ALA Booklist (Fri Sep 16 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Both Marisol and Jada, her best friend, keep lists of their favorite and least favorite things. Topping each girl's "Least Favorite Things to Do" list is gym class. And when Coach Decker announces that for the next two weeks they will be learning to play kickball, they dread it more than ever. Marisol's older brother, a soccer player, gives them a little coaching, which boosts their confidence a bit, but Marisol needs even more support to overcomes her fears. She manages to control her anxiety and succeed in kicking the ball only after a heart-to-heart talk with another member of the household: Beans, the cat. Completely accessible even to children who haven't read the first book in the series, Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey (2021), this concisely written third-person narrative takes readers a little further into Marisol's world by including her experiences at school as well as at home. Kelly's expressive grayscale drawings illustrate this appealing transitional chapter book, an engaging choice for independent readers or for teachers reading aloud to their classes.

Horn Book (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Marisol, the anxious heroine of Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey (rev. 5/21), makes lists of favorite and least favorite things, with gym class -- specifically the kickball unit -- topping the latter. Although she has never played before, she dreads it because she knows that "the spotlight shines on you when you kick. The spotlight shines on you when you pitch...Surely Marisol will burst into flames under all those spotlights." Her worries only grow as classmate Evie brags about her own kickball prowess. Kelly shows her deep understanding of the emotional lives of her characters. When Marisol is angry and embarrassed about Evie's unkind comments and her own poor skills, she lashes out at best friend Jada. "Marisol thought it would make her feel better to snap at Jada, but it doesn't. She only feels worse." The action takes place over two weeks, during which Marisol tries a variety of techniques to first avoid and then overcome (at least a little) her fears. Supporting characters -- Marisol's father, away all week working on an oil rig; her athletic older brother, who teaches her the Ultimate Rule of Kickball; classmate Felix, who claims to talk to animals -- are all fully developed and engaging contributors to the lively, realistic, and emotionally honest story. When Marisol finally kicks the ball and makes it to first base, readers will be cheering "way to go, Marisol" along with her classmates, teacher, and family members. Maeve Visser Knoth

Kirkus Reviews

Marisol Rainey is back with more worries.Gym class is Marisol's least favorite thing. She's not great at sports, but for once, she'd like to hear "Way to go, Marisol!" rather than "Nice try, Marisol!" or "Great effort, Marisol!" When their gym teacher announces that they'll be doing a unit on kickball, Marisol and her best friend, Jada, get nervous. The Brain Train, Marisol's term for her string of thoughts and worries, chugs along, making it hard for her to sleep and focus at school. Surely things would be easier if her dad were home to teach her kickball, but he's on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. But with some helpful ideas and advice from her friends and family, Marisol eventually faces kickball with fewer worries and a little more confidence. This stand-alone companion novel to Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey (2021) is a charming, delightful story that readers, especially those with fears and strong emotions, will find relatable. Marisol and her friends all have their quirks, like Jada asking "Would you rather?" questions, adding to the fun. The black-and-white illustrations provide humor and help move the story along. Marisol is biracial; her mother is from the Philippines, and her dad presents White. Jada presents Black.Surely surely a book readers will enjoy. (Fiction. 6-9)

School Library Journal (Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Gr 2–5 —Marisol, first introduced in Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey , returns in this standalone second installment. Marisol and her best friend, Jada, have different lists of what they like and dislike, but they agree on their number one dislike—gym class. When Coach Decker announces that the class will start kickball, a snarky nemesis reminds her that she, Evie, excels in all sports while Marisol does not. The result makes already anxious Marisol even more so. It doesn't help that her father is away working on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, so he can't teach her. But "Dadhead" as they call him (that's how he appears on regular family video chats) suggests that Marisol ask her brother, a confident athlete, for help. Ultimately, Marisol gets help, overcomes her anxiety (even getting off her "brain train," the endless loop of worries), and has a successful kick in a game of kickball. She gets kudos from her friends, the coach, and even Evie. As in the previous entry, Kelly presents plausible, emotionally authentic characters who interact in resonant situations. The third-person present tense narration puts readers right there with Marisol; they will be rooting for her first kick along with her friends and family. VERDICT This middle grade for younger readers is a general purchase for school and public libraries.—Maria B. Salvadore