Hudson City seventh graders Jimmy Fleming, a new-kid-in-town baseball player, and Cornell Duncan, a free-throw basketball magician, each overcome challenges to contribute to their teams' success. Despite formulaic plots and superficial characters, these competent, fast-paced stories will engage sports fans, especially boys who like Matt Christopher.

Gr 4-6-The team from Technical Foul (Viking, 2004) goes to the New Jersey state finals. Cornell Duncan, 12, is a great free-throw shooter, but not the best player, so he mainly warms the bench and watches the starters. This works fine, since he can observe the game and narrate the action. He is put in during a close game and has a chance to shoot his magical free throw, but there is more to being a player than that. Wallace offers a good portrayal of sixth-grade boys and team dynamics. Dunk has a special relationship with his college-age aunt, who also is a great basketball player. Similar to Dan Gutman's or Matt Christopher's books, this title is easy enough to recommend to older, struggling readers. Wallace keeps the action realistic and believable.-Sharon R. Pearce, Chippewa Elementary School, Bensenville, IL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.