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Busted!
Grounded. Again. Stuart is the most in-trouble kid ever. His super-obsessive single-parent mom is always on his case, and if he’s busted one more time, she’s threatening the unthinkable—no soccer! Stuart’s best friend, a wise and wacky girl named Mack, hatches an unsettling plan to distract his mom by fixing her up with Mack’s uncle. It just might work, though—if their friendship doesn’t unravel first. And anyhow, he doesn’t want his widowed mom to date. Or does he?
- GenresRealistic Fiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2004
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Betty Hicks
27 books4 followersBetty Hicks has drawn on her experience and love for sports in Gym Shorts, her new series for seven to ten year-olds. Growing up, Betty enjoyed everything: basketball, swimming, softball, horseback riding, field hockey, ice skating, tennis, skiing, and more. As an adult, she’s an avid fan of college basketball and the Olympic Games, and, an average fan of just about everything else you can think of.
In Gym Shorts, Betty welcomed the opportunity to provide younger readers with books about different types of athletics—basketball, soccer, swimming, baseball, track, tennis—you name it! But she especially wanted to write books that weren’t just about the wins and losses on game day. Friendships, fears, school, parents, pets, homework—all the things that weave their way into the lives of kids who play sports—are a crucial part of every story.
Betty has also put her own single and stepparent experiences to good use in five additional books for eight to twelve year-olds. Depicting funny, true-to-life family situations, Betty brings laughter and meaning to the experiences of growing up, not just in a divorced family, but in any family.
Betty has a BA in English and an MFA in the Study and Writing of Children’s Literature from Hollins University. She has published stories in Highlights and Pockets magazines, is a member of The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and has worked as a book reviewer for Children’s Literature.
She and her husband, Bill, live in Greensboro, North Carolina. She spends much of her non-writing time reading, traveling, playing golf, and pursuing her photography hobby. But her number one favorite pastime is hanging out with her five grandchildren. Not only do they bring her joy, they unknowingly give her exciting subjects and plots for every new book!
In Gym Shorts, Betty welcomed the opportunity to provide younger readers with books about different types of athletics—basketball, soccer, swimming, baseball, track, tennis—you name it! But she especially wanted to write books that weren’t just about the wins and losses on game day. Friendships, fears, school, parents, pets, homework—all the things that weave their way into the lives of kids who play sports—are a crucial part of every story.
Betty has also put her own single and stepparent experiences to good use in five additional books for eight to twelve year-olds. Depicting funny, true-to-life family situations, Betty brings laughter and meaning to the experiences of growing up, not just in a divorced family, but in any family.
Betty has a BA in English and an MFA in the Study and Writing of Children’s Literature from Hollins University. She has published stories in Highlights and Pockets magazines, is a member of The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and has worked as a book reviewer for Children’s Literature.
She and her husband, Bill, live in Greensboro, North Carolina. She spends much of her non-writing time reading, traveling, playing golf, and pursuing her photography hobby. But her number one favorite pastime is hanging out with her five grandchildren. Not only do they bring her joy, they unknowingly give her exciting subjects and plots for every new book!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 15, 2020
Hated it. I don't like any of these characters
January 12, 2009
Stuart’s mother seems to care a little too much, and he finds himself constantly on restriction—from seeing his friends, using the computer, watching TV. He and his best friend Mack (a girl one year older than he) decide she needs to start dating to alleviate some of the pressure. Mack sets her up with her Uncle Joe, but Stuart finds he doesn’t really like that idea. His idea is to set his mom up with his soccer coach, a plan that really kicks into high gear when his mom decides to ground him from soccer. Things start to fall apart, though, and Stuart realizes he’s in a bit over his head.
This is an okay book—the character development is believable, though some things feel contrived. I didn’t develop a lot of sympathy for Stuart and his constant problem of his mother’s demands, but perhaps a boy in this similar situation will. It is nice to have a sports book that has other elements to it, making Stuart a well-rounded guy, but still keeping soccer a major part of the plot. All those fourth graders who are hooked on Matt Christopher books? Give ‘em this one for a change of pace.
This is an okay book—the character development is believable, though some things feel contrived. I didn’t develop a lot of sympathy for Stuart and his constant problem of his mother’s demands, but perhaps a boy in this similar situation will. It is nice to have a sports book that has other elements to it, making Stuart a well-rounded guy, but still keeping soccer a major part of the plot. All those fourth graders who are hooked on Matt Christopher books? Give ‘em this one for a change of pace.
December 27, 2010
Soccer players or anyone will enjoy this book. If you had a mom who is all ways on your case this is the book for you.He has a single mom who just keep on bugging him. The only way he can get her off his back is to... get her a date. Well one problem with that he does not want to. Well you have to see all the moves in the greatest book ever, Busted.
October 18, 2010
i think this book was good i recommend most likely for every1 who likes soccer :)
March 10, 2016
Really really good.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews