Lu by Jason Reynolds. Unabridged e-audiobook. Read by Guy Lockard. Simon & Schuster Audio, 2018. 9781508246176. Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library. Own hard cover copy.)
Reynolds' Track series comes to a close with Lu, the last of the newbies of Coach's elite track team. Lu is co-captain of the Defenders but seems to be losing a bit of his swagger and gold chains and diamond earrings aren't helping. He's struggling with his event, hurdling, irked that the team co-captain doesn't respect him, and wonders about Ghost's involvement with a boy who bullied Lu relentlessly. On top of that, his parents share the news that a new baby is coming. It's hard to stay focused on leading the Defenders to victory in the championships with all that going on. Reynolds packs a lot of heart into each of these short, readable books. While I didn't want the series to end, the conclusion was satisfying.
Guy Lockard cemented his place as a fave narrator of mine with his performance of Ghost. Patina was performed beautifully by Heather Alicia Simms. I was mildly surprised to find that Lockard was the narrator of Sunny, as each book is written in the first person. The rhythm of Sunny was different and it worked. Besides, it's worth it to hear Lockard's voice for coach. While it still worked here in Lu, I can't help thinking that three different narrators might have been a better choice. Lockard's voices for each narrator didn't seem all that distinct. It's a small quibble, really. The series is enormously popular at my school. Read with your eyes. Read with your ears. Don't miss this quartet of heart.
Sunny by Jason Reynolds. Track series #3. Unabridged downloadable audiobook, 3 hours. Narrated by Guy Lockard. Simon & Schuster Audio, April, 2018. 9781508246169 (Review from audiobook borrowed from public library. Own print copy.)
Let Middle Grade Monday bring a little sunshine on yet another rainy Monday. Sunny by Jason Reynolds is the third book in his very popular track series. Sunny lives up to his name because he is quick with a smile and a good word for his teammates on the Defenders, the elite middle school track team Sunny runs for. But all is not well at home. Sunny is growing tired of trying to please his distant father - a father who insists Sunny call him by his first name - Darryl. The only thing that seems to please Darryl is when Sunny wins the mile run. What happens when Sunny quits the mile run just as he's about to win? Can Sunny still be the track team if he can't/ won't run?
I do so love this series, but I think Sunny might be my favorite so far. Guy Lockard does an amazing job of portraying Sunny's energy. I am not sure I would've read Sunny's exuberance quite so well with my eyes. I especially loved the commentary at the end featuring the author and the narrator speaking about their friendship. I happened to be in the audience when Guy Lockard spoke at the Odyssey Award reception (Ghost won an Odyssey Honor) and thought of his and Jason's remarks as I listened to this story.
My students and I eagerly await the release of Lu on October 23. There's a waiting list already. I will most likely read it with my ears as, you guessed it, Lockard is the narrator. It will be a bit sad to see this series end; but I'm certain that Reynolds has a few things lined up.
Lu by Jason Reynolds. 192 p. Track series #4. Atheneum/ Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, October 23, 2018. 9781481450249.
Jason Reynolds released the cover of the final book in his Track series on social media on Monday. Honestly, these books are never on the shelf and I've had to replace Ghost twice already because it was "borrowed" without being checked out and never returned!
Publisher synopsis: Lu must learn to leave his ego on the sidelines if he wants to finally connect with others in the climax to the New York Times bestselling and award-winning Track series from Jason Reynolds.
Ghost. Patina. Sunny. Lu. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves.
Lu is your quintessential pretty boy athlete, complete with fancy cleats, sunglasses, and a lot of attitude. The kind of guy you either hero-worship or want to PUNCH. He runs the most loved race—the 400 meter dash—and is crazy talented. He should be—he’s been running track since he was small; because he’s albino his parents got him involved in sports to help with his confidence. But it sort of backfired—now Lu has confidence to spare, and the swagger hasn’t earned him any friends. As in none. Plus, his dad, who also shares his son’s penchant for being flashy, has gotten caught up in some type of illegal activity. The Newbies on the team (Ghost, Patina, and Sunny) don’t put up with Lu’s shining around, but they also don’t avoid him like everyone else does. They call him out on his BS, but include him in the horseplay. Will they be the first kids to crack through his armor and see more to him than the cloak of peacock that hides his lack of color?
Sunny by Jason Reynolds. Track series #3. 192 . Atheneum/ Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, April 10, 2018. 9781481450218.
Publisher synopsis: Sunny tries to shine despite his troubled past in this third novel in the critically acclaimed Track series from National Book Award finalist Jason Reynolds.
Ghost. Patina. Sunny. Lu. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. Both they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team - a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics. They all have a lot to lose, but they all have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves. Sunny is the main character in this novel, the third of four books.
Sunny is just that - sunny. Always ready with a goofy smile and something nice to say, Sunny is the chillest dude on the Defenders team. But Sunny's life hasn't always been sun beamy-bright. You see, Sunny is a murderer. Or at least he thinks of himself that way. His mother died giving birth to him, and based on how Sunny's dad treats him - ignoring him and making Sunny call him Darryl, never "Dad" - it's no wonder Sunny thinks he's to blame. I seems the only thing Sunny can do right in his dad's eyes is win first place ribbons running the mile, just like his mom did. But Sunny doesn't like running, never has. So he stops. Right in the middle of a race.
With his relationship with his dad now worse than ever, the last thing Sunny wants to do is leave the other newbies - his only friends - behind. But you can't be on a track team and not run. So Coach asks Sunny what he wants to do. Sunny's answer? Dance. Yes, dance.
This series is quite popular at my school. We cannot wait for this installment.
Side Tracked by Diana Harmon Asher. 233 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams, August 22, 2017. 9781419726019. (Review from arc obtained courtesy of the publisher at ALAAC)
Joseph Friedman is the narrator of this winning debut. He begins seventh grade hiding from the soccer ball in gym class because he knows Charlie Kastner's going to find a way to mow him down. Just as that's about to happen, Charlie ends up on the ground and the ball is stolen by a new girl who runs fast. She runs so fast, no one can catch up with her. After she hip-checks the only player between her and the goal and makes the goal, there is no cheering. In fact, some students are hostile and the gym teacher's only response is to suggest that she try out for the school's soccer team. For some reason, this new girl is on the outs immediately. But, while Joseph's strategy is to lie as low as possible, Heather's is to fight back.
Joseph's only respite is Mrs. T., short for Teitelbaum in the resource room. Mrs. T. understands his ADD and the variety of phobias and quirks that plague Joseph and make him a bully magnet. She helps him with strategies and suggestions. Her suggestion on the first day of seventh grade is that Joseph join the brand new cross country team. Joseph has no interest in running and his objection that he's the slowest kid in the seventh grade does not sway Mrs. T., so Joseph signs up for cross country. Turns out, Heather joins cross country as well and the two form a friendship. It also helps that Mrs. T. is the coach and that several students from the resource room are on the team.
There's a lot to like here - colorful characters, authentic middle school situations, the ins and outs of cross-country running, and dialogue that rings true. Give this to students who like gentle reads, books about unlikely friendships, books about running and fans of Jordan Sonnenblick. In fact, I think that Maverick from Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade and Joseph would become friends in the real world.
I can't wait to booktalk this when school starts.
