Before the Snap

Gr 7 Up—These formulaic novels center on male athletes in urban locations and are targeted toward struggling/reluctant readers. In Snap, Derrick, a football player, finds out that his ex-girlfriend is pregnant. She wants him to say that the baby is his so she can save her reputation. Meanwhile, his nemesis and teammate, Colton, is bullying him at practice. Derrick must learn to stand up for himself in both situations. In Hit, Carlos quits his job at the movie theater and goes out for the baseball team. He leaves behind his best friend, Esteban, who needs to work to support his family. The boys face a bully, who is the brother of the cutest girl at school. The dialogue is realistic, without trying too hard ("this school sucks"). One drawback of the books is that both the climax and resolution occur in the last four pages, and the bulk of each story is the buildup toward the abrupt ending. In the end, the main characters surpass their respective enemies and the good guys get the girls of their dreams. However, the protagonists do have positive (albeit, flat) friendships and relationships. Boys who are looking for an easy-to-read sports book might be interested in these titles.—Lindsay Klemas, JM Rapport School for Career Development, Bronx, NY