Overview

Thirteen-year-old Lamar Washington is the maddest, baddest bowler at Striker’s Bowling Paradise. But while Lamar’s a whiz at rolling strikes, he always strikes out with girls. And Lamar’s brother, Xavier the Basketball Savior, is no help—he earns trophy after trophy on the basketball court and soaks up Dad’s attention, leaving no room for Lamar’s problems. Until bad boy Billy Jenks convinces Lamar that hustling will help him win his dream girl, plus earn him enough money to buy an expensive pro ball and impress bowler Bubba Sanders. But when one of Billy’s schemes goes awry, Lamar ends up damaging every relationship in his life. Can Lamar figure out how to mend his broken ties, no matter what the cost This debut novel from Crystal Allen heralds the arrival of a fresh new voice in middle grade fiction.

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9780061992735

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Reviews

The powerful mix of sibling rivalry, revenge, and hard-won redemption strengthens the perennial appeal of the na?ve-underdog-makes-good plot; readers will come for the laughs and stay for the laughs. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Under all the braggadocio is a boy with a big heart, and from the first sentence Lamar will have readers hooked. -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) ""This stands out for its unusual setting and smooth integration of friendship and family concerns. "" -- Kirkus Reviews ""The powerful mix of sibling rivalry, revenge, and hard-won redemption strengthens the perennial appeal of the na�ve-underdog-makes-good plot; readers will come for the laughs and stay for the laughs."" -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books ""Crystal Allen has the rare ability to make you laugh out loud one minute and swell with tears the next. The tween book world has a new hero--Lamar Washington --as well as a brilliant new author who's bound to win a Bubba-sized trophy herself!"" -- Neal Shusterman, author of THE SCHWA WAS HERE and BRUISER Praise for THE MAGNIFICENT MYA TIBBS: MYA IN THE MIDDLE: ""Allen lassoes another terrific tale for the Magnificent Mya Tibbs series."" -- Kirkus Reviews Praise for THE MAGNIFICENT MYA TIBBS: THE WALL OF FAME GAME: ""Hilarious...with a charming cast of characters that readers will be eager to follow."" -- Kirkus Reviews Praise for THE MAGNIFICENT MYA TIBBS: SPIRIT WEEK SHOWDOWN: ""Nuanced depictions of friendship coupled with larger-than-life and fully three-dimensional characters make this delightful book at once thoughtful and a riot to read."" -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Praise for THE MAGNIFICENT MYA TIBBS: SPIRIT WEEK SHOWDOWN: ""[A] winning series debut."" -- Booklist Praise for THE MAGNIFICENT MYA TIBBS: SPIRIT WEEK SHOWDOWN: ""Endearing"" -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Praise for THE MAGNIFICENT MYA TIBBS: SPIRIT WEEK SHOWDOWN: ""A big-hearted, high-spirited, cowboy-booted heroine...The story's vivid small-town setting and memorable characters will have many readers looking forward to more Mya."" -- Publishers Weekly Praise for THE MAGNIFICENT MYA TIBBS: SPIRIT WEEK SHOWDOWN: ""Spunky, sweet hearted, and full of fun, Mya will have readers everywhere yelling 'Yee-haw'!"" -- Varian Johnson, author of The Great Greene Heist Praise for THE MAGNIFICENT MYA TIBBS: SPIRIT WEEK SHOWDOWN: ""Looking for a book that sparkles with laughter and heart? Yippee kai-yay-here it is! Mya's search for a true, not-fake friend will tickle your giggle bone and lasso your ticker. Everyone but everyone should have a friend like the magnetic and magnificent Mya Tibbs."" -- Tricia Springstubb, author of Moonpenny Island and Cody and the Fountain of Happiness Praise for THE MAGNIFICENT MYA TIBBS: SPIRIT WEEK SHOWDOWN: ""In Spirit Week Showdown, earnest Mya, with her Texas charm and mounting friendship problems, kept me turning the pages all the way to the boo-yang cool finale. Trust me: you'll want all your friends to read this one!"" -- Tracey Baptiste, author of The Jumbies, a School Library Journal selection Praise for THE LAURA LINE: ""The protagonist's emotional transformation will resonate with readers. Generational bonds, notably the growth of the relationship between Laura and her grandmother, are beautifully depicted. With its humor and deep reverence for history, Allen's novel is an engaging treatment of the oft-told tale of looking within for beauty and strength."" -- School Library Journal Praise for THE LAURA LINE: ""This is a lively approach to an issue that's come up recently in the news...and the historical aspect could help readers consider their own family lore that may not have made its way into written accounts."" -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Praise for THE LAURA LINE: ""Laura Dyson's sweet, sassy voice draws you into this delightful story of self-discovery and acceptance, unwavering friendship and the deep roots of one amazing family."" -- Donna Gephart, author of Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen Praise for THE LAURA LINE: ""Crystal Allen shows us how our relatives, even the ones we've never met, sometimes have a way of gently weaving a path to exactly who we're meant to be, our truest and best self."" -- Kathryn Fitzmaurice, author of The Year the Swallows Came Early"

Crystal Allen has the rare ability to make you laugh out loud one minute and swell with tears the next. The tween book world has a new hero--Lamar Washington --as well as a brilliant new author who's bound to win a Bubba-sized trophy herself! --Neal Shusterman, author of THE SCHWA WAS HERE and BRUISER

Author Information

Crystal Allen is the author of How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy, which received a Florida Sunshine State Award Master List nomination and was a Junior Library Guild selection. The Laura Line is her second novel. She currently lives in Sugar Land, Texas, with her husband, Reggie, and two sons, Phillip and Joshua.

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