Mighty Mike Bounces Back

Gr 3—5—Mike sits by his window every day watching his brother and friends run around and play. Longing to be free of his epilepsy, he dreams of a world in which he won't black out and have unexpected seizures, kids won't make fun of him, and where he can play without having to wear a helmet in case he has an "episode." One day, Mike's father comes home with a basketball. Mike starts dribbling and doesn't want to stop. Soon, he finds that not only is his hand-eye coordination getting really good, but he also is having fewer seizures. His classmates and the adults around him, however, are worried that Mike's epilepsy might cause problems for him and the basketball team. Will he be able to join the team? The text seems overly simplistic for the target audience and, at times, is choppy. The characters and their motivations lack depth. The story, however, does a good job of inspiring readers while educating them about this condition, and back matter gives more information about it.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT