Glenn Maxwell Lucky Break

Glenn Maxwell Lucky Break by Patrick Loughlin (Random House Australia)

PB RRP $14.99
ISBN 978-0-85798-607-8
Reviewed by: Jaquelyn Muller

It’s time to slap on the zinc and get a shine on the new ball as the covers come off for another big summer of cricket. Random House has timed its new sports fiction series rather nicely with the Cricket World Cup headed for Australia next year and a huge program of tests, T20 matches and One Day Internationals starting. They have partnered with one of Australia’s best T20 players Glenn Maxwell; to create a cricket fiction series for boys (and cricket mad girls) aged between seven and twelve! 

The books are written by high school English teacher and writer, Patrick Loughlin who also authored the Billy Slater Rugby League series of books. In the first book of the series Lucky Break, Loughlin propels readers straight into the thick of the action by introducing the central character, Will Albright as he faces a tense second innings captain’s knock in an inter-club cricket grand final. If you have no idea what that means then you probably won’t understand the rest of the book but it is why the target audience will love this series. There is more cricket terminology and iconography than you can poke a stump at and for any cricket loving tween it’s what will keep the pages turning.

We travel along with Will as he rides waves of self-doubt, navigates tricky relationships and is pushed to his limits in his quest to be picked for the Victorian T20 Youth Academy. Will must drive his abilities to the edge to get noticed by the selecting coaches including his hero, Glenn Maxwell. In parallel to the story there are opportunities to enjoy the sports action with a commentary similar to that of a cricket telecast. The story moves quickly and the tone emits a school yard vernacular which gives plenty of opportunity for laughs along the way.

For any sports loving younger reader there is much for them to identify with in the scenarios presented from the overnight cricket camp setting to team rivalries, and Glenn Maxwell’s cricket tips and glossary at the end of the book make this informative as well as entertaining.

The second book in the series, Academy All-Stars is being released simultaneously on December 1st and will no doubt be a welcome distraction during any rain affected play delays over the summer.

Jaquelyn Muller is an author and publisher of children’s picture books. Jaquelyn is an author champion for the Let’s Read early childhood literacy program. She conducts literacy and publishing workshops for children from kinder to upper primary.  Jaquelyn was opening bat for her girls’ high school cricket team and is now bringing up two cricket mad daughters of her own. jmullerbooks.com

 

Billy Slater: Banana Kick

Billy Slater: Banana Kick by Patrick Loughlin, illustrated by Nahum Ziersch (Random House Australia)

PB RRP $12.99

ISBN 9780857982667

Also available as an ebook

ISBN 9780857982674

Reviewed by Marian McGuinness

What a great concept for a series for young boys who love their sport. You don’t have to be a footy player to engage with the Under 11s Ravens. Each book follows the story of one of the team members. In this 2^nd book of this new series, it’s Junior Taafuli’s turn. ‘At ten years of age, Junior was already five foot five. His hefty Samoan build had earned him the nickname Mount Taafuli.’

Despite his size, Junior is a quiet kid. Author, Patrick Loughlin, describes Junior’s running abilities in vivid phrasing – he came ‘steaming in through the middle of the forward pack like a Spanish bull let loose on a crowd of tourists.’

As the Ravens play more games, the opposition’s parents constantly sledge Junior because of his size. He is so dejected he thinks himself a freak. Even his teammates join in by making mean comments, ‘he’s on a seafood diet: see food and eat it.’

Billy Slater, the famous Australian fullback, is once again centre field when it comes to the kids’ training and wellbeing. In a preface to the book he reveals that when he started out in football, he ‘didn’t have the natural strength or size the other players had,’ so he had to find other skills. With boys reading this they will understand that like Junior, they each have their positive areas.

There is a lovely interlude throughout the book where the reader gains insight into Junior’s supportive and strong family. His father works at the fruit markets and his mother is a nurse and a wonderful, traditional cook. When Billy Slater organises for the boys to swap junk food for healthy food to give them energy, despite his size, it’s Junior who comes up trumps.

But there’s more to Junior than his physicality. During a confrontation with the team bully, Junior is at tipping point. Surrounded by the team who are chanting ‘Fight! Fight!’ he could have pummelled the bully into the ground, but he surprises everyone by rapping about being who he is.

With its punchy use of language that rushes the plot through each chapter, there’s always something of interest. The enticingly colourful cover and the black and white illustrations scattered throughout give just enough of everything. At the end of the book Billy Slater gives his tips on healthy eating and on how to perfect the game-saving Banana Kick.

As the whole team is profiled, who will be the next player in the spotlight in Book 3?

Billy Slater: Try Time

Billy Slater: Try Time by Patrick Loughlin, illustrated by Nahum Ziersch (Random House Australia)

PB RRP $12.99

ISBN 9780857982469

Also available as an ebook ISBN 9780857982476

Reviewed by Marian McGuinness

This is the first book in a new series for boys 7+ who not only love footy but who play any team sport. At the core of each book is the guidance of legendary Billy Slater, fullback for the Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons and Australian Kangaroos.

Each short-chapter book tells the story of one of the players of the Under 11s team, the Ravens. This time it’s Josh’s story. His dad’s away, his mum is busy with the new baby and his greatest supporter, his grandad, is embarrassingly over-the-top when it comes to cheering from the sideline.

Josh is so nervous about his first footy game that he dreams he’s forgotten to wear his uniform. He’s running for the line with the ball in his Superman undies.

Every boy who has ever had to get ready for footy will be excited by the descriptions of the pre-game preparations: footy boots, shoulder pads, mouthguard – check! And they will recognise the ‘herd of elephant-sized butterflies’ stampeding in their stomachs.

Josh is on the small side and he’s constantly worried that he will let the team down. In the first game of the season he ‘felt the hard yellow hide slide into his grasp as he dived for the line.’ He lost the ball. ‘Then came the sound that would haunt him for days: a single loud, long BOOOOOOO!’

Enter Billy Slater, friend of Coach Steve and footy hero to the boys. At their footy practices Billy homes in on what each boy needs. He takes Josh aside and says, ‘the yips are when you worry so much about not being able to do something that your body forgets how to do it.’ This is not a didactic series but blends the reality of playing football with the wisdom of those who have done it all before.

With its plethora of footy action, quick pace and short-burst sentences, the climax is exciting indeed. The black and white drawings create a visual connection for the reader. There is added value in the players’ profiles at the back of the book as well as handy footy tips on tackling and catching a pass.

Try Time is about having fun, working as a team and self-belief regardless of ability or background. It’s the whole footy package.