BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
With stylized illustrations and Tsalagi (Cherokee) dialogue throughout, Sorell tells a common sports story about an uncommon sport. Vann is bigger and slower than his teammates. While his team is getting water during a timeout, Vann remembers his missed shot in the previous game, which they lost, and reenters the game worried. After he misses another shot and the other team ties the game, Vann has the ball again when he remembers the coach telling them they must work together. He passes the ball to his friend Jesse who scores and wins the game.
Sorrel’s story depicts a ceremonial version of stickball where boys play girls who follow a different set of rules, such as not having sticks but being allowed to use their hands to catch, carry, and shoot the ball, and to block or stop opponents. The author also includes another endnote about the Tsalagi language and efforts being made to keep it alive. Readers not familiar with the Cherokee nation will get a valuable glimpse into another culture though I wish the story was more compelling. Only after reading the About Stickball endnote do I realize that 1) the team in red (as opposed to Vann’s team in blue) are all girls, and 2) the red team does not have any sticks.
P.K. Foster, MLS, elementary school teacher-librarian
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