Fast Break

Gr 4-8–Seventh grader Arjun is new to his middle school and his town, having moved recently with his family from California to a small town east of Toronto. The school is in the midst of a makeover, new gym, new cafeteria, abundant support for athletic programs, all at the expense of a new sponsor, OmniBoost, maker of popular energy drinks. When Arjun becomes sick after having one of the drinks from the ubiquitous vending machines, he and new friend Demar, both basketball fanatics, notice their performance flagging. Arjun and Demar create a video for a health project calling attention to the effects of excessive sugar. With help from Demar’s sister, the student council president, the video goes viral on social media and puts heat on OmniBoost. A rushed ending has the company abruptly pulling out of the school and the sponsorship assumed by the Toronto Raptors. This high readability text is written at a high third-grade reading level.