SASQUATCH IN THE PAINT, by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld

The story: Theo has turned into a giant overnight, and Coach has recruited him for the basketball team. But being tall isn't the same as being coordinated, and Theo is a mess on the court. Worse, all the hours he spends practicing is taking away from his time on the science team, where his geeky best friends hang out. What should he do? Hang with the homeys and stay a geek forever--especially now that the cute new girl turns out to be a brain too? Or should he head for the bright lights and popularity that come with being an athlete?

June Cleaver’s ratings: Language PG; Nudity G; Sexual Content G; Violence PG; Substance Abuse G; Magic & the Occult G; GLBT Content G; Adult Themes PG (death of a parent); overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Since I'm generally not a fan of sports fiction (underdog team comes from behind and--surprise--wins!) I got more than I expected here. There was a lot more going on than just the game, and Theo does quite a bit of growing up and even soul-searching. His friends are interesting individuals, and he comes to some sound conclusions that might seem surprising to some. Give this to a kid who only wants to read about sports, and he might come out with a new interest in mysteries or buddy fiction!