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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
I thought this did a great, natural job of weaving together lots of threads--ASD best friend, basketball action, classmate in a wheelchair, standardized testing debate/school budgets AND an African American protagonist--with humor and GREAT basketball action.
Rip and Red have their routines, just as friends, and also because Red functions better without too many surprises. So having a new teachers, and Red's aide not coming around as much, and especially the change in the basketball program (playing other schools) could be disastrous. But with Rip's help, everyone figures out a way to help Red be part of the team--and he even helps win a game with his free-throw chops. With lots of practice and game play-by-play (one of Rip's talents) basketball and teamwork are front & center here.
Classroom changes need tweaking, too, but Mr Acevedo, the tattooed and pierced, no worksheets, teacher theater timing, bathtub reading space, Spanish wisdom sharing new teacher and basketball coach is flexible and kind. Rip helps here, too. while also working with a prickly classmate in a wheelchair. His "Nasty" project with her ends up normalizing her experience for the whole class--what's the worst things she rolls through?
So sometimes things that seem impossible aren't, and taking chances can pay off. People can surprise you. Funny, sporty and wise. Illustrated by Tim Probert, who also did PICKLE (which kids often ask about, as in : "Do you have more like PICKLE?"
Rip and Red have their routines, just as friends, and also because Red functions better without too many surprises. So having a new teachers, and Red's aide not coming around as much, and especially the change in the basketball program (playing other schools) could be disastrous. But with Rip's help, everyone figures out a way to help Red be part of the team--and he even helps win a game with his free-throw chops. With lots of practice and game play-by-play (one of Rip's talents) basketball and teamwork are front & center here.
Classroom changes need tweaking, too, but Mr Acevedo, the tattooed and pierced, no worksheets, teacher theater timing, bathtub reading space, Spanish wisdom sharing new teacher and basketball coach is flexible and kind. Rip helps here, too. while also working with a prickly classmate in a wheelchair. His "Nasty" project with her ends up normalizing her experience for the whole class--what's the worst things she rolls through?
So sometimes things that seem impossible aren't, and taking chances can pay off. People can surprise you. Funny, sporty and wise. Illustrated by Tim Probert, who also did PICKLE (which kids often ask about, as in : "Do you have more like PICKLE?"
Diverse cast of great kids. Awesome, inspiring teacher. Basketball. Loved this!
4.5* I love rip and red they are just so sweet and so wholesome. this book was just over all in general a great read and I can’t wait to read the second book!!
Loved this book -- from the unconventional teaching style to the caring friendship between Rip and Red, to the nonstop basketball action, to the casual and realistic diversity. Funny, interesting, non-stop, heartwarming. Awesome.
I quite liked this start to a new series. Rip loves basketball and his best friend Red. Red has some quirks, but Rip rolls with them and helps Red adjust to changes in his life. There are a lot of them, too: a new 5th grader teacher is in town, with lots of different ideas including no test prep. 5th grade is also the year that you can play basketball on a team too. Very heartwarming--I might have teared up at the end.
Great for a kid that loves sports, but you probably have to have a kid that is into basketball to really get into this book. Has a cast of diverse characters including the main two. Rip is African American and his mom is a school principal and red is a white boy with autism. The two best friends come into 5th grade to find a new teacher and style of learning. Shows kids how to become friends with those they may think are different and to explore new things. Message is positive if sometimes very blunt and gets hammered home over and over.
Sports and friendship books in the middle grade/chapter realm can be a crapshoot in a lot of ways as they try to balance out the sports with the lessons on friendship and on childhood responsibility. Rip and Red, the two characters in this new series, try to approach the genre in a different way here as they struggle not only with basketball, but school budgets, strange teachers, and issues like handicaps and autism.
On one hand, this is very much a "throw a lot of stuff out there" type of read, but it's done well enough to forgive the sort of thing adult readers see and the kids do not. In putting a lot of different things of value front and center, it does elevate the rest as a result, and ends up being a book both that highlights friendship and sports, and the series becomes something a lot of kids in this age looking for books like this, especially reluctant boy readers, will enjoy. Absolutely worth a look.
On one hand, this is very much a "throw a lot of stuff out there" type of read, but it's done well enough to forgive the sort of thing adult readers see and the kids do not. In putting a lot of different things of value front and center, it does elevate the rest as a result, and ends up being a book both that highlights friendship and sports, and the series becomes something a lot of kids in this age looking for books like this, especially reluctant boy readers, will enjoy. Absolutely worth a look.
I stayed up past my bedtime two nights in a row to devour this funny and touching book. Love the diverse characters and wish more teachers were like Mr. A. Can't wait to read the sequel!
4.5* I love rip and red they are just so sweet and so wholesome. this book was just over all in general a great read and I can’t wait to read the second book!!
My last book off the SSYRA 2017 list! I didn't think that this one would appeal to me personally, but I actually got really into it. The book is long for kids, but the chapters are short and it really sticks to the important plot highlights & character details rather than getting mired down in irrelevant info so it is still an achievable read. Loved the diversity in this book. And I got a little attached to Mr. Acevedo, who at first I didn't like because he was a little too unprofessional for me, but as a school system rebel myself, I loved his "do what's best for kids, not scores" attitude. I don't think it would be a very exciting read-aloud, but it's a great chapter book to get sports lovers reading.