What happens when basketball teams from middle schools on opposite sides of town compete for best in the league? Author Tommy Greenwald's RIVALS pits Walthorne North against Walthorne South and the result is not quite what the fans expect.
Written in the style of GAME CHANGER with numerous POVs, blog posts, chat room discussions, and more, RIVALS focuses on two players, one from each team, each hoping to be the stand-out player. Austin wants to prove he is worthy of being the player his father thinks he is, but now that many of the players have gotten taller than him and possess more natural talent, Austin worries he'll let everyone down. Carter knows his only chance at college will be a scholarship for basketball, but he has to pass middle school first. He sucks at math, and if he doesn't come through with a passing grade, he won't even be on the team.
As the two rival players battle their own personal demons, the people who root for the teams have their own opinions about how important basketball should be in Walthorne. One observant young reporter, Alfie Jenks, may just see through all the hype to see that the fun of the sport may be lost for these middle school players.
Greenwald throws in plenty of play-by- play action, personal life issues, and fan drama to make RIVALS a fast-paced, page-turner middle school and even high school readers will enjoy.
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