The Super Sports Society

Chick, Bryan and Radlicki, Brett (illus.)The Super Sports Society Vol. 1
May 7, 2024 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Tommy Thompson loves playing baseball in Turdle Town, and has long dreamed of being a Bulldog. The transition from rec league to travel team is a difficult one, however, and he asks his best friend Pel, to join him for tryouts. Pel is much more interested in playing video games, but his mother wants him to try a sport and set a good example for younger siblings. Part of Tommy's desire to play on a travel team is due to the fact that the Bulldogs are consider the "super sports society" and are the cool clique that "rules the school". Tommy and Pel prepare for the tryouts by buying a lot of sunflower seeds on credit to practice spitting, buying athletic cups, and occasionally throwing the ball around. Tommy tries to get himself a nickname by having Pel call him "Tommy Twice". Tommy, whose previous reknown at school was due to his ability to make fart sounds, struggles with fitting in with the team because he is constantly fooling around. Pel, who has decent skills even though he has not played much ball, is able to read people better, and is even invited to the coach's son's house to watch a game. Tommy crashes the party, and does not endear himself to the group. Pel and Tommy eventually fall out, and when only one of them can make the team, Tommy sees how badly he has treated his friend, and gives up his spot. Is there a way that the two can repair their friendship and play ball together? 
Strengths: Complete with maps, Geronimo Stilton style variable type faces, and plentiful illustrations, Tommy's adventure in trying out for an elite sports team will resonate with young readers who are tired of their hum drum rec league. The fact that Pel and Tommy are able to travel around Turdle Town, buying sunflower seeds at the convenience mart and biking to friends' homes adds a delightful sense of adventure. There are plenty of sports details; if there are some things that I don't understand (tryouts continue over multiple days?), I know that sports fanatics will love the books. This does seem like it will be a series, and I would love to see more sports series published. 
Weaknesses: This falls just slightly on the elementary side of the Pilkey Line; the fart and porta-potty ("turd tank") jokes are not nuanced; the first paragraph involves descriptions of the fart sounds for which Tommy is famous. The scene with buying an athletic cup, and the fooling around involved with this seems more like something elementary students would enjoy; middle school students would probably be mortified. I would definitely buy this for an elementary library, but am considering for middle school. 
What I really think: This is a great choice for younger readers who enjoy the baseball in Moore's King of the Bench, the anecdotal highjinks of Wimpy Kid, and the bathroom humor of Captain Underpants. 

Capps, Heather Murphy. The Rule of Three

August 6, 2024 by Carolrhoda Books

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Wyatt is a dedicated baseball player who feels that his whole future hinges on making the local Tornadoes team. Trying out along with his are Dallas, who is a spirited girl and his best friend, and Cabot, who is usually his friend. During some of the practices, Wyatt gets upset, and Coach B tells him that he has a reputation as a "hothead" and might not be a good fit for the team. Fellow classmate Asher, however, exhibits some of the same behavior, but the coach looks the other way. Wyatt thinks this is because Asher is white and Wyatt is biracial. Wyatt's parents are both lawyers, and very understanding of both him and his sister Ruby, but Wyatt doesn't want to bother them, especially since he has recently been exhibiting an odd symptom with his anger. It's something he's seen with his father; if his father gets angry, smoke emanates from his body! There are other microaggressions eating at Wyatt; the coach suggests that his braids won't fit well under a batting helmet, and Asher makes fun of Wyatt's blue eyes. When Cabot defends Asher's actions, this drives a wedge between the two, and even Dallas says Wyatt should ignore the behavior. This intensifies the smoke, and Wyatt soon learns the reason for it. When his father was his age, in 1985, he lived with his family in Philadelphia in the MOVE community. The events of the father's life are told in flashback. This event, which really happened, involved the police descending on the community because neighbors didn't like the group's lifestyle, and eventually lead to the house being bombed. When Wyatt finally tells his parents about how he is being treated, they take him to a therapist who says that the smoke reaction might be caused by epigenetics. This phenomenon causes trauma to be passed down in the way that genes work in the body, and is responsible to generational trauma. Working with Ms. Beauclair, and talking to his friends, also helps Wyatt to get a little relief. 

Strengths: This is an interesting blend of history and fantasy. I don't remember the MOVE bombing (I was in college, and it wasn't as easy to get news as it is now), so information about that event was fascinating. There is enough baseball to draw in fans of the sport, and plenty of middle school friction with friends. Dallas is an intriguing character, and Cabot's dealings with Asher are unfortunately realistic. 
Weaknesses: Because I had not heard of epigenetics, and had to do some research into what they entail, I am concerned that the fantasy element of Wyatt and his father emitting smoke might make my readers think that epigenetics isn't real. Young readers might need a little support in clarifying this. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like sports books that also address racial discrimination, like Lynch's Gold Dust or Wes Tooke's King of the Mound : My Summer with Satchel Paige. Stroman's The Grip series involves baseball and addresses some psychological issues as well.