Double Dribble

Gr 5–8—Twelve-year-old Owen and Russell are twins, but they're about as different as can be. Owen is athletic; Russell is bookish. But Russell has discovered that he is a capable basketball player, so he and Owen converge on the court to make an imposing point-scoring duo, until a new set of twins comes to town. Mitch and Marcus exhibit prowess at everything they do-including basketball. They're granted spots without having to try out, and while their phenomenal skill helps the team, their time on the court means that someone else is getting benched. And when it's Owen, he has a hard time seeing past his jealousy-until one of the newcomers suffers an injury, and everyone learns that their confidence and skill may be a facade. Owen must decide if he can push aside his feelings in order to find out what the new twins are really all about. This is a straight-up sports story from an author who clearly loves basketball. Chapters alternate between the brothers' viewpoints, and lots of dialogue moves the story right along. Most of the supporting cast is hard to differentiate, but Owen's and Russ's characterizations solidly depict middle school life. This second book in the series is a good choice for reluctant readers who like sports, but it may not have broad appeal beyond that demographic.—Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY