The Swag is in the Socks by J. Baptist
The Hook:
Who likes getting socks as a present? Few people do. So, when Xavier gets a pair of showstopping, colorful socks for his birthday from his Great-Uncle Frankie Bell he is not all that excited. But with the socks, Frankie Bell gives shy, reserved Xavier a challenge. Get out there, find some confidence, and shine as only you can. But it is hard for Xavier--#1 he has a speech impediment and so speaking up in class is embarrassing. #2 both of his parents are in jail. He lives with his aunt. He does not like to talk about it because he thinks people will judge him, so he just keeps quiet. Frankie Bell wants him to swag out and join the Scepter League—a leadership club—like our Student Council but you must try out to get in. The first go around, Xavier does not make it in, and the teacher tells him it is because of his lack of leadership skills. Xavier is devastated but he does not let it get him down. He sets out to prove he has what it takes—with a few bumps in the road.
Does Xavier prove to the teacher and himself that he can shine? You will have to read the book to find out.
This book is in our library. It is also in Sora as an eBook as well as an audio book. It is 7 AR points.
My Thoughts and Recommendations (Careful! There Could Be Spoilers):
While I really enjoyed it, I found it rather unrealistic in today’s society sadly. Xavier and the boys at his school put a lot of stock in Scepter League, a leadership club. It is the be all of end all at their school—meaning EVERYONE wants to be a leader. Wouldn’t this be fabulous? But from my school experience, this is not the case. Most kids just want to blend in at this age. Not saying that many do not have the potential to be leaders—they do. But there are just a handful that will put themselves out there. Still, I enjoyed the book and appreciated Xavier’s struggle to become a leader. Who knows? This book may inspire others. But truthfully, I think most will just simply enjoy the story.
I would recommend this book to students in 5th-7th grades. It is 256 pages so a long read for reluctant readers. 4.0 stars.
