Nikki On The Line by Barbara Carroll Roberts
The Hook:
Does not matter if you are a boy or girl, if you are a basketball fan, you are going to love this book! Nikki has always loved playing basketball so when she gets the opportunity to play for an elite club team, she is super excited! But Nikki finds herself with taller, more athletic girls and the coaches expect her to play different positions than she is used to. She keeps making mistakes! And the practices...they are tough! So much so, that sometimes Nikki feels like she is going to puke. Does she really have what it takes to be on this team?
Another problem…It is expensive—too expensive for her single mom to afford until Nikki suggests she babysit her little brother instead of sending him to daycare. That brings on all kinds of troubles of its own. Her little brother is a handful!
How is she supposed to take care of her little brother, finish all her homework, AND put in extra basketball practice so she can keep up with the team? It is nuts! Especially when it seems so easy for her best friend, Mia, who is also on the team. Of course, Mia has the money and a dad who is the basketball coach to help her.
Nikki’s grades and friendships start to suffer. Then she meets Booker, a new kid at school. He offers to help her, and she finds herself falling for him.
Will basketball win out? Will her friendship with Booker lead to something more? You have to read the book to find out!
This book is in our library but unfortunately, it is not in Sora or Axis 360. This book is worth 10 AR points.
My Thoughts and Recommendations (Careful! There May Be Spoilers):
This book is for basketball players—boys and girls. However, I love that the main character is a girl, and it shows the dedication of women in sports. It is about determination, grit, overcoming obstacles, and hard work. The basketball games are described in detail so, me, not being a basketball player, sometimes felt a little lost or I felt like skimming through these passages. But it is a terrific book for anyone who loves sports! There is a tiny bit of romance thrown in too but not enough to sway any sports fanatic away. 4.5 stars.
