Rookie of the Year

A Rip & Red Book

Written by Phil Bildner, Illustrated by Tim Probert

Rip and Red are back in another great sports themed book! Rip is excited to play ball again, Red is getting more used to things not always being a certain way, and Mr. Acevedo is still the cool tattooed, pierced, jean-wearing teacher. One morning, Rip and Red walk into class and see a new student. This hasn’t happened for 3 years and they are speechless! What’s more, the new student, a girl named Tiki whose dad is from Egypt, will not stop talking and is driving Rip up the wall!
When the boys walk into the gym for the first basketball practice of the year, they see Tiki. Rip isn’t exactly thrilled and Red doesn’t seem to care–he’s just excited to be part of the team again. Tiki turns out to be pretty good at ball and gives Rip a run for his money. And then it happens–Rip isn’t going to be a starter, but on the second team. His heart is broken, he’s mad at the coach, and Tiki is planning a lunch revolt!

Lots of sports and adventure in this one as well as teaching acceptance. Tiki is a Muslim and it’s a pretty strong point that her dad likes to shave before they move so his beard doesn’t scare the airport personnel, and her mom doesn’t wear a hijab as much as she used to. A great book for high 3rd grade readers – 5th grade.

Review by Allyson Rolfe, Granger Elementary Media Center
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 3-5

A Rip & Red Book
Rookie of the Year
Written by Phil Bildner, Illustrated by Tim Probert
Farrar Straus Giroux
272 pages
Release Date: July 12, 2016
A review copy was provided by the publisher.

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2 thoughts on “Rookie of the Year”

  1. It sounds like a lot going on in the book. I will have to read it for myself to see how it all comes together. Thanks for the review.

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