Review by Chris Singer
About the author:
Sarah Aronson holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. This is her second book for Children and Young Adults. Her first Young Adult novel, Head Case (Roaring Brook Press 2007), was named a 2008 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. Sarah Aronson lives in Hanover, New Hampshire, with her family.
About the book:
It’s not exactly that Ari Fish is obsessive compulsive. It’s just that he believes in luck. That’s why he recites American presidents (in order), always showers with his left hand, and talks to his poster of Wayne Timcoe (the greatest goalkeeper ever to graduate from Somerset Valley High) before he goes on to the soccer pitch. Thomas Jefferson may have said that luck is all a matter of hard work, but Ari knows that sometimes luck is… luck. And to win at soccer you need it.
When Ari finds a rare Wayne Timcoe trading card, he knows his luck has changed. Now he’s going to start in the net. Mac MacDonald will learn to play nicely with Parker Llewellyn, the only girl on the team. And Ari’s fire-fighter brother will come home safely. Right? But then Ari’s Timcoe card disappears. With his luck finally run out, what can Ari put in its place?
My take on the book:
I continue to be blown away by the fantastic middle readers I've come across since taking over Book Dads in April 2010. In just the last few weeks alone, I've read a few from cover to cover. Sarah Aronson's Beyond Lucky was one such book I couldn't stop reading until I was finished.
Beyond Lucky isn't your typical middle reader sports novel. Like other novels in this genre, you aren't going to easily predict the outcome either. While the on-the-field action is fun and exciting, this novel is truly driven by riveting plots and story lines. The development of the main characters is really well done, and readers will feel good about how Ari grows by the end of the story.
This is a must-read in my opinion and you don't need to be a soccer fan to enjoy this book. I highly recommend sharing this book with a middle reader in your life. In the meantime, check out Sarah Aronson's website and blog for more about her books and writer's workshops.
* Beyond Lucky will be published in June, 2011 *
