Description
Book Synopsis
An ABA Indies Introduce Book
An ALA/ALSC Notable Children's Book
Parents' Choice Award, Fiction, Recommended
“This is a splendid novel that I read in one sitting. . . . You will cheer when this kid embraces ‘Do your best’ and shows it to be a ringing call to nothing less than Triumph.” —Gary D. Schmidt, Printz Honor winner and two-time Newbery Honor winner
'Diana Harmon Asher tells an entertaining story about a boy picking his way through the potholes and pitfalls of puberty, with a little help from his friends.' —Richard Peck, Newbery Medal winner
'Just read it! Diana Harmon Asher has written a witty, observant, and sensitive novel for kids, as well as a delight for the adults in their lives.' —Susan Isaacs, New York Times bestselling author
If middle school were a race, Joseph Friedman wouldn’t even be in last place&mdash
Trade Review
Joseph's first-person voice is fresh and authentic, and his character arc is immensely satisfying. * Kirkus *
The characters in Asher’s debut novel are likable and approachable, and the story is absorbing and moves quickly. Readers will root for Joseph and his new teammates. * School Library Journal *
They come to count on each other as they race for the same goal: doing their personal best...natural-sounding narrative with a good amount of humor. * The Horn Book *
An entertaining mix of events, conversations, anxieties, and reflections, Joseph’s first-person narrative engages readers on page one and never lets up...Justice is sweet when bullies get their comeuppance in this rewarding first novel. * Booklist *
Asher is honest about the ways in which Joseph’s condition sometimes affects his performance at school, but she’s also attentive to how his sensitivities enable him to experience his environment—the feel of the squishy new track surface, the air rushing past him when he runs, the colors of the woods along the course. * Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books *
