, and enjoying it when your coach pushes you to excel in a way that would not work from parents. Love Lori's difficulties with making friends/ having a sense of humor that gets taken the wrong way. Love the way all the girls adapt and grow over the course of the book, and the interesting insight into being the family of a politician. Really great dad-daughter dynamics. ( )

Recommended Ages: Gr.

Plot Summary: Lori and Sophia are best friends. They have so much fun on the basketball team together, even if they only play in the 5th quarter, before the actual game begins. After Lori wins a game of knockout, she feels more motivated to do better at basketball. Her friends want to play unicorns instead during recess, and she keeps mistakingly says rude things to some of the other girls. When Elyse asks her to go to an overnight basketball camp at the college, Lori isn't sure. Should she go, even though things have been weird with Elyse recently?

Setting:

Characters:
Lori Block -
Sophia - Lori's best friend
Rachel - Lori's neighbor
Elyse - in Lori's friend group
Jason and Becky - Lori's twin siblings
Mom - running for city council to show her daughter she can try hard things

Recurring Themes: friendship, basketball, overnight camp, family, practice, hard work, election

Controversial Issues: none

Personal Thoughts: This one was well written, great characters, and authentic family/friend problems.

Genre: realistic fiction

Pacing: fast, graphic novel
Characters: seem real and authentic
Frame:
Storyline:

Activity: ( )