Overview

Trey McTiernan, the Spartans' team captain, becomes fast friends with Griffin Henshaw, the newest member of their squad. The problem is, Griff used to play for the Spartans' biggest rivals, the Goliaths, and the rest of the Spartans' think he's a rat. So, Trey's teammates set a trap for Griff to see where his loyalties lie -- and they ask Trey to be the bait! Trey doesn't know what to do. If his teammates are right, then betraying his friendship with Griff will save their season. But if they're wrong, then Trey will end up being the rat . . .

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9781434222237

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Reviews

Standard sports cliches play out in both titles. In Hoop Rat, Griffin Henshaw, 14, joins the Spartans but doesn't receive a warm welcome-he's the former captain of the archrival Goliaths, and his new teammates wonder where his true allegiance lies. In Scramble, reluctant backup QB Ben Paulson, 14, must step into the big shoes of suspended golden boy Wes Blake. Both books build tension, leading to high-pressure games at their climaxes. Brisk pacing should keep readers interested, but the stories have fairly abrupt conclusions. Themes of self-confidence, loyalty, and friendship come across loud and clear. Characters are flat, with a minimum of development. Design plays a key role, as each book opens with an ESPN-style special report featuring main character bios and a ticker at the bottom of the page. The stylized, vaguely anime-inspired art employs bright colors and dramatic shifts in perspective to keep the excitement high. While both titles have generic plots, sports-loving reluctant readers will likely be sucked in.-- School Library Journal

"Standard sports clichés play out in both titles. In Hoop Rat, Griffin Henshaw, 14, joins the Spartans but doesn't receive a warm welcome-he's the former captain of the archrival Goliaths, and his new teammates wonder where his true allegiance lies. In Scramble, reluctant backup QB Ben Paulson, 14, must step into the big shoes of suspended golden boy Wes Blake. Both books build tension, leading to high-pressure games at their climaxes. Brisk pacing should keep readers interested, but the stories have fairly abrupt conclusions. Themes of self-confidence, loyalty, and friendship come across loud and clear. Characters are flat, with a minimum of development. Design plays a key role, as each book opens with an ESPN-style ""special report"" featuring main character bios and a ""ticker"" at the bottom of the page. The stylized, vaguely anime-inspired art employs bright colors and dramatic shifts in perspective to keep the excitement high. While both titles have generic plots, sports-loving reluctant readers will likely be sucked in.-- ""School Library Journal"""

Author Information

Scott Ciencin is a New York Times bestselling author of children's and adult fiction. He has written comic books, trading cards, video games, television shows, as well as many non-fiction projects. He lives in Sarasota, Florida with his beloved wife, Denise, and his best buddy, Bear, a golden retriever. Fernando Cano is an emerging illustrator born in Mexico City, Mexico. He currently resides in Monterrey, Mexico, where he works as a full-time illustrator and colorist at Graphikslava studio. He has done illustration work for Marvel, DC Comics, and role-playing games like Pathfinder from Paizo Publishing. In his spare time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, singing, rowing, and drawing. Jesus Aburto has worked in the comic book industry for more than eleven years. In that time, he has illustrated popular characters such as Wolverine, Iron Man, Blade, and the Punisher. Recently, Jesus started his own illustration studio called Graphikslava. He lives in Monterrey, Mexico, with his kids Ilka, Mila, Aleph, and his beloved wife. Jesus enjoys spending his spare time with family and friends.

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