Review by Booklist Review
Addison Gerhardt knows three things to be true: the Golden State Warriors are his favorite basketball team, he struggles with anxiety when thrust into the spotlight, and his best friend is Devin Velma. When Devin's dad needs an expensive heart procedure, Addison wants to do whatever it takes to help his best friend. But as the stakes escalate, Addison is forced to confront his worst fears: publicly showing support for the Clippers . . . and public speaking. Burt's breezy sophomore novel features a fantastic male friendship and a well-developed roster of characters. At times, the inherent drama of Devin's situation eclipses that of Addison's, but the heart of the story is unwavering. This is a novel fully rooted in the experiences of today's tweens, certain that they're one social media stunt away from fame but also still struggling with timeless concerns, whether it's managing the expectations of adults or crushing on their BFF's older sister. Hand to fans of basketball and friendship stories.--Jennifer Barnes Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Sixth-grader Addison Gerhardt suffers from anxiety, and when his best friend, Devin Velma, announces his intent to attract millions of Twitter followers by making a viral video with Addy's help, Addy is uneasy about the plan. But Devin is trying to get famous so that he can earn enough money to help pay for his father's heart surgery, which is not covered by insurance, so Addy agrees to assist. Devin's initial attempts fail; after he comes up with a scheme to appear behind a famous couple on the kiss cam at a Clippers game and nearly falls to his death, Addy saves him. The video of the incident goes viral, but it's Addy, not Devin, who rockets to fame, causing a rift between the boys. Addy's anxiety is realistically portrayed ("It was as if my brain ripped in half"), as are both families' financial concerns. Spot-on sixth-grade humor and sympathetic characters by Burt (Greetings from Witness Protection!) will hook readers as he explores fame and friendship in the age of social media. Ages 10-14. Agent: Rebecca Stead, the Book Group. (Oct.) c Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
Even though sixth grader Addison suffers from anxiety, he goes along with his best friend Devin's plan to seek internet fame to raise money for Devin's father's medical care. One mishap after another culminates with a daring rescue during an L.A. Clippers basketball game and a nasty punch in the eye. Colorful secondary characters and refreshingly real financial concerns lend an air of authenticity to the amusing story. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
