All Star

Gr 9 Up—High school baseball star Carl Carter has everything going for him, from girls to friends to a full-ride college scholarship. All he needs to do is finish out his senior year. One afternoon, instead of going home with his brother to chop wood for their father, Carl heads out with a friend and ends up making one wrong decision after another—the kind of errors that can't be left behind on the baseball field. Lonergan offers a simple coming-of-age story that teens will find relatable—especially student athletes. Drawn in simple black-and-white sketches, the detailed artwork depicts the timeless tale of an entitled athlete who takes his talent and all of its benefits for granted. Though the references to 1998 popular culture, including the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the Mark McGwire/Sammy Sosa home run competition, may go over the heads of some teens, the significance of these events give an added layer to this graphic novel for mature readers.—Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA