Publishers Weekly
10/23/2023
After spending all year playing on the local high school’s JV sports teams, middle schooler and athletic superstar Arnie “Yash” Yashenko is shocked to learn that he’s failed PE due to numerous unexcused absences. And because he won’t graduate eighth grade or be eligible to try out for high school sports until he attends summer school, he reluctantly joins the Physical Education Equivalency class known as Slugfest. His schoolmates include perpetually bickering twins Stuart and Sarah, practical joker Jesse, clumsy genius Kaden, and former athlete Cleo, who was held back a year due to a serious injury. The unlikely assortment of unhappy students bond over their dislike of the class, whose retired elderly teacher prefers baking to instructing, and even develop close friendships. And when Yash concocts a plan to compete in the citywide flag football tournament as a way for him to try out for the high school football team, he determines to turn his athletically disinclined classmates into champions. Korman (Mixed Up) balances humor and heart, delivering a tale that is both plausible and a little outlandish, realistic and just a bit goofy. Snappy dialogue, idiosyncratically depicted characters, and a madcap plot keep this lively, good-natured story moving at a brisk pace. Most characters read as white. Ages 8–12. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
A middle school romp that takes the “Bad News Bears” premise for a wild ride. The pastries aren’t all that’s sweet in a tale rich in wins both public and personal.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A rousing tale filled with hilarity and heart." — BookPage (starred review)
“Korman balances humor and heart, delivering a tale that is both plausible and a little outlandish, realistic and just a bit goofy. Snappy dialogue, idiosyncratically depicted characters, and a madcap plot keep this lively story moving at a brisk pace.” — Publishers Weekly
“The first-person narrative rotates chapter by chapter among members of the Slugfest team. While not every writer can use this technique successfully, Korman makes it look effortless, [with] his ability to create memorable individual characters. There may be some surprises along the way, but fans can count on a satisfying conclusion.” — ALA Booklist
"Yash learns the value of friendship and teamwork in this big-hearted novel." — Horn Book Magazine
Praise for THE SUPERTEACHER PROJECT: "In this funny and provocative outing...Korman, as usual, takes the side of the kids. Relayed by multiple narrators, the tale offers both different perspectives on effective teaching methods and food for thought about the notion of “personhood.” — Booklist (starred review)
“A school story with a twist, told with humor, insight, and empathy.” — Kirkus Reviews
"A keenly rendered, fast-paced read." — Publishers Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2023-10-07
Unlikely teammates in a summer school PE class go for glory on the gridiron.
Korman rewards readers willing to suspend their disbelief with a middle school romp that takes the “Bad News Bears” premise for a wild ride. Thanks to a new state rule that eighth graders can’t graduate to high school without a PE credit, summer school sees a motley assortment of students assembled in the gym—from world-class klutz Kaden Cooperman, who skipped that class all year to avoid being bullied, to multisport superstar Arnie “Yash” Yashenko, left high and dry after being led to believe that he had been excused to play with the high school’s varsity teams. When the class falls under the management of a retired second grade and home ec (“Family and Consumer Studies”) teacher named Mrs. Finnerty, the stage seems set for a wasted summer—but the author has other plans. If none of the classmates (except for Yash) initially show much enthusiasm for sports, by the time the annual all-city flag football tournament rolls around, they’ve become a quarrelsome, disorganized, laughably inept…team. Even elderly Mrs. Finnerty demonstrates hidden depths, plus an apparently limitless supply of baked goods that will keep readers salivating alongside this lively, large-hearted, sharply seen cast of middle schoolers. Characters largely read white.
The pastries aren’t all that’s sweet in a tale rich in wins both public and personal. (Fiction. 9-13)
