April 1, 2001
Gr. 3-5. After third-graders Nick and Kia win a basketball tournament, they decide to ignore tradition and try out for the all-fifth-grade school team. Concerns about their size and ability are only the first obstacles in their way to making the team; they also want to be accepted by their new teammates. Kia, the only girl on the team and the player with the most vision, helps reverse the team's losing trend by introducing a full court press that gives the kids a shot at winning the play-offs. Like its predecessor " Three on Three" [BKL Je 1 & 15 00], this story moves briskly along, the broadly drawn characters creating conflict, then evolving believably. Basketball enthusiasts will enjoy the play-by-play, but even nonsports fans will be caught up in the action, especially as Nick and Kia prove themselves worthy contenders among older, sometimes unmerciful athletes. A pleasing, frequently inspiring middle-grade novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)