The Rookie Bookie

August 25, 2014
Seventh-grader Mitch Sloan loves sports, though his football knowledge doesn’t extend to actual athletic prowess. Mitch’s family has just moved to Indiana, and although his parents’ art shop is off to a slow start, they refuse Mitch’s business advice, another area of his expertise (“I want to be the next Warren Buffett,” he tells readers). Mitch’s new best friend, a girl named Jamie, is a football expert, too, and together they start a middle-school betting ring, which is eventually found out. In their first book for children, Wertheim and Moskowitz, the writing team behind Scorecasting, create a relatable protagonist in Mitch and a fun venue for readers to learn a bit about business, football, and math. Mitch’s struggles with bullying are realistic, as are his relationships with his parents and older brother. While Mitch’s explanations of various statistical concepts can take on a lecturing tone, overall this story hits its mark and should intrigue readers with information about how number-crunching can make an impact on the gridiron. Ages 8–12. Agent: Carrie Hannigan, Hannigan Salky Getzler, and Scott Waxman, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency.