Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook (Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook #1)

From the opening pages of her story, baseball-obsessed seventh-grader Gabby Garcia makes it clear that her book is not a diary but a playbook, because aplaybooks are how you make things happen.a And Gabby is all about making things happen for herself: sheas the star pitcher on her schoolas baseball team, but when a asevere asbestos situationa forces the immediate closure of her school, Gabby is sent to a private school where the baseball team already has a great pitcher. Confident to the point of cocky, Gabby is sure that the team will be begging for her services, but when she finally gets on the team, things donat go as she had hoped (aeven though I have whatas called a abig personality, a I feel like itas not working for me herea). Gabbyas satisfying journey toward gaining a more team-focused attitude is narrated in a wry and witty voice that ought to win over many readers, sports fans or not. Kissias comics-style spot illustrations (not all seen by PW appear throughout. Ages 8a 12. Authoras agent: Fonda Snyder. Illustratoras agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright Group. (May) Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

Gr 4-6--The first in a planned series. Gabby Garcia is a 12-year-old baseball prodigy, and she knows it. She's on her best win streak ever when she's forced to switch to a new school--one with a very good and established ball team. Gabby expects to waltz into her new school and be welcomed onto the team with open arms and grateful praise, but things don't exactly go as she hoped. When Gabby is relegated to the field hockey team--the worst field hockey team ever--she discovers that the ragtag group is comprised of incredibly talented peers. The team members are entering the state talent contest together, and Gabby is determined to help them take first place, but she just can't get her heart away from the ballfield. This novel joins the plethora of middle grade books in hand-drawn, journal format, though Gabby would tell readers this is "definitely NOT a diary!" The cast is diverse, both in description and illustrations. The Chicago Cubs are referred to as "loveable losers" who haven't had a World Series win since 1908 and who haven't played in the World Series since 1945; however, they recently won the pennant in 2016. The plot is mildly interesting but not likely to keep most readers engaged for the long haul. VERDICT It's refreshing to see a female ballplayer protagonist in a middle grade novel. Consider for robust collections or where baseball stories circulate well.--Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"You're going to root, root, root for Gabby Garcia! A hilarious home-run."—Sarah Mlynowski, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Whatever After series