Reading Metrics
Description
A middle-grade sports story follows thirteen-year-old Savvy, an aspiring basketball player whose goal is to secure a starting spot on her elite team. When she's suddenly accused of taking steroids, her dreams are jeopardized and she must fight to prove her innocence while juggling the pressures of competition, family, and school. The narrative also weaves in suggestive situations and innuendo as Savvy navigates the complexities of teenage friendships and romance.
Quick Summary
Boost by Kathy Mackel is a fast-paced sports story that hits different because Savvy isn't just dealing with the pressure of making the elite basketball team she's got to fight to save her reputation when someone accuses her of taking steroids. The basketball scenes feel authentic, and there's this underlying tension of "who would do this to me?" that keeps you turning pages. It's perfect for middle graders who love sports and anyone who's ever had to prove they belong, and it'll appeal to readers who enjoy drama mixed with their competition stories. Parents should know there's some pre-teen romantic tension and innuendo woven through the social dynamics, though nothing graphic just typical middle school awkwardness. If you've got a kid who liked The Contract by David Bowman or enjoys realistic sports fiction with a mystery twist, this one's right up their alley.