Benito Runs

February 15, 2011

Each book in the high-interest/low-reading-level Surviving Southside series is narrated by a different student at Texas' racially diverse Southside High School. Here, Benito's dad comes home from the war in Iraq. The family has been looking forward to his return, but he now has PTSD and is prone to loud, embarrassing outbursts. Ultimately, Benito leaves the house on an ill-fated bus journey. Plan B, in which a drunken first sexual experience leads to an unplanned pregnancy, tells a familiar story but comes to an open-ended resolution. In Recruited, star quarterback Kadeem faces a moral dilemma: Accept the scholarships, academic string-pulling and cheerleaders' attention offered by Teller College's recruiting coach, or blow the whistle on Teller's illegal recruiting practices. Each book is straightforward, with action beginning immediately and every detail moving the story ahead. Resolutions come quickly (each volume hovers just around 100 pages) and are sometimes unsatisfyingly tidy. Occasionally, a relevant detail is left out—it is never explained, for instance, why NCAA recruiting rules forbid aggressive tactics—but overall, these are solid, simple stories. For reluctant readers and fans of the Bluford High series. (Fiction. 12-14)

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April 1, 2011

Gr 7 Up-Similar to the "Bluford" series (Townsend), these high-interest contemporary urban fiction books focus on teenagers trying to navigate adolescence in the midst of difficult situations. After Benito's father is deployed to Iraq, the teen does his best to be the man of the house. When Xavier returns, the family is overjoyed, but soon realize that being a soldier has changed him from the cheerful soccer-playing dad they knew into someone who is fearful, tense, and angry. With the strength of their family bond, they struggle to help him and to regain the closeness and stability they once enjoyed. In Plan B, Lucy's life is perfect; she has a caring mother, great friends, and, best of all, a boyfriend whom she loves. However, after Lucy and Luke make a careless decision, their lives change forever, and she needs to find the right answer for them. In Recruited, Kadeem is ecstatic when scouts shower him with gifts, dinners, and parties and he realizes that his dream of playing college football may be coming true. His happiness quickly turns to dread, though, as he learns that the incentives offered to him are violations of recruitment policy. Given the chance to help stop the unethical behavior, he has to make a heartfelt decision. These well-written stories reinforce the importance of family, friends, values, and thoughtful decision-making. Characters that readers will identify with and care about are combined with realistic plots that reflect society today. Excellent purchases, these books will attract and engage reluctant readers.-Margaret Auguste, Franklin Middle School, Somerset, NJ

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.