September 1, 2011
Grades 3-5 In this first entry in the new Outdoor Adventures subset of the Jake Maddox Sports Stories series, Jonah and his younger brother, Shawn, are visiting their grandfather. Their mountain bikes provide most of the entertainment, since working around the farm is not that much fun. When Jonah hears about a nearly forgotten trail, he is eager to explore it, even though Grandpa tells him that it's cursed. Sure enough, when Jonah tries it, his bike hits a tree root, and he hurts himself in a fall. Shawn isn't deterred, however, and sneaks out to the trail in a rainstorm that turns torrential, leaving it up to Jonah to save him. There are plot pushes here that raise eyebrows. Grandpa notes that perhaps he should have called the police to help after bruised Jonah faces the brutal storm alone. You think? However, readers will like the fast-paced action and the sense of Jonah as a boy on a mission. Short sentences, large type, and lively ink artwork make this a good choice for reluctant readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)