Mascot Lib/E

by Antony John, Maxwell Glick (Reader)

This witty, heartfelt story about perseverance in the face of adversity is perfect for fans of R. J. Palacio, Cammie McGovern, and John David Anderson. Noah Savino has been stuck in a wheelchair for months. He hates the way people treat him like he's helpless now. He's sick of going to physical therapy, where he isn't making any progress. He's tired of not having control over his own body. And he misses playing baseball--but not as much as he misses his dad, who died in the car accident that paralyzed Noah. Noah is scared he'll never feel like his old self again. He doesn't want people to think of him as different for the rest of his life. With the help of family and friends, he'll have to throw off the mask he's been hiding behind and face the fears that have kept him on the sidelines if he ever wants to move forward.

Genres: Middle Grade, Sports, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Disability, Young Adult

Audio CD

First published September 11, 2018

About the author

Antony John was born in England and raised on a balanced diet of fish and chips, obscure British comedies, and ABBA's Greatest Hits. In a fit of teenage rebellion, he decided to pursue a career in classical music, culminating in a BA from Oxford University and a PhD from Duke University. Along the way, he worked as an ice cream seller on a freezing English beach, a tour guide in the Netherlands, a chauffeur in Switzerland, a barista in Seattle, and a university professor. Writing by night, he spends his days as a stay-at-home dad—the only job that allows him to wear his favorite pair of sweatpants all the time. He lives in St. Louis with his family.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schneider Family Book Award-winner Antony John does not disappoint with his second book about a disabled teen and his first middle grade book. Noah, a middle school student who must use a wheelchair thanks to the accident that killed his father, is as realistic as seventh graders come. Devious, irritable, moody and somewhat self loathing, he's the kind of guy any twelve year old can identify with. But he's also a good friend, a smart kid, and a powerful catcher, even after the accident. Join Noah and his buddies Alyssa and Double Wide as they plot to bring down their enemy: Fredbird, the beloved mascot of the St. Louis Cardinals. This book is especially good for Missourians and redbird fans.

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story centered on a young man, Noah, whom we meet months after he is involved in a car crash. Noah must navigate the "normal" teen issues like crushes, school, and tormentors while also dealing with paralysis and the loss of his father. The author created some interesting, layered characters and shares them with the reader without exposing too much of them. If you are St. Louis or Cardinals fan you will enjoy the details of both peppered throughout the book. I a curious to see how my students respond to it and hear their thoughts on the book.

[Milton Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noah's life changed the day of the car accident...on that day he lost his dad and his ability to walk. Since then, he's been so preoccupied with being bitter that he's lost himself, his friends, and his passion for just about everything. But, with the help of a quirky, new kid (Dee-Dub) and a faithful friend, Alyssa, Noah decides that now is not the time to give up. From battling the school bully, to taking advice from his physical therapy nemesis, to devising a plan to derail his mom's new love interest, Noah learns a lot about getting and giving second chances.

Find it today: https://ent.sharelibraries.info/clien...

Jayme A. / Milton Public Library

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, heartwarming story about friendship, second chances, and perseverance. Noah narrates this story that starts after the accident that kills his father and puts him in a wheelchair. He is back at school and just wants things to go back to "normal." He just wants to forget what happened and have everyone teat him like before. But, Noah finds that that isn't possible. Life needs to change to go forward. He meets Dee-Dub, a new student, and together with Alyssa, Noah slowly removes his "mask" and they navigate middle school and life.

[Christina (Ensconced in Lit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been following Antony John's career for a while, and while I've enjoyed all of his books, my favorite of all time was Five Flavors of Dumb. He just captured those characters so beautifully and I laughed and cried along with them and felt like we were friends by the end. Mascot is the first time I've had that same feeling since Dumb, and it was honestly like coming home. There are different characters and storylines but the feeling is the same. Noah Savino has been in a car accident that ended in tragedy for multiple reasons, and he is mad at the world understandably. He doesn't want to try and he gets mad at the people who love him because they are trying to make him care again. This book is about friendship but also making your way back from a huge challenge. I loved the side characters (John's side characters are the best), Double-Wide, who is likely on the spectrum with his very concrete way of thinking and difficulty making friends and dealing with his emotions, and the terrific Alyssa, who is the Hermione of the trio. And we can never forget one of the younger characters who I won't say too much but she is a firecracker with her own character arc. Overall, a wonderful middle grade read that doesn't dumb itself down for its readers, and makes you want to stand up and cheer! A must read.

[Casey Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. 150 pages in. The "clever irony" of a kid who was a baseball player, then in a car accident, now in a wheelchair is a thought experiment that acts as if actual disabled people don't exist. And he doesn't seem to know how disabled bodies work - he's serving as catcher for someone practicing their pitching, as if that isn't terribly physically demanding. And the fat kid who eats a lot of lasagne and likes to be called Double Wide? Stereotype much?

Oh, and while we've heard jokes about boobs being at eye level now, and a million body comparisons, we haven't heard one thought about how this kid feels about his dead dad.

As for research, the author talks about spending half a day with a physical therapist. Not kids who use wheelchairs. Just someone who works with them. This book is a loser.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens AFTER the accident when the first reactions are done and everyone else has moved on with the normal lives? Noah, once star catcher, is now the kid in the wheelchair on the sidelines. His teammates side with the bully who taunts him, his mom struggles to get him in and out of the car and the endless physical therapy just seems pointless. His steadfast best friend Alyssa is still by his side but Noah even wonders if it is because she feels sorry for him.

A new kid in his class, Dee Dub (Double Wide) who has his own issues, a baseball duel and Noah's mom's new friend who claims to be the mascot of the Cardinals team are the catalyst that finally gets Noah off the sidelines.

I loved this one with its unusual look at the uneven trajectory of recovery and the picture of three great kids who help each other. Lots of great baseball stuff here too.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! There is so many reasons why I loved it and those reasons kept mounting as I read it. I’m only sorry that it took me a while to find this book and now, I’m wondering what else this author wrote that I should be reading.

In the beginning pages of Mascot, you will meet Noah who is adjusting to life in a wheelchair. Noah was with his father in a car accident, were his father was pronounced dead and now, Noah is a paraplegic.

From his tone, Noah isn’t happy with the way his life is headed. During his weekly physical therapy sessions, Noah’s passive/negative remarks have him moving nowhere, whereas another patient in the room, who Noah has been watching, is slowly making progress. His former teammates taunt and bully him, every chance that they get. The pitcher, once his close friend is the leader in this cruel act. Once a star catcher on the school’s baseball team, Noah can’t use his legs anymore. With his father gone, he must rely on his mother for everything and the way things are going, Noah feels this might be a long time.

When Ruben enters the picture, this book just blew up. Ruben cracked me up! Ruben, a.k.a Double Wide or Dee-Dub, arrives in his true form. When he was first introduced to the class, I had many thoughts going through my head as Dee Dub basically says the honest truth without any filters. Like Noah thought, Dee-Dub was crazy or a total genius that knows that being a new kid he can get away with anything. I think he was a little bit of both.

Ruben ends up sitting next to Noah and they form a friendship. Ruben is now associated with Noah which gets the attention of everyone especially the baseball team. I wondered how Ruben would handle the harassment now that he was a part of it. Noah and Ruben were now a pair but could they do anything against a team? We meet Alyssa, who is a friend of Noah’s. I thought she was one tough girl. Noah needed to start hanging around her more as she would teach him something, for she was not taking any gruff from anyone.

Ruben was not afraid of speaking his mind and now, Noah finally has someone to talk to. Ruben helps us, as readers, get to know the characters as he’s not afraid of talking to them and inquiring into the lives of each of them.

What a remarkable, outstanding book! I loved the characters as they felt realistic and I liked how they felt a variety of emotions. There were fears and bleak situations but they worked through them. Now to see what else I need to read by this author.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Increasingly there has been a push in children's literature for strong female characters and books that celebrate girl power. Even though strong female characters have always been the dominating force in children's literature (Jo March, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Anne Shirley, to name a few) more and more authors and publishers are promoting feminism. Problem is, boys are often overlooked. Yes, Harry Potter made a lasting impact but, for the most part, single realistic novels center around girls. Fortunately, Mascot fills at least some of this void. British born Antony John has written a delightful book with one terrific male protagonist at its helm.
Noah Savino was partly paralyzed in a car accident that left him without a father. Grieving, sarcastic, yet determined this highly likable kid narrates the story of his transition from bitter and frustrated to navigating his way through life in a wheelchair. With his mother and a couple of very good friends, Noah comes to realize life not only does go on but it can be pretty darn good, even if you've been sidelined.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noah Medina is confined to a wheelchair after a car accident that takes his father’s life. This book is a great read for middle school students who want a combination of characters facing adversity, middle school school students navigating first crushes and rocky friendships, and families struggling to redefine themselves after tragedies. Noah struggles to figure out who he is, how to move on from his father’s death without forgetting him, and how to redefine who is friends are. It has a great story, a great lesson... I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, because the book almost takes on too much and the reader can get a bit lost in all of the different ideas.

[Brenda Kahn]

I adored this book! If I hadn't sworn off of giving the stars, I'd give it ten! Review soon; but don't miss this extraordinary book!

[Amanda Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with Sam. Really sweet book that almost got me excited about baseball.

[Joy Kirr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one grabbed me from the first chapter. It had its moments of reflection and reality and it also had its moments of fear/anxiety/embarrassment/humor. My favorite mentor moment came from Mrs. Friendly (who is not), and my favorite question is, “What makes him work so hard when the race is already lost?” I’m glad it’s an option on our summer reading flyer.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Biased for sure because of the STL setting - the Hill, the restaurants I’ve been to multiple times, Busch Stadium - but engaging story with an overarching theme that hits home.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This British author really understands the American pastime (baseball and the struggling with the US medical system) and how inevitable being a Cardinals fan is in stl

I also want to get food on the Hill now.

[Tory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my god, you guys. I haven't found a book yet that delves into cell phone use while driving, and this one does it SO POWERFULLY HOLY CRAP. It's terrifying and deadly and oh-so-common in this day and age, and Mascot addresses it in the most horrifying and realistic way possible. Give this book to every dang kid so they'll yell at their parents to GET OFF THEIR FREAKING PHONES.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes books soar like a plane in the opening chapter, then slowly lose altitude and crash. Not this book. This book is like a symphony, opening with a few instruments. The next thing you know the entire orchestra is involved and your mind is blown by the beauty of it all.

The story opens with Noah and new kid Double-Wide. Noah is cynical, sarcastic, bitter. He used to be a rockstar catcher on his little league team. Now he's in a wheel chair, after a car accident left him paralyzed and his dad dead. Double-Wide is huge, smart as heck, and somewhere on the autism spectrum. He and Noah bond over their outcast status.

Then a few other characters enter this symphony of writing mastery. There's Alyssa, a pitching phenom who wants to prove her ability and get the recognition she deserves. And, of course, there's the antagonist, Logan. He's the kid you hope will get his due for the way he treats the kid with the disability. He's the pitcher. Noah was the catcher. They never liked each other, but they did what they had to to win.

Then there's the character who sits on the sidelines waiting for the chance to shine. Ms. Friendly, the PE teacher, is the character who turns this story into a symphony. She's starts out with a few important notes then, boom, she's the soloist. “’I want your son to be involved. Do you want your son to be involved? Or do you want him to sit on the sidelines and watch?’" Noah can't stand her. In his mind she's the teacher who takes satisfaction in tormenting kids. In fact, she's the villain who turns out to be the superhero. Noah HAS become a mascot on the sidelines, without his dad to cheer him on. This quote changes Noah and the trajectory of the book. It's the moment the music begins to build.

Ms. Friendly explaining to Noah why she does CrossFit competitions: “There will come a time when my body says Enough. Little by little, I’ll slow down. My muscles will weaken. I won’t be able to do the things I used to do. That’s why I work out like crazy, Noah. So that I can put off that day. And when it finally comes, I’ll be so fit, I’ll still be better off than most of the people around me. I’ll also know that I’ve pushed myself to the limit—seen what this old body of mine can do. You understand what I’m saying?”

There are about five amazing themes in this book. We've heard them a hundred times. You can do anything if you try hard enough. Be true to yourself by being true to those around you. Life is short, so don't waste it. But let's face it. We ignore all these truths. There's nothing like a good story to put it all in perspective, and I haven't even begun to scratch the surface. So much happens. Every character has an important role. Every scene adds to the big picture. A true symphony.

Mr. Riggieri: You’re got a lot of life still to live.

Noah: The long, slow climb gives me time to think. About fathers and sons, and wasted opportunities. About the things we can’t change and the things we can.

Dynamo: My mom says we’re all running our own races anyway. The main thing is you’ve got to compete. Can’t win anything without competing.

I could quote this entire book. In case you want to know if there's a crescendo, there is.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! Noah is stuck in a wheelchair, thanks to a car accident that killed his dad, and is angry that he can't play baseball anymore, angry that he can't move his body like he used to, and angry that everyone is trying to make him be positive when he can't find anything to be optimistic about. When a new kid transfers to his school without knowing anything about Noah's past and his mom is making decisions that Noah disapproves of, Noah starts to realize that being angry isn't getting him anywhere and that he actually has to face his fears and face the problems he hasn't wanted to think about.

There was so much I loved about this book. Noah is a great main character. He's funny in his observations about others - sarcastic and snarky, but in a way that's understandable because he's dealing with a lot of problems and this is how he copes. He doesn't necessarily dwell on his problems, but they're always present in his life, and the author did such a nice job balancing this without turning the book into something either unrealistic or depressing. There were no easy answers to the problems Noah was dealing with - the difficult of going to PT, his father's absence, the inability to get around by himself - and the author touched upon all of these issues without making this an "issues" book. This was simply about Noah's life and how he copes with everything while growing up.

I loved all the characters in here. Noah was an engaging main character, and all the supporting characters were strong as well. I enjoyed the relationships he had with friends at school (especially the new friend), with other kids who weren't his friends (like the former friend who still somewhat bullies him... or the kid who's also struggling through PT but doing so with ridiculous optimism... or the kid he's annoyed with after their parents start seeing each other), and with his mom. Everyone was nicely drawn and believable. I enjoyed all the different personalities in here and how no one was perfect but no one was terrible either. It was simply a nice look at all the different personalities in life.

For all that Noah wished for his life to be "normal" again, this book did a lovely job showing how he also recognized that the "normal" he'd once known didn't exist anymore and that he had to somehow come to terms with the unfair situation he was now in. Instead of the book showing how everything eventually becomes perfect again, it depicted Noah getting accustomed to what was now his new normal and realizing that others were doing the best that they could too. I'd highly recommend this book to others!

[ASE · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd give this book 2.5 stars, really. There's nothing exactly wrong with it, but I don't necessarily feel that it was worth the time spent listening (I did the audiobook). I listened to this book because it's narrated by Maxwell Glick, who narrates a lot of humorous middle grade books. I went in thinking the book would be lighthearted. It wasn't. The first third of the book was fairly morose. Noah is dealing with the emotional wreckage of a car crash he was in, in which his father was killed, and he lost the use of his legs. He's depressed (understandably so), and as a result, the first part of the book lacks momentum. Then, there's too many subplots--his physical therapy and mental health, the baseball match, reuniting his neighbor with his kids, and the whole mascot situation with his mom's new almost-boyfriend. The idea of 'mascots' doesn't even come in until about half-way through, and quite frankly, it was half-baked. The book wasn't awful, but I can't really think of a kid I'd recommend this book to, I'm sorry to say.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I shouldn't be surprised by how much I liked this - I am always a sucker for a good book about an average middle grade kid going through some less than average life experiences - but I really am glad I gave this one my full attention. These are good kids with good hearts - even the so called bully is redeemed in a way that's not cloying or unbelievable. And at the center you have Noah, who is trying to make the best of a shitty turn of events that left him in a wheelchair and his father dead. Noah is sarcastic and real and his friendship with Dee-Dub and Alyssa is the stuff that great middle grade stories are made of. Some things are left hanging and the ending is a little too rah rah but I really dig this book.

[C.J. Milbrandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noah's whole life changed when a car accident killed his father and landed him in a wheel chair. Physical therapy and PhyEd. Double-wide and Dynamo. Pitching and catching. Minecraft and mascots. Starting over and second chances.

A little about family, a little about friendship, a little about neighbors. I liked Noah's sharp wit (and sympathetic streak) and Dee-Dub's unassuming genius (and trove of information). My favorite part may have been Noah's several turn-abouts, when his opinions (and assumptions) about people underwent a radical shift. Well done!

[Forever Young Adult]

Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: Baseball Town
Drinking Buddy: Get 'cher Cold Ones!
Testosterone Level: First Base
Talky Talk: Play Ball!
Bonus Factors: Weird Kid, St. Louis Baseball
Bromance Status: Teammates

Read the full book report here.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noah Savino is not really happy with how his life has changed. He doesn't like being stuck in a wheel chair. He feels like physical therapy is just hopeless torture with a spine injury. He can't stand the way kids on his former baseball team look at him now, and he could really do without pitcher Logan's teasing. And then there's the fact that his dad is gone. Killed in the crash that took away the use of his legs. And though it hasn't been that long, his mom is already going out on dates with the neighbor guy. But he doesn't feel like he can say what he really feels about any of that. At least the new kid at school, Double Wide is cool. He's a little weird, freakish good at math, and doesn't get subtleties, but he's so far been a good friend to Noah. He seems to see him for Noah, and not the freak in a wheelchair. It seems that Double Wide and Alyssa, Noah's one solid friend from the past, are the only ones able to do so. But is that the fault of others, or does Noah need to learn to take off the mask he's been wearing?

A heartwarming story of a boy recovering from trauma, dealing with the grief of a lost father and lost usage of his legs. There's some baseball. Several adults just waiting for Noah to show he's ready to start healing. A grouchy old neighbor who might need his own dose of healing. His mom's relationship with another neighbor and his 4th grader daughter who is way smarter than is good for her or Noah. Lovable giant and honest-to-a-fault Double Wide (who seems to be on the autism spectrum but is never labeled as such). Super good friend, Alyssa. Noah hatching some not so great ideas (but learning from them...and oh boy, do they seem like things a real middle school boy would cook up). And Noah learning to look beyond his own hurts to the hurts and needs of others. There are so very few middle grade contemporary fiction books starring boys these days, I'm very happy to have found this one. The topic and story will appeal to any reader, boy or girl. It's touching, has moments of humor, feels very believable, and is overall a fun read even though some of the topics are potentially heavy. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy character development stories, crazy hijinks stories, baseball stories, and heartwarming stories.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content (well, none beyond a little peck kiss). A fatal car accident is mentioned, but not described in detail. One fight in which someone gets a concussion and another person gets a broken nose.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventh grader Noah Savino is angry at the world. A paraplegic after a car accident caused by his father's distraction with his cell phone, Noah hates being stuck in a wheelchair and being dependent on others, but he also hates everything about physical therapy. The former baseball catcher seems stuck, unable to move past his anger, self-pity and hopelessness but not quite ready to give up. As his mother starts spending time with Mr. Dillon, a neighbor whose wife left him, Noah resents his presence and that of Mr. Dillon's daughter, Makayla, a very smart and smug fourth grader. But he's not alone in his misery. His classmate Alyssa Choo always has his back and won't tolerate the abuse his nemesis Logan Montgomery continues to rain down on him. He also becomes friends with a transfer student, Ruben Hardesty, who calls himself Double-Wide or Dee-Dub because of his size. Alyssa tries to put Logan in his place with a pitching and batting competition, which leads to an unlikely friendship with Mr. Ruggieri, a baseball-loving neighbor. The emotional and physical struggles that Noah experiences here seem very real, especially how hard he and the others in physical therapy have to work for even the smallest bits of progress as does his realization that he will continue to grow, making it harder for his mother to transport him. Their van hasn't been modified to accommodate his needs due to the expense. While I appreciated the author's efforts to show just how much of himself Noah is hiding--from others and from himself--even while trying to reveal the truth about Mr. Dillon and his supposed role as a mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, that aspect of the plot seemed a bit outlandish to me and detracted from the book's other strengths. Still, I enjoyed much of what I was reading about how one boy and his mother struggled to move on after an unexpected and crushing loss. She's a lot more patient than I would have been as is his physical therapist. But physical therapy and change of any sorts are hard, and the patient has to be willing to put in the effort to accomplish anything. The author captures the flavor of St. Louis with its many rabid baseball fans and landmarks here.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mascot by Antony John, 336 pages. HarperCollins, September 2018. $17.

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

It’s been a year since the car accident that killed Noah’s father and landed Noah in a wheelchair as a paraplegic. From an active life as a baseball catcher, he has been sidelined and is still struggling with grief of so many kinds. Logan, who used to be his baseball partner is sarcastic and seems uncaring of Noah’s struggles. Alyssa, a childhood friend, sticks by his side. And then arrives Rueben aka Double-Wide; big, smart (and probably autistic), who is ready to stand by Noah in his well-meaning, but socially awkward way. Noah has not been participating in his physical therapy, and if he continues to not progress the insurance company will stop paying for it and he really will be chair bound forever. But life has other plans for Noah. Alyssa gets sick of Logan and challenges him to a pitchoff, with far-reaching consequences.

There is so much I want to tell you about this book! And I’ve already told you way too much. A reclusive retiree, two attitudy 4thgraders, a possible love interest for Noah’s mom, and even Mrs. Friendly, the cross-fit star PE teacher who Noah finds anything but friendly. I loved each page as this story unfolded. This is a book that could be read as a class and entertain and teach in equal measures.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[MMill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noah is a 7th Grader who used to be a big baseball fan...he was a great catcher for his Little League team, and he and his dad bonded over Cardinals games. But then came the car accident that killed his dad and landed Noah himself in a wheelchair. Now he's pretty angry at the whole world and between dealing with physical therapy, the limits of his body, and a bully at school, how is he supposed to handle anything else...like his mom maybe dating, or new feelings for an old friend, or gym coaches who won't just let you be invisible? But with the help of a couple of new friends (each who have their own problems), Noah is able to see behind the masks people wear to the real people underneath and he rediscovers the person he is and learns who he wants to be.

This book covers some sensitive subjects: kid in a wheelchair, texting and driving, parent death, just to name a few. It doesn't sugar-coat things, but it's not bleak and depressing, either. Characters all have things that have happened to them, but they work together to find hope after the tough times. Lots of positive, uplifting messages here, even while also being very real.

My only criticism is that the characters didn't have much of a distinctive voice...they all kind of sounded the same (with the possible exception of Dee-Dub, but even he was pretty flat). I just wanted a clearer picture of their personalities, and we really just got bullet points.

I'm interested to go back and read some of this author's other books for older readers.

[Vincie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story! It was a very eye opening book. I could never imagine losing my dad as a seventh grader. Especially the fact that poor Noah is stuck in a wheel chair for the rest of his life. As an eighth grader right now I need both of my parents more than ever! Noah will never get a chance to experience being a student athlete in high school or even college. For me sports are kinda my life. I am consistently doing them whether its for school or for club, I don’t know what I would do if I could never play again. For me I really enjoyed this book because it really got me thinking about how I would feel if this were me or if anything like this happened to anyone. I really would recommend any young adult or pretty much anyone to read this amazing story. For me this story was a window book.
If you don’t know what that is, it is a story that is a lot different from your life. Whether that is someone’s physical ability to even your appearance. In the story Noah stated ‘“I just liked one person who didn’t know everything about the accident,” I tell her. “Someone Who’s only seen my like this, instead of comparing me to the person I used to be.’” These couple lines really spoke to me because I may not be like him built I one hundred percent agree with what he was saying. I feel like sometime having that one person who doesn’t know everything about you can be kinda nice. To conclude I really LOVED this book and one hundred percent recommend to anyone and everyone.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone who has listened to me talk about books in any capacity knows that I absolutely adore middle reader books. There are a lot of reasons why, and this book helped me realize yet another one! This book helped me put into words why I appreciate young protagonists so much - and it's because their drama is not petty. They're incredibly honest, and if there's any confusion about the way people feel about each other and about situations, it's usually because the character themselves don't know or they honestly don't know how to express it. Adults have the communication skills, the vocabulary, and, most of the time, the experience to think through the situation and puzzle it out, but we still don't express the feelings. We watch as it complicates things, all the while knowing how to fix it. I'm not judging - I do this to myself all of the time - but it's nice to get a little refresher course about what we can do from people that we wouldn't expect or maybe wouldn't normally listen to. I'm sure I'll refine this chunk of text later, but it's good to put pen on paper, or, more accurately, fingers to keys, with this sort of thing. Anyway, I recommend this book - it's a nice little story, and it's always good to have an uplifting but realistic account of characters with disabilities. I would hang out with Noah and Dee-Dub, even now at age 23.

Happy Reading!
~Katie

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially, I was a bit hesitant about this book. What can I say, I do judge books by their covers. And this one just wasn't doing it for me. Plus, when I read the description, I was immediately reminded of Natasha Friends How We Roll , which I absolutely thought was a delight, and was worried this one would be a pale comparison.

I was wrong.

This is a solid, funny, heartwarming middle grade tale about friends, finding yourself, and realizing that sometimes you do have to start a new chapter in the book of your life, even if you really liked the old one.

Noah has been in a wheelchair ever since he and his dad got in an accident on the way to baseball practice 5 months ago. He's sick of PT, where he never makes any progress. He's sick of school, because he doesn't fit in with the baseball kids anymore, and he doesn't have a lot of friends. And he's sick of his mom, who doesn't want to have any conflict, but is also starting to go out to dinner with the nice guy down the street, which Noah HATES. So when a new kid shows up who didn't know the "pre-accident" Noah, he becomes his friend. And when the local bully Logan starts mouthing off and challenging them, Noah decides he had better start sticking up for himself and his new friends. Even if he doesn't really want to.

Highly recommend.

[Tiffany Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting middle-grade novel about 12-year-old Noah Savino, whose life changed drastically after a car accident. Noah was the star catcher on his Little League team and was always encouraged by his father, but one afternoon, on the way to baseball practice, his father got into an accident that killed him and confined Noah to a wheelchair. Noah not only misses his father; he also misses baseball and being part of a team. His former teammates are awkward around him, except the star pitcher and coach's son Logan, whose taunts are so cruel they are almost unbelievable. At home, his mother is lonely and starting to spend time with a divorced neighbor, and in PT, Noah is scolded for not trying his hardest. But who can blame him?
Noah's life starts to turn around when he reconnects with Alicia, a friend from elementary school who surprises him with her confidence and baseball prowess, and "Dee-Dub,"a new student who insists the other kids call him "Double Wide,"or Dee-Dub for short. Dee-Dub is a truly unique character, an awkward, heavy boy who's a math genius (but hates to be called Einstein) and has a simmering temper. I wouldn't have minded if his character had been developed more.
I really enjoyed this book. The ending was a bit too sentimental for my taste, but it kept me turning the pages.