Paintball Blast

November 1, 2007
Gr 4-6-Extreme sports stories in easy-to-read chapter books. "Paintball" features best friends and skilled players Max and Tyler. They've competed for years and are among the best in their area. A beginner, Ryan, joins their league and never loses. Max suspects foul play but cannot prove it. After watching Ryan's team play, Max discovers how he is cheating, and he wins the Challenge Cup for his team. In "Speedway", twins Michael and Mark expect to clean up in the quarter-midget car racing championships. But a new racer, Buzz Shaw, shows up and threatens their plans. Buzz is an erratic and unsafe driver who does whatever it takes to win. During a race, he crashes into Michael, leaving Michael's car trashed and his leg broken, and the brothers are forced to take on their opponent in a new way. Maddox presents simple stories with tidy conflict resolutions and likable characters. Black-and-white cartoons are scattered throughout, and the books end with discussion questions, writing prompts, information about the sports, and instructions on how to find related Web sites. These books are a good choice for reluctant readers or those who enjoy extreme sports without preteen drama."Alison Grant, Ruby S. Thomas Elementary School, Las Vegas, NV"

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