From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5-NBA stars Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo, and Alonzo Mourning are depicted as youngsters in these dismal fictional offerings. In the first book, eight-year-old Keith Van Horn wants to join the neighborhood basketball team, but is told by Alonzo that he doesn't have the necessary skills. Patrick, who tells the story, and Dikembe insist that Keith should get a tryout, but he performs miserably. When he finally gets a second chance, he beats Zo (Alon"zo") in a game of one-on-one, thus being accepted on the team. Problems are too simply solved and the street lingo is annoying. The court action may draw some reluctant readers, but few others. Stuffin' It is also told through the eyes of a young Ewing, who has just garnered the coveted lead role in his school's Thanksgiving play. Patrick and his best friend, Ronnie, who also is an actor in the play, find themselves struggling with math because of the time they're spending in rehearsal and practicing basketball. Forced to improve their grades in order to be allowed to continue their extracurricular activities, Patrick turns to studying and Ronnie to cheating. Guess who is successful? The didactic writing is infused with hip talk and frequent black-and-white drawings that are pedestrian at best. Basketball fans looking for hoop action will be disappointed as very little is found. The name recognition might encourage young readers to open this book, but they will be hard-pressed to finish it.
Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WICopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
About the Author
Robb Armstrong is the creator of the nationally syndicated Jump Start comic strip, which has won high praise for its positive portrayal of African-Americans, and the author of Jump Start: A Love Story, published by HarperPerennial. He lives with his wife and two-year-old daughter in Philadelphia.
