If you have a son in the 8 to 12 year old age group, chances are you’ve heard of Guys Read, the web-based literacy program created by kidlit guru Jon Scieszka. In addition to the web resources that are designed to keep boys interested in reading at a time when many abandon reading for pleasure, Guys Read will soon release a third volume of short story collections. Guys Read: The Sports Pages features tales of athletic prowess or the pursuit thereof, and it’s sure to be a hit with sports fans of all types.
Like Funny Business and Thriller, the first two Guys Read books (linked to previous reviews), The Sports Pages is a collection of ten stories from middle grade fiction writers, along with some special guest contributors. This time around, it’s only fitting that some stories come directly from athletes themselves. The range of sports covered here is wide, from baseball and football to track and mixed martial arts! The voices are varied, too, as some stories are meant to inspire with “against the odds” themes, and others will appeal to young readers who want to laugh.
And laugh they will at the ridiculous situation twelve year old Wes gets himself into in the final story of the book, “I Will Destroy You, Derek Jeter.” When I saw it was written by Chris Rylander, the man behind the middle school-meets-the-mafia series The Fourth Stall, I expected some outrageous plot twists, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. Wes is utterly humiliated after missing a foul ball hit by Jeter, for the chain of events that follow his botched catch cause all sorts of mayhem. A clip of the crazy scene soon goes viral, and Wes, a diehard Boston Red Sox fan, is convinced that Derek Jeter himself is at fault. Wes is determined to get him back, even if it means going to see a witch doctor he found on the Internet. And that’s just the beginning! This was, by far, my personal favorite of the bunch.
I have no doubt that Guys Read: The Sports Pages will find a slew of cheering fans, and it’s being released on July 10th- the perfect time for kids’ summer reading indulgence. My own sports-loving eleven year old son gives it his hearty recommendation as well!
Get ready to win a copy of The Sports Pages for a young reader in your life! Please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter below to enter. New to Rafflecopter? Watch this 45-second video on how to enter! We’ll announce the winner in our book review and giveaway column on 7/16. US mailing addresses only, please.
- The winner of Arranged is #33 Don.
5 Minutes for Books Reviewer Dawn hopes to spend much of her summer with a book in hand. She’ll have to put it down occasionally to pay some attention to her long-lost blog, my thoughts exactly.
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{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
We joined our library’s reading program…prize is minor league baseball tickets. I’d love this book for my sport 9 yo. Thanks!
I always make sure to bring books whenever we go on a ride in the car
I am really looking forward to this book.
Can’t wait to add this one to the Guys Read shelf in my classroom.
Adam( recently posted..Summer reading post
My son is a huge fan of the first two Guys Read books, and this one has the potential to become his favorite since he’s also a huge sports fan. Thanks for the giveaway!
Yukari M. recently posted..Who I met and what I got at ALA
We join the library summer reading program and I usually try to find a fun theme or list to work our way through. And reading outside always makes it more fun!!
Beth recently posted..What We’re Eating This Week – July 2
A chart showing how much they read in a week. Get reward if read at least an hour.
Encourage, hmmm. Make – now you’re talking! No tv, video games, electronics, etc until you give me 15 minutes of reading! No, if, ands or buts about it!
We do the same things we do during the school year…15 minutes a day and one of us reads with him.
Luckily I don’t have to make my boys read, they love bringing me a book and jumping into my lap. A book before bedtime is key to evening routines.
My kiddos read before bed every night just like the school year. Plus they are doing the library reading program, a bingo type one through school and the one through the big box book store. They love free gifts!
I encourage them to read by reading myself. Taking some time to sit quietly and read always inspires them to grab a book and come cuddle and read too!
We try to read books instead of tv whenever possible and always read at least two small books before bed every night. My kids are a bit younger (almost 3 and 6) – but I don’t want them to lose their vigor for reading!
We read together and participate in the library reading program.
We have a time each day that we call “Brain Time.” My kids can read or do some math pages. Typically the choice is reading. We go to the library frequently and they get to choose several books. Their choosing their own books helps to get them to want to read.
giving them interesting things to read
Barbara Platt recently posted..Win a collectors set of Snomee globes valued at $220, and 15 $15 GC 7/15
We go to the library summer reading program.
Thanks for the review. I’ve been meaning to check these out for my boys (and myself since I love Guys Read as much as the guys do). Thanks for the info on the series!
Oh, and as for getting my boys to read in the summer…it’s all about those trips to the library. The more we go, the more they find something interesting and will sit down with the book as soon as we get home. It also helps to tell them they have to read before they can watch tv/play computer/hang out with friends.
Elissa Cruz recently posted..Friday Reads: The Prince Who Fell From the Sky
We participate in our local library’s summer reading program and always take a book with us in the car to read.
I encourage my boys to read, by reading with them
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOt)com
We always read before bed.
My kids join the library’s summer reading program, participate in a bookmobile program, and read at least 20 minutes a day. They get to choose 1 day off per week. We just make it part of our routine
They are enrolled in the summer library program here
We use a reward system to keep them motivated
Jason recently posted..4th of July 2012
take them to library so they see new books
vmkids3 at msn dot com
We visit the library at least twice a week!
I tell them its a good habit.
Let them pick out the books from the library
we let them choose the genre of books they read and that seems to work
My children pick out books that have characters that they really like.
I get them funny books they like.
She loves to read so it’s really not that hard to do