Match Point! by Maddie Gallegos is available but I was lucky enough to still have my online reader copy. However, there were a few places where a physical copy would have been welcomed. Things can be a bit crowded, though the images are a nice minimalistic approach, but are still giving you the extras illustrations have to move a story along.
The story is familiar, Rosie is a girl who does not like racquetball because of how her father pushes her into it, how he is not supportive but only critical of her, and how (unknown to her) she is really too much in her own head to see the larger picture. Of course the dad isn’t listening, but the adult can see to a point how he does care. We then have the new friend and how that helps Rosie stick up for herself, how she is able to learn the importance of having fun, and how “do better next time” is as important as getting it on the first try.
I enjoyed the friendship aspect of things because they are realistic, but also have an ideal to them that lets you know that things might work out Happily Ever After. The growth of Rosie is well done. I’m not sure the father would change his attitude as quickly as he does, but of course, it’s nice to see the changes. The other fun aspect is that we are dealing with racquetball, a sport not usually seen in books and in particular, younger stories. The overall feel of things was almost as if things were 1980s/1990s but with contemporary characters.
Best for ages 8 to 12/young 13, but really any age can have it read to them and/or solo read. Rating: 3.5 of 5.
