Go-Kart Rush

by Jake Maddox, Sean Tiffany (Illustrator)

Tony is used to being the best. With his old kart, he won every single race. But now he's twelve, and he's moved up to the next class of racing, TAG karts. Sure, he gets to drive a cool new kart that goes faster than anything he's ever driven. But he has to race against kids three years older than him, who aren't nice to him, and who have been driving TAG karts for years. How is Tony supposed to get used to losing? And when Jon, one of the older kids, invites him to practice, is Jon just setting Tony up for more embarrassment?

Genres: Sports

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Who is Jake Maddox? Athlete, author, world-traveler–or all three? He has surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived in Australia, and climbed the mountains of Peru and Alaska. His books range from the most popular team sports to outdoor activities to survival adventures and even to auto racing. His exploits have inspired numerous writers to walk in his footsteps–literally! Each of his stories is stamped with teamwork, fair play, and a strong sense of self-worth and discipline. Always a team-player, Maddox realizes it takes more than one man (or woman) to create a book good enough for a young reader. He hopes the lessons learned on the court, field, or arena and the champion sprinter pace of his books can motivate kids to become better athletes and lifelong readers.

Reviews

[Maxim D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony is rolling his new tag Kart to the weigh in area when he bumps into the older boys. The older boys started making fun of his height until Larry the recorder for the weights put two blocks so Tony didn’t get the advantage on the other racers for having a lighter cart. Tony and the other racers lined up their karts and started the race as Tony went through the race he made it in record time, but he was also in last place.

The next weekend Tony qualified for the next race. As he pulled he saw his dad cheering for him. The race started, Devin took the lead. After him was Corey, Jon, and Tony. Tony tried to figure out a strategy on how to get in first. As he was gaining on the leader he forgot about the hairpin turn and almost spun out, and then he was back to last place. As they went through the next turn another lap started Tony was closing up on Jon. their bumpers were neck and neck. Tony's TAG kart ran off the track. He had to wait until the race, and everytime the other racers passed by Tony he felt more and more embarrassed. When the race was over the other racers went into the pit but Jon kept going and met up with Tony. Jon asked if Tony was ok, and Tony said he was fine. Tony’s dad came along when Jon drove off and told Tony he should go slower on that turn. Tony knew that. His dad also said to take a break.


When Tony got to his mom's house the next day the phone rang and his mother picked up the phone. She said it was for Tony, then Tony answered the phone. It was Jon from the race track. He is asking Tony if he wants to go to the track after school. Tony would have to ask his dad because his TAG kart is at his dad’s house. The school day ended and Tony and his dad went to the track to meet up with Jon. Jon asked Tony if he would like to drive and race and Tony picked Just to drive on the track. When Tony was driving on the track he used the time to figure out the track and when they both went into the pit where their dads were there Tony’s dad exclaimed that that was his fastest time yet. The pre-final race was on saturday If tony finished the top three he would advance to the february finals.

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book because it has action and it shows a friendship forming. if you like friend books and action books this is a good book for you.

[Kathryn]

I didn’t read this so won’t rate it but my son gives it five stars and said its very exciting. He and his dad read it together :-)

[Hector Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey guys and maybe girls, if you like go karts racing this is the book for you. I liked my book because it gives me some details about go-karts. I didn't know that there's races for go karts, like real ones were their are leagues to win a trophy. Also that you have to be a strain age to race in the good leagues. Also I picked this book because I like to race with go karts even though I like playing soccer. One more thing about the book their is going to be a good bit of racing.


If you guise didn't guess we're the setting would be the answer is in the track where they race. One of the important character was tony he finally qualify to the tag kart race were you race with other kids. Tony was 12 years old and the other racers were like 15 or so. When he went to the weighing room he saw the other kid and they started to bully him because he was short. That is so mean. Sorry I was late about this Tony wanted to win the race but when he saw the other boys he thought he couldn't win. Also I right away knew that it was going to be about person vs. person because Tony had to go against the other racers. The next paragraph are going to shock you real bad think you can handle this.


Now we are getting to the good parts. ***spoil alert*** did you know that Tony's parents were separated and Tony lived with his mom. One day one of the racers called Tony and said if he wanted to go practice with him. I was really shocked because in the race they were bulling him but now one of the racers wanted to be friends. So Tony called his dad to see if he could go and practice with one of the racers (Jon), his dad said yes. Then later that week he went to the track to practice and he had a lot of fun. Then cam the day of the race to see who would win the cup. The racers were lined up to past to the pre finals and the finals. The race had began and Tony was in last still the they all saw the finish line and Tony just made it with a couple of seconds.


The racers and Tony were all working on there karts for the pre finals. Then came the pre finals it had 15 laps to do before passing the finish line. So they go Tony was were that he wouldn't make it because he always finish last place. The race didn't last much it went on real fast. So came on the final lap and Tony still in last place. Tony could see the finish line, then came the S were you go right left right. Tony tried to focus on the race not on passing the racer. The finish line was close Tony saw that two of the racers moved to the side and Tony said "now or never" and went for it and what do you think happen did he qualify or not. There is something that I hate about the end but I'm not going to tell you sorry you just have to read the book to see what happens.


In conclusion I would give this book a five out of five because it tells me a lot of information on karts and what happen to Tony. What hate about this book is the ending of the book because something happens that I have a question to the author. Why didn't you right the ending this happens with the books that I read that are related to the book. I would recommend this book to kids who like to race with karts and like the wind in their faces like me. Also that Tony wanted to win the race but a lot of things happens. Ps this book has a lot of shocking stuff if you like that this is the book for you hope you like this book and this book review.

[SPENCER Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot: Go kart rush is about a boy called tony. He is twelve and he gets to race with the older boys. But the older boys are mean to him. There is 3 of the older boys and 1 of them is nice the 1 boy asked if he wanted to practice on the track on the Wednesday night.


3 Vocab words: Transponder(a machine mounted on the kart that figures out how fast the kart drove in each lap) pit (the area of the track where the cars are worked on) chassis( the kart frame).




Theme: Well reading this book helped me understand on how you can focus on only one thing. If you can focus on more than one thing that is great. But it is better for your brain if you don´t focus on more than one thing. Really should we need to focus on the thing at task not what else you are going to do that day.



Opinion: I think that we need to focus on one thing. We all need to be nice to the people that are younger or older. We need to learn form there mastaks. So learn form there mataks not yours

[Tashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like this book because it's about this kid that is in a race and he is trying to win so inow this guy jon asked him to come over at his uncle's track and his uncle owns a track so he called his for practice.

[Ty Brouillette · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thouth it was a good book i would recomened this book to anyone who likes racing

[Ty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it. I would recommend this to any one who likes racing.

[Makaileigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was okay.. it was not the best one

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book was really good I read a lot of the books in this series

[Dakota · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was agood book. the book was based on go cart racing. the kid got a fast go cart. he got ot race it. He didn't win the first time,

[Vontae]

this book is cool because he is a young person letting nothing stop him from racing

[Jordan Drilling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay.

[Kelsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i like to ride go karts

[Ethan Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is jake maddox at his best! A great book to read if you have the time. I highly recommend this book.
-Ethan

[Josh Tudor]

Good book about a kid cheating on the go kart track

[Kylie · Rating 1 out of 5]

i like go-karts