Queen of the Court

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian in North Wales,
Pennsylvania.

When Kallana wears the trendiest outfits and styles her hair in the
coolest way, she feels confident, at least for a little while. The
problem is that no one in Grade 8 pays much attention to her except her
teacher, who disapproves of her provocative dress and warns that she
will be sent home unless she changes her style.

The last thing that fashion-conscious Kallana wants to do is to play
basketball. Just the thought of sweating in an ugly, baggy uniform makes
her feel sick. Dad insists, however, and Kallana must suffer
embarrassment and humiliation as she struggles to learn the sport. Off
the court she faces another challenge—her Mom has decided to move out
of the house. Yet, to her surprise, Kallana discovers that playing on
the team makes her feel happier than anything she has ever done before.

Michele Bossley gives her story a refreshing twist—a reluctant
student discovers a sport for the first time. She creates a realistic
impression of how confusing and frustrating it is for someone to
participate in a sport without prior knowledge of rules and skills, as
well as how rewarding it is to learn and develop new talents.
Furthermore, she draws a compassionate picture of a girl who struggles
with her own sense of self-worth. The reader gets the message that
self-worth does not come from how you look, but rather from what you
accomplish. An excellent choice for preteen girls. Highly recommended.