In his fifth outing, when EllRay's best friend Kevin skateboards with class bully Jared, EllRay resolves to learn how to skate; meanwhile, he works on a school project on fairy tales and realizes that heroes--both literary and real-life--aren't always what they seem. EllRay's voice is a tad too sophisticated but nevertheless likable. Biggs's illustrations capture his ups and downs.

EllRay Jakes is a small third-grader with big problems. When his best pal Kevin starts socializing with other kids, EllRay decides to take up skateboarding to impress his former friend. Meanwhile, amid the excitement of a class project about fables and folktales, EllRay learns some important lessons about being true to one's self. Fast-paced plotting bolsters a narration that feels genuine ing the voice of a rare young African American male protagonist, Warner offers the same keen insight into young people's social relationships that readers have come to expect from EllRay and the whole host of relatable side characters.