When soccer-loving Lola accidentally fouls a second-grade classmate at recess, she's banned from playing competitive sports and nicknamed "Mean Lola Levine" until she writes apologies, transforming her into the "Soccer Queen." This first entry in a smartly crafted new series introduces Lola, best friend Josh Blot, and her family. Lola's first-person narrative breathlessly chronicles her enjoyment of soccer, the ill-advised slide tackle and its repercussions, and her desire for a kitty. There are mean girls in her class, but, in the usual unpredictable way of second-grade social lives, one might turn out to be OK. The appealing protagonist is energetic and enthusiastic, and her family is atypical. Her father, a ponytailed artist, works at home, and her mom writes for a newspaper. They celebrate both their Peruvian and Jewish roots and encourage the use of peaceful words. Gray-scale sketches and Lola's letters break up the text nicely for young readers. With as much about family and friends as about sports, this chapter book should have broad appeal.

Gr 1-5 In this first book of a new series, Lola is a second grader who loves sports, especially soccer. She also enjoys expressing her feelings by writing her diary. And she has a bratty little brother. Sound familiar? Her classmates think she is a tomboy, and the boys don't like to play games with her because she hurt a fellow classmate, Juan Gomez, by mistake. So now she is known as Mean Lola Levine. Lola is half Jewish and half Peruvian, and her favorite word is shalom though it's a bit overused throughout the book. She deals with typical woes, such as worrying about how to survive in school, and she learns an important lesson about how words can hurt others. Her supportive family and best friend, Josh, help her cope. The writing style is typical of the genre: straightforward and predictable. Beginning chapter book readers will enjoy Lola's spunk and humor. Black-and-white illustrations are sprinkled throughout. VERDICT A good choice for chapter book collections. Janene Corbin, Rosebank Elementary School, Nashville, TN