Velocity by Chris Wooding - ESSENTIAL

Wooding, Chris Velocity, 336 pages.  Scholastic, 2017.  $19.  Language: PG-13 (37 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13.

Cassica dreams of little her nowhere hometown of Coppermouth and she knows that racing is her only way out; her best friend Shania just wants to follow Cassica and be her mechanic.  When the pair are discovered by a talent scout, they enter the much more physically and emotionally dangerous, cut-throat world of high-priced racing.  Both of the girls may be out of their depth in more ways than one.  They aren’t even sure that their friendship can survive the stress, let alone if they can survive their races.

Wooding’s book is a high-adrenalin rush to the finish, hardly allowing a pause for the reader or the characters to catch a breath or a break.  I always enjoy adding a new book to my racing collection.

MS – ADVISABLE; HS - ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Around the World in 100 Days by Gary Blackwood - ADVISABLE

Blackwood, Gary Around the World in 100 Days, 358 pgs. Dutton Children's Books, 2010. Language - PG (2 swears, 0 "f"), Sexual Content - G; Violence - PG; Harry is tired of everyone criticizing his automobile and so agrees on a £6,000 wager that his car can drive around the world in only 100 days. Along the way, Harry gains enemies and allies, learns about himself and his heritage, and has a lot of car trouble. Yet, somehow, Harry and his companions carry on and persevere. 

A fun spin on Around the World in 80 Days, this book is an entertaining read. It's surprising how things seem to fall into place when you endure. I love how witty all the characters are and love the different ways the reader got to experience the events, e.g. first-hand, newspaper articles, and journal entries. 

MS, HS - ADVISABLE. CCH

Checkered Flag Cheater by Will Weaver

 Weaver, Will Checkered Flag Cheater, 198 pgs. D&M Publishers, Inc., 2010. Language - PG (26 swears, 0 "f"), Sexual Content - PG-13; Violence - G; Trace is living the dream. He's a well-known race car driver on billboards, is winning all the races, and the girls. But fans are starting to call him out as a cheater. He talks to his crew to try and sort things out, but this raises a good question: is it still cheating if you don't get caught? A pretty intense story and good read. I liked the story, the moral, and the great descriptions. I found it frustrating, though, when I was really into the book and than it started saying car this and car that, and I had no idea what it was talking about. So, I recommend this book, but you might want to have at least some knowledge of cars. MS, HS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: CCH

Go Speed Racer, Go! by Sophia Kelly

Kelly, Sophia Go Speed Racer, Go! pg. 28. Penguin Group.$3.95. Language-G; Sexual Content-G; Violence-G; Speed Racer is a boy with a mind for only one thing. His family is a racing family and he doesn't see why he has to go to school and his brother gets to race. But his goal is to become as good as his brother. Will he be able to do it? This is a really good book to get a young boy to start reading. The book is well written and depicts the movie really well. ES-ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer-MP.