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Sticks
Breaking, bank shots, slices, and safeties—-fifth grader Mickey Vernon can shoot pool better than some guys twice his age. His philosophy is simple: "I think a lot of the world's problems could be solved by a couple of guys shooting a few racks down at the local hall." But sometimes that's hard to remember when he's facing down seventh-grade bully Buck Pender. Buck is determined to beat Mickey in the annual youth tournament down at Vernon's, the pool hall owned and operated by Mickey's grandma Poppy. And he just might do it, too. Except Mickey's got a secret weapon. Joseph Alvarez, a big rig trucker and family friend, has returned to town, and he was coached by the best pool player on the nine-ball professional circuit--Mickey's dad, who died shortly after Mickey was born. So with the help of Joseph and his two best friends, 10-year-old math genius Arlen and magician extraordinaire Francine, Mickey just might have a shot at the championship. Then Buck baits him into playing a game in which Mickey badly sprains his stick hand, just three short weeks before the tournament. Has Mickey just scratched the cue ball of his dreams?
Fun, folksy, and big-hearted, Joan Bauer's first novel for middle-grade readers is sweeter than a 90-degree bank shot off the rail and into the corner pocket. Mickey's unselfconscious and humorous narration ranks with that of Archie in How I Became a Writer and Oggie Learned to Drive by Janet Taylor Lisle or Peter in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. (Ages 9 to 12) --Jennifer Hubert
182 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 1996
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About the author
Joan Bauer
26 books886 followersFrom: http://www.joanbauer.com/jbbio.html
July 12, 1951 - I was born at eleven A.M., a most reasonable time, my mother often said, and when the nurse put me in my mother's arms for the first time I had both a nasty case of the hiccups and no discernible forehead (it's since grown in). I've always believed in comic entrances.
As I grew up in River Forest, Illinois, in the 1950's, I seem to remember an early fascination with things that were funny. I thought that people who could make other people laugh were terribly fortunate. While my friends made their career plans, declaring they would become doctors, nurses, and lawyers, inwardly I knew that I wanted to be involved somehow in comedy. This, however, was a difficult concept to get across in first grade. But I had a mother with a great comic sense (she was a high school English teacher) and a grandmother who had been a funny professional storyteller, so I figured the right genes were in there somewhere, although I didn't always laugh at what my friends laughed at and they rarely giggled at my jokes. That, and the fact that I was overweight and very tall, all made me feel quite different when I was growing up--a bit like a musk ox at a tea party.
My grandmother, who I called Nana, had the biggest influence on me creatively. She taught me the importance of stories and laughter. She never said, "Now I'm going to tell you a funny story," she'd just tell a story, and the humor would naturally flow from it because of who she was and how she and her characters saw the world. She showed me the difference between derisive laughter that hurts others and laughter that comes from the heart. She showed me, too, that stories help us understand ourselves at a deep level. She was a keen observer of people.
I kept a diary as a child, was always penning stories and poems. I played the flute heartily, taught myself the guitar, and wrote folk songs. For years I wanted to be a comedienne, then a comedy writer. I was a voracious reader, too, and can still remember the dark wood and the green leather chairs of the River Forest Public Library, can hear my shoes tapping on the stairs going down to the children's room, can feel my fingers sliding across rows and rows of books, looking through the card catalogs that seemed to house everything that anyone would ever need to know about in the entire world. My parents divorced when I was eight years old, and I was devastated at the loss of my father. I pull from that memory regularly as a writer. Every book I have written so far has dealt with complex father issues. My dad was an alcoholic and the pain of that was a shadow that followed me for years, but I've learned things from that experience that have made me resilient. I attempted to address those issues in Rules of the Road, and I took them even further in the companion book, Best Foot Forward. The theme that I try to carry into all of my writing is this: adversity, if we let it, will make us stronger.
In my twenties, I worked in sales and advertising for the Chicago Tribune, McGraw-Hill, WLS Radio, and Parade Magazine. I met my husband Evan, a computer engineer, while I was on vacation. Our courtship was simple. He asked me to dance; I said no. We got married five months later in August, 1981. But I was not happy in advertising sales, and I had a few ulcers to prove it. With Evan's loving support, I decided to try my hand at professional writing. I wish I could say that everything started falling into place, but it was a slow, slow build -- writing newspaper and magazine articles for not much money. My daughter Jean was born in July of '82. She had the soul of a writer even as a baby. I can remember sitting at my typewriter (I didn't have a computer back then) writing away with Jean on a blanket on the floor next to me. If my writing was bad that day, I'd tear that page out of the typewriter and hand it to her. "Bad paper," I'd say and Jean would r
July 12, 1951 - I was born at eleven A.M., a most reasonable time, my mother often said, and when the nurse put me in my mother's arms for the first time I had both a nasty case of the hiccups and no discernible forehead (it's since grown in). I've always believed in comic entrances.
As I grew up in River Forest, Illinois, in the 1950's, I seem to remember an early fascination with things that were funny. I thought that people who could make other people laugh were terribly fortunate. While my friends made their career plans, declaring they would become doctors, nurses, and lawyers, inwardly I knew that I wanted to be involved somehow in comedy. This, however, was a difficult concept to get across in first grade. But I had a mother with a great comic sense (she was a high school English teacher) and a grandmother who had been a funny professional storyteller, so I figured the right genes were in there somewhere, although I didn't always laugh at what my friends laughed at and they rarely giggled at my jokes. That, and the fact that I was overweight and very tall, all made me feel quite different when I was growing up--a bit like a musk ox at a tea party.
My grandmother, who I called Nana, had the biggest influence on me creatively. She taught me the importance of stories and laughter. She never said, "Now I'm going to tell you a funny story," she'd just tell a story, and the humor would naturally flow from it because of who she was and how she and her characters saw the world. She showed me the difference between derisive laughter that hurts others and laughter that comes from the heart. She showed me, too, that stories help us understand ourselves at a deep level. She was a keen observer of people.
I kept a diary as a child, was always penning stories and poems. I played the flute heartily, taught myself the guitar, and wrote folk songs. For years I wanted to be a comedienne, then a comedy writer. I was a voracious reader, too, and can still remember the dark wood and the green leather chairs of the River Forest Public Library, can hear my shoes tapping on the stairs going down to the children's room, can feel my fingers sliding across rows and rows of books, looking through the card catalogs that seemed to house everything that anyone would ever need to know about in the entire world. My parents divorced when I was eight years old, and I was devastated at the loss of my father. I pull from that memory regularly as a writer. Every book I have written so far has dealt with complex father issues. My dad was an alcoholic and the pain of that was a shadow that followed me for years, but I've learned things from that experience that have made me resilient. I attempted to address those issues in Rules of the Road, and I took them even further in the companion book, Best Foot Forward. The theme that I try to carry into all of my writing is this: adversity, if we let it, will make us stronger.
In my twenties, I worked in sales and advertising for the Chicago Tribune, McGraw-Hill, WLS Radio, and Parade Magazine. I met my husband Evan, a computer engineer, while I was on vacation. Our courtship was simple. He asked me to dance; I said no. We got married five months later in August, 1981. But I was not happy in advertising sales, and I had a few ulcers to prove it. With Evan's loving support, I decided to try my hand at professional writing. I wish I could say that everything started falling into place, but it was a slow, slow build -- writing newspaper and magazine articles for not much money. My daughter Jean was born in July of '82. She had the soul of a writer even as a baby. I can remember sitting at my typewriter (I didn't have a computer back then) writing away with Jean on a blanket on the floor next to me. If my writing was bad that day, I'd tear that page out of the typewriter and hand it to her. "Bad paper," I'd say and Jean would r
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 22, 2013
I just really, really, really love Joan Bauer. She's got a lot of heart. Her characters are so real.
Here's the passage I loved best in this book:
The mom is trying to explain why they persist in living in a little dive of a town (that's what the kid thinks) in New Jersey.
"I can't make you care for a place that I love. I wish I could. I don't if I can even explain to you what this town means to me. I've lived so many places I didn't care about that finding one that was special was a gift. There isn't much in (town) that's pretty the way we think beauty should be. There isn't much here that distinguishes us from other places. ...We stay because the values that I hold dear in this world--loyalty, hard work, love, determination--are here. And there's no better way I know to teach my children what I believe in and care about than to have us live in a place where they see these things happening around us every day. ...
"When (something hard happened), all these people poured out comfort to me. They didn't give me pat promises...They didn't tell me that everything was going to be all right. They stood with me, they cried with me until it was all right. No one here is a fancy dresser...and the colors you love so much aren't in grand display, but if you can focus your eyes to look inside the hearts of these people, you will see a rainbow of colors. That's what I see. That's why I stay."
Sums up so beautifully why we stay where we are too.
Here's the passage I loved best in this book:
The mom is trying to explain why they persist in living in a little dive of a town (that's what the kid thinks) in New Jersey.
"I can't make you care for a place that I love. I wish I could. I don't if I can even explain to you what this town means to me. I've lived so many places I didn't care about that finding one that was special was a gift. There isn't much in (town) that's pretty the way we think beauty should be. There isn't much here that distinguishes us from other places. ...We stay because the values that I hold dear in this world--loyalty, hard work, love, determination--are here. And there's no better way I know to teach my children what I believe in and care about than to have us live in a place where they see these things happening around us every day. ...
"When (something hard happened), all these people poured out comfort to me. They didn't give me pat promises...They didn't tell me that everything was going to be all right. They stood with me, they cried with me until it was all right. No one here is a fancy dresser...and the colors you love so much aren't in grand display, but if you can focus your eyes to look inside the hearts of these people, you will see a rainbow of colors. That's what I see. That's why I stay."
Sums up so beautifully why we stay where we are too.
September 7, 2008
My good friend Kelly Danforth recommended this one to me when I told her I was taking a billiards class in college. I'm really glad she did! It was a nice easy read, meant for people a little younger, but that didn't lower it's value a bit. It was a great read that dealt with really some pretty heavy issues. Forgiveness, finding courage in adversity, grief at a loss, connections made in small towns and the love and togetherness of family. And of course... pool.
The writing was great! Written in the voice of 10-year old Mickey Vernon, Sticks gives a very authentic feel. Joan Bauer is a great author, if only reading one of her books gives me license to say. I got a real attachment to Mickey early on in the short book. I could really identify with him, even though I totally stink at pool. And honestly, I think reading this book helped me with my game. I didn't know how to use the diamond system on the pool table until I read the book! A great read. Short, easy, fun, touching and uplifting are all words I would use to describe Sticks.
The only problem is I couldn't find a copy in a bookstore anywhere! I searched bookstores in one city, 2 towns and 2 different states and couldn't find one. Thank goodness for Amazon.com!
Kelly, thanks for the suggestion. I'll get this copy to you as soon as I see you again.
The writing was great! Written in the voice of 10-year old Mickey Vernon, Sticks gives a very authentic feel. Joan Bauer is a great author, if only reading one of her books gives me license to say. I got a real attachment to Mickey early on in the short book. I could really identify with him, even though I totally stink at pool. And honestly, I think reading this book helped me with my game. I didn't know how to use the diamond system on the pool table until I read the book! A great read. Short, easy, fun, touching and uplifting are all words I would use to describe Sticks.
The only problem is I couldn't find a copy in a bookstore anywhere! I searched bookstores in one city, 2 towns and 2 different states and couldn't find one. Thank goodness for Amazon.com!
Kelly, thanks for the suggestion. I'll get this copy to you as soon as I see you again.
February 4, 2016
Ten-year-old Mickey has a talent and passion for pool, same as his late father. Mickey's nemesis is Buck Pender, a 13-year-old bully of the pool hall whom Mickey is determined to defeat in the youth nine-ball championship at his grandmother's pool hall. Unfoturnately, Mickey allows Buck to get to him, thus messing with his game. What ends up helping Mickey's game and passion is the return of family friend Joseph Alvarez who learned to play pool from Mickey's father. Mickey's mother is afraid Joseph will just let Mickey down as he had let the family down after her husband's death. But to Mickey, who was a baby when his father died, Joseph represents a connection to his father and the one sport they both love. Mickey's best friend Arlen also provides his math expertise to help Mickey with his game.
It's a vivid story about a likable kid who's passionate about his hobby. The working-class setting is that of a tight-knit family and neighborhood, where there is always someone there to pick you up when you're down. A great "boy book," too.
It's a vivid story about a likable kid who's passionate about his hobby. The working-class setting is that of a tight-knit family and neighborhood, where there is always someone there to pick you up when you're down. A great "boy book," too.
December 5, 2017
Joan Bauer is racing to the top of my list of favorite writers...especially of the books that I call "sad-happy" ones when I talk to my library patrons. "Sticks" leans less on the sad and more on the happy, but with a lot of determination and hard work along the way. In this title, 13 year old Mickey Vernon is focused on one thing and one thing only--winning the big pool tournament hosted by his family's pool hall. But there are potholes on that path to victory--a more experienced and mean rival, his mother's rules, the reappearance of a pool expert and family friend who fell into disfavor right about the time Mickey's father died.....Readers will cheer and wonder about the ending all the way up to that last terrific chapter and then will probably want to find another Joan Bauer book. This particular one does not contain any mature themes and is appropriate for any age that can read a 185 page book on a 5th grade reading level...especially if they like pool!
November 9, 2022
Sticks, by Joan Bauer, is a realistic fiction book that is especially great because of the phenomenal plot. Joan Bauer is an American writer who has written several books, including Soar and Peeled. The aspects that make this book special are that it is centered around a pool and the character designs are excellent.
Sticks is a suspenseful book about sports. The story follows Mickey trying to beat Buck in a game of pool. The majority of the book takes place at the school, at the pool table, and in a section in a suburban town.
The main conflict, which is man vs man, is an important part of the story. This conflict is represented using the two main characters, Mickey and Buck. Whenever Mickey trains to beat Buck, tt displays the rivalry between the two characters that create the fantastic plot that is shown in the story.
As I have mentioned, the plot of the book is also a part of the many things that make this book extraordinary. I like the story because it had a great beginning, climax, and resolution. In the beginning, Mickey goes against Buck and loses. Then in the climax, he hurts his arm really badly and he may not be able to compete in the tournament. In the end, he does the tournament and he wins against Buck which makes Buck really sad.
I think the book was very interesting and cool with the plot. I also think It is good at holding my interest. One of the book's weaknesses is that it holds the story out. I think the book could be shorter if they got rid of all the details. Nevertheless, I would still recommend this book to people who have not read this book.
Sticks is a suspenseful book about sports. The story follows Mickey trying to beat Buck in a game of pool. The majority of the book takes place at the school, at the pool table, and in a section in a suburban town.
The main conflict, which is man vs man, is an important part of the story. This conflict is represented using the two main characters, Mickey and Buck. Whenever Mickey trains to beat Buck, tt displays the rivalry between the two characters that create the fantastic plot that is shown in the story.
As I have mentioned, the plot of the book is also a part of the many things that make this book extraordinary. I like the story because it had a great beginning, climax, and resolution. In the beginning, Mickey goes against Buck and loses. Then in the climax, he hurts his arm really badly and he may not be able to compete in the tournament. In the end, he does the tournament and he wins against Buck which makes Buck really sad.
I think the book was very interesting and cool with the plot. I also think It is good at holding my interest. One of the book's weaknesses is that it holds the story out. I think the book could be shorter if they got rid of all the details. Nevertheless, I would still recommend this book to people who have not read this book.
April 16, 2019
More like 2.5 stars.
Cute book and a clever use of mathematics throughout too! My main complaint is it was boring at the beginning. I mean, very boring to the point I almost DNF.
I like a male protagonist and the pool world is certainly something I haven't read much about. I did wonder at the wisdom of a child spending hours upon end in a pool hall -- such locales seem to have a certain reputation. And I wondered how Mickey would ever be allowed to compete in a competition at a family owned business, isn't that usually forbidden in the rules? One final irritation for me was that "Poppy" is female. Seem an awfully masculine name for a Grandma.
Cute book and a clever use of mathematics throughout too! My main complaint is it was boring at the beginning. I mean, very boring to the point I almost DNF.
I like a male protagonist and the pool world is certainly something I haven't read much about. I did wonder at the wisdom of a child spending hours upon end in a pool hall -- such locales seem to have a certain reputation. And I wondered how Mickey would ever be allowed to compete in a competition at a family owned business, isn't that usually forbidden in the rules? One final irritation for me was that "Poppy" is female. Seem an awfully masculine name for a Grandma.
October 26, 2018
This book is really well written. I also liked it because this is how helped me to learn the game pool. So if any of you want to learn then just read this book. This is about a boy and his dead fathers friend and the boys friend. So the boy wanted to learn pool and he asked his fathers friend and it was really hard to convince him but he said yes. But the boy just wanted to learn for fun. Then he got so good that he got to the championships. But your just going to have to read it to see who wins in the championships.
July 9, 2025
4.5 - Never thought I’d be this invested in a game of pool. It took a third of the book to warm me up to that idea but once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. Here’s to heartwarming stories where things can be complicated and yet it can still all end well. There’s no shame in a happy ending and a simple plot structure. The cynic in me may try hard to push it down with rationalism and reality, but I think a book like this sometimes does more for my soul than any bleak modern experimental plot.
December 8, 2023
I read this book in early middle school and this was my favorite book for a very long time. Honestly, re-reading it, it's pretty bad, but obviously my tastes have changed in the past twenty-ish years. I happened to read it about the time my grandfather passed away and I was processing the loss. This helped me a little bit, to escape the world a bit and to understand how other people process loss too.
August 1, 2017
3.5- tbh this book was better than I thought it'd be but some of the parts got on my nerves and there were some loose end. Although, I admire Mickey for playing his heart out even though he thought his hand would break. Also there were a couple heartfelt moments (but not many).
June 21, 2022
Another great young reader novel.
July 27, 2025
Mickey's family owns a pool hall and his father was a champion pool player. Mickey dreams of following in his deceased father's footsteps, but first he has to beat his bully. Will he learn the skills necessary to become a champion too?
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November 25, 2014Sticks is about a boy named Mickey and his family owns a pool hall. They also live above the pool hall in a little apartment. Mickey's dad was a great pool player but then he died. Mickey wants to follow in his dad's foot steps and be one of the best junior pool players in the world and he is only 10 years old. In order for this Mickey practices everyday after school. Also one of his friends Arlen helps him with strategies and what shots to take and how to do it. Mickey is really good at math and angles and he uses it in his advantage while he is playing pool. He is also probably the best pool player there for his age but only one guy stands in his way and his name is Buck a 13 year old bully that thinks he is so much better then Mickey. To get around Buck and beat him he asks help from one of his dads old friends, Joe, Joe is also one of the best pool players just like Mickeys dad. After a few weeks of practicing with Joe, Mickey is ready for the pool championship, and guess who is in it too. Buck, it is a game that neither of them will forget. Will the practice pay off for Mickey?
I recommend this book for anyone, especially if you like playing pool. But the book makes sense to everyone even if you don't play pool. The book has believeable characters that go through some conflicts that I felt you can feel as you are reading the book. This book is exciting in all parts it doesn't get boring in any part of the book. The conclusion to me is the best part it isn't predictable but it makes sense to what has happens.
Mickey do you ever feel pressured to follow in your dads foot steps?
I feel the pressure sometime but I try to let it go and focus on the game.
Mickey do you think that you learned more than just pool from Joe?
Yes he taught me some really good life lesson like being able to take a loss.
Mickey does Buck bothered you anymore?
He hasn't bothered me since.
I recommend this book for anyone, especially if you like playing pool. But the book makes sense to everyone even if you don't play pool. The book has believeable characters that go through some conflicts that I felt you can feel as you are reading the book. This book is exciting in all parts it doesn't get boring in any part of the book. The conclusion to me is the best part it isn't predictable but it makes sense to what has happens.
Mickey do you ever feel pressured to follow in your dads foot steps?
I feel the pressure sometime but I try to let it go and focus on the game.
Mickey do you think that you learned more than just pool from Joe?
Yes he taught me some really good life lesson like being able to take a loss.
Mickey does Buck bothered you anymore?
He hasn't bothered me since.
November 19, 2009
Mickey the main character is trying to follow in his father’s footsteps to become a world-class pool player. After his father passed it’s Mickey and his family that are living in their family pool hall. Everyday after school Mickey would be practicing for the 9-ball tournament with his math matician friend Arlen, there to help him every step of the way. When a long time family friend appears out of the blue. He wants to help Mickey because of his past relationship between himself and Mickey’s father. At first Mickey’s mother doesn’t approve of Mickey getting help from Joe Alverez the past time friend. The opponent of the town is a 13-year-old bully named Buck. He is the best in the tournament and the only guy standing in Mickey’s victory path. Another thing in Mickey’s path is he got a broken arm when he gets in a fight with Buck. But still nothing stops the motivated Mickey.
Joan Bauer shows the courage that Mickey has to overcome bullies. Mickey and Arlen remind me of myself and good friend Carlos. We have over came stuff like this before too. Carlos and I come to obstacles about everyday but we fight through them like Mickey and Arlen. Like I said before Mickey’s house is pool hall located at the center of the town, and basically Billiards is the main attraction. As Joan Bauer explains the intensity of the back and forth championship pool match I can see two kids giving it their all to claim the title. After reading the story of how a kid can overcome his challenges and become something he wants to it inspires me to do the same. It’s funny, exciting, and cool all at the same time.
Joan Bauer shows the courage that Mickey has to overcome bullies. Mickey and Arlen remind me of myself and good friend Carlos. We have over came stuff like this before too. Carlos and I come to obstacles about everyday but we fight through them like Mickey and Arlen. Like I said before Mickey’s house is pool hall located at the center of the town, and basically Billiards is the main attraction. As Joan Bauer explains the intensity of the back and forth championship pool match I can see two kids giving it their all to claim the title. After reading the story of how a kid can overcome his challenges and become something he wants to it inspires me to do the same. It’s funny, exciting, and cool all at the same time.
September 8, 2008
Sticks is about a boy named Mickey who's family owns a pool hall. His family lives in an apartment above. His goal is to become the nine-ball champion of the world. First he has to beat his enemy, Buck, in the Junior Nine-Ball Championship. He and his friend, Arlen, devise a strategy using math to conquer the table, but Mickey's nerves and temper always seem to get in his way. Especially when he plays against Buck. Then an old family friend, Joe Alvarez, rolls into town, and agrees to be Mickey's coach.
This was a light, easy read. I believe this is the shortest of Joan Bauer's books. It has some quirky characters that all have something in their lives that they do well. For Mickey it is pool, for Arlen it is math, Francine likes magic tricks, and Camille loves designing and sewing. Even the adults in this book seem to have something that defines them. Poppy (Mickey's grandma) runs the pool hall. Joseph Alvarez lives to be out on the open road as a truck driver. Mickey's mom loves the community and is in charge of the neighborhood watch. The message I took from this book is to not be afraid to go after your ambitions, even if it means overcoming your obstacles. I recommend this book to anyone.
This was a light, easy read. I believe this is the shortest of Joan Bauer's books. It has some quirky characters that all have something in their lives that they do well. For Mickey it is pool, for Arlen it is math, Francine likes magic tricks, and Camille loves designing and sewing. Even the adults in this book seem to have something that defines them. Poppy (Mickey's grandma) runs the pool hall. Joseph Alvarez lives to be out on the open road as a truck driver. Mickey's mom loves the community and is in charge of the neighborhood watch. The message I took from this book is to not be afraid to go after your ambitions, even if it means overcoming your obstacles. I recommend this book to anyone.
August 8, 2011
It wasn't as deep as some other books of hers, but still entertaining and enjoyable. Sticks had some great lessons thrown into a fun story. Mickey is a 10-year-old boy who wants to win the annual nine ball competition at his family's pool table hall. His goal is to be the best around, like his dad once was. There is one teensy problem: Buck, a bully, who has it out for Mickey and will do anything to beat him. Mickey needs a teacher, and when his dad's old friend Joseph Alvarez shows up, he thinks it's the perfect opportunity. However, Mickey's mom doesn't seem to think it's a good idea. A fun story, Sticks includes some great characters like Mickey's grandmother Poppy and his genius best friend Arlen to help Mickey through. Poppy imparts her wisdom and Arlen thinks that math can explain anything and everything. All of the characters have to grow in this book, and all of them learn something. I am really beginning to love Joan Bauer!
June 8, 2010
Mickey Vernon has a goal—to be a pool champ like his dad. The Junior Nine-Ball Championship is coming up soon and Mickey’s training hard to beat his competition. Buck Pender is older, intimidating and a good pool player. With the help of his dad’s best friend, Mickey trains to be the best. In a pre-championship game against Buck, Mickey injures his hand. Can he play in the championship? Will all his hard work pay off?
What I thought: I’m delighted with this first “boy book” from Joan Bauer. I read Stand Tall some months back. Unlike it, Sticks features a first person protagonist like Bauer’s young adult “girl books.” I grew up watching my parents play so I can appreciate Mickey’s fascination with the game. Sticks is a great book about pool, friends, and proving yourself.
What I thought: I’m delighted with this first “boy book” from Joan Bauer. I read Stand Tall some months back. Unlike it, Sticks features a first person protagonist like Bauer’s young adult “girl books.” I grew up watching my parents play so I can appreciate Mickey’s fascination with the game. Sticks is a great book about pool, friends, and proving yourself.
June 25, 2012
This author is a quiet genius. It takes a very high level of skill and inspiration to write a good YA or JF novel. I feel like lots of them are gimmicky. There can be no B.S. because the audience won't stand for it, but it has to be compelling at the same time. Also, what is a book without embedded life lessons? This one is about the game of pool and math. The protagonist is a 10 year-old who's lost his father to cancer. Characters are great (his forgetful, "gifted" friend Arlen), people are learning about trust and relationships. The boy gets great lessons from a colorful friend of his dad's about what it really means to win.
April 15, 2013
Great story. Great characters. In this Bauer novel, the adult mentor is the best friend of Mickey's dead father. He was far from perfect and I really liked that he had his faults (mostly in the past), but really wanted to be a good influence on Mickey and pass on lessons he had learned in life, many from Mickey's dad. I loved the first lesson of how to be a good loser, and that character is more important than whether or not you win the game. Mickey's little math-whiz friend was great too. I loved how he not only used math and science to improve Mickey's pool game but used pool in their science project. It was a great connection both ways between education and interests.
February 23, 2009
Mickey is a 10 year old boy who lives above the family's pool hall, which is why his whole life is focused on playing pool. And now that the Annual Youth Championship is coming up, he wants to beat the local bully and earn the coveted Red T Shirt that will show everybody how great a player he is. When a man comes back into the family's life that has a troubled past, Mickey soon learns that there's more to winning that the glory. Written for pre-teen/teenage readers, this book is a nice clean read for anybody.
February 10, 2011
Did you ever play pool? What might it take to become a good pool player? Practice? Your own cue stick or your own table? How about math and geometry and a little touch of the Laws of Motion by Sir Isaac Newton? That’s what works for Mickey Vernon. Until he sprains his hand just a few weeks before the big tournament and then it seems nothing will work.
I got a new appreciation for the game of pool and the strategy involved. I liked the family dynamics with real emotions, dreams and concerns.
I got a new appreciation for the game of pool and the strategy involved. I liked the family dynamics with real emotions, dreams and concerns.
January 9, 2009
Another amazing Joan Bauer book which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was fun for me to read a book from the perspective of a fifth-grader boy. I loved the story, too, and-- as always with Joan Bauer-- I fell madly in love with all of the characters especially Arlen. I now appreciate math and pool much more! Very, very good, and ingeniusly written!
May 8, 2008
Another humorous book by Joan Bauer, I just didn't like it as well as some of her others. This is one of her few male main characters, and it was fun learning about pool. Once again, there were life-lessons learned, portrayed in a fun setting.
January 3, 2009
Written in first-person present tense, this fast-paced book follows 10-year-old Mickey Vernon as he prepares for the Junior Nine-Ball pool championship. Bauer's stories always contain memorable characters, colorful descriptions, and good humor.
July 11, 2015
Another fun read by Joan Bauer... Not as gripping as her other ones for me... but I still enjoyed it. One of my favorite quotes was, "Courage rarely comes without fear. Courage rises above fear and makes people more than they think they can be." - amen
April 4, 2014
Joan Bauer writes excellent, light-hearted children's books (and YA), on serious themes, but that always leave the reader uplifted and hopeful about the world. This one centers around a rising pool champion and connects pool strategy up with mathematics, which was awesome.
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June 17, 2008JF Bau
February 18, 2009
This book was a nice inspirational story that would be really good for preteens to read.
April 13, 2009
The essential plot was logical, but the characters seemed totally disconnected from the reader. Overall, Joan Bauer really disappointed me in this boring book.
March 10, 2010
I loved how science, math, and billards all played a part in this story. I can see why this writer is a Newberry Honor winner.
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