Kris is a hard-working and natural athlete. Born into a basketball loving family, he dreams of balling just like his big brother, Dylan. Kris goes out for the middle school basketball team with the hopes of being apart of the idolized starting squad. Kris and his buddies make the team, but Kris quickly realizes that he will not be a starter. When his friend, Mason, calls him out for complaining about not getting a starting spot, Kris is encouraged to rethink his perspective. His parents inspire him with multiple “sixth man” players in the NBA that were just as important as the starters. Bowen’s wonderfully articulates the trials and triumphs of middle school sports while mixing in healthy family dynamics, character development, and real world sports references. Any sports lover would love this fast paced and relatable story. With around 150 pages, this book is manageable for even the most reluctant readers! Recommended for ages 8-12.

Read as an ARC from NetGalley. ‘Off the Bench’ is set to release in late March.

This book is part of a sports series for children by Fred Bowen. Each book can be read independently. While this is my first book, I can only presume it to be a great series for children.
Follow along as Kris finds his true worth as a part of his basketball team. Kris sees his older brother, who plays on the high school team, and can't help but be envious of his MVP position. When the new coach has Kris starting on the bench, he will do just about anything to become a starter.
Opinion
This book is definitely a high interest read. If your child is a basketball lover, they will enjoy this book. Bowen does a great job describing games and explaining what a sixth man is. I love that Kris doesn't have to be the star in order for him to see his worth. Let's face it, not every child will be the star. Bowen has created a book that will allow children to look at their position on their teams and realize that they are just as important as everyone else there.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Peachtree for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Off the Bench tells the story of Kris Hall, a young basketball player who looks up to his brother. Basketball is a family affair and Kris makes his school's team - but he isn't a starter. The book follows his goal of being a starter and the lessons he learns the more he plays.

This is a fantastic sports story for young readers. It is relatable and has plenty of basketball action for fans. I really loved the way it teaches more about the game as a whole, while giving its female characters sports cred, instead of just having them simply exist as side pieces. Kris' mom knows her fair share of basketball and his younger sister is also playing - though they aren't the focus. It's still a great balance.

I definitely recommend this book to young basketball fans and even young sports fans who want to begin learning about the sport.

Chris (Kris in the E ARC) Hall loves basketball, and he's super impressed that his older brother Dylan is doing so well on his high school team. There are colleges interested him, which may help him with scholarships. Chris feels like he plays a good game, too, but he and his friend Mason are worried that the won't make their middle school team. Luckily, they both do. Their coach is good, the teammates get along, and practices stretch their abilities, but Chris can't shake the fact that he isn't a starter. Dylan has always been one of the first five in the game. Mason is a bit miffed that his friend can't let this go, because he's lucky if he gets to play a minute every game. Chris' parents tell him about famous "sixth men" who don't start but who are almost always brought into the game because their playing is strong. Chris tries to internalize it, but it's hard to do when the starters seem to get all of the interest. Dylan and his sister Joni support him, and he starts to feel a little better about his sixth man status. Will his skills be showcased in a critical game after all?
Strengths: This book has players' stats, diagrams of the court, and lots and lots of play-by-play descriptions to entice sports fans, but also has a lot of good philosophical musings and character development to make teachers happy. I'm in the middle of a book project right now, so paying attention to the sorts of things teachers ask kids about the books they read. Bowen slam dunks character development, plot arcs, and conflict (man vs. self!), while still constructing a page turning and exciting story. I always learn something about sports when I read his books, and love that he cites real players and gives a lot of historical background. The updated covers are perfect, and this book will be a starter for sure!
Weaknesses: I admittedly skim a lot of the sports descriptions, looking only to see if there are any shreds of character or plot development occurring on the court. My students, of course, linger on those parts!
What I really think: Bowen's books are an automatic purchase for me because they are exactly what some of my readers need and want. They are a comfortable length (about 150 pages), have enough sports information that I'm not entirely sure what's going on because I haven't seen a basketball game since 1974. Elementary and middle school libraries should have all of these titles in the collection, and multiple copies of Hardcourt Comeback!

Basketball on and off the court packs every page, making this a true read for young, basketball fans.

Chris's older brother is the star of the high school basketball team, something Chris is proud and a bit jealous about, especially since his junior high's team is just starting their own season. Chris is determined to show the new coach that he should be one of the starting five, which isn't easy considering the good players on his team. But he knows he can't be ignored. He might not be as good as his older brother, but he's not bad. When the coach uses him as the first sub instead placing him under the starters, Chris is disappointed but determined to prove his worth...if he can.

I was happy to see that this read does center around basketball, meaning that it isn't about school drama, family issues, or any other side themes. Chris lives and breathes basketball. His friends live and breathe basketball. Even his family lives and breathes basketball. While this did almost seem suffocating, it comes across realistic as there are many sport families, who really love the sport that much...every single member. And the practices, games, and such of all siblings makes every aspect of life seem to rotate around that one theme. So, it was refreshing to see things from this point of view.

With all the concentration on basketball, this book is a definite read for basketball fans. The practice and game situations will come across very familiar, and even the few plays illustrated in the pages will have readers nodding their heads in recognition. The home scenes with concern about schedules, talk of the sport, and shooting hoops with family and friends not only sticks to topic but shows a supportive, understanding, and encouraging environment. This family might be about sports, but they don't take that in a competitive way, and rather, support one another in many aspects...even when there is the occasional jealous moment or two.

Then, there's an inspiring message for those, who play basketball. The words of the coach, older brother, teammates, friends, and family offer wise insights, which will have readers, who also play sports, thinking about their own positions and attitudes. These aren't preachy and stay in a reality-based position, so that players can really use them in their own practices and games.

I do see sport orientated readers enjoy this one quite a bit.

Quick, easy read for students who enjoy sports books. It has enough action to keep the reader interested, and the characters are relatable for junior high readers.

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.