Getting to First Base With Danalda Chase

By Matt Beam

Sport: Baseball

Rating: 3 3/4 stars

Reviewed by Noelle

Darcy Spillman lives for baseball. But now that the World Series is over, his friend Ralph thinks there are other things 7th grade boys should be focusing on--like girls. When Darcy sees one of the prettiest girls in their grade, Danalda Chase, hit a beautiful single during a pick up game, his heart starts pounding. But Darcy doesn't know the first thing about girls. Then he is struck with the idea of using his knowledge of baseball to win over Danalda. With helpful advice from a new girl named Kamna, Darcy is soon making all the right plays with Danalda. Or is she just interested in a guy who is trying out for the very competitive Cheetahs baseball team? Filled with baseball terms and definitions, this is a fun-filled look at a 7th grader entering the scary world of dating. Sports fans will enjoy the allusions to baseball and some readers will catch on to what's really going on with Darcy's attempts sooner than Darcy!

Soccer Chick Rules

By Dawn FitzGerald

Sport: Soccer

Rating: 3 stars

Reviewed by Noelle

Tess Munro thinks the only point to having to go to school is for the sports she can play afterwards. Soccer, basketball, whatever--as long as there is a team, ball, hoop, net or goal, it is on her to do list. But now the unthinkable has happened. The schools need to make hard choices with their budget, and sports are on the chopping block among other things. If the town votes to pass the school levy on Election Day, sports will be saved, but if not...Tess can't even bear to think about the alternative. As the first couple months of the school year pass, Tess finds herself torn between playing hard for her almost undefeated soccer team and campaigning hard for the school levy to pass. On Election Day, will her "must win" attitude help her team to succeed against the only team to beat them AND compel the townspeople to pass the school levy? If you love sports stories and don't mind rather one-dimensional characters, this is a light and enjoyable one to pick up.