Kick by Walter Dean Myers and Ross Workman

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

For the very first time in his decades-long career writing for teens, acclaimed and beloved author Walter Dean Myers writes with a teen, Ross Workman.

Kevin Johnson is thirteen years old. And heading for juvie. He's a good kid, a great friend, and a star striker for his Highland, New Jersey, soccer team. His team is competing for the State Cup, and he wants to prove he has more than just star-player potential. Kevin's never been in any serious trouble . . . until the night he ends up in jail. Enter Sergeant Brown, a cop assigned to be Kevin's mentor. If Kevin and Brown can learn to trust each other, they might be able to turn things around before it's too late.

Review:

Fast paced and inspiring, Kick is a book that sure to become a favorite of many teens out there who love sport related reads with a touch of mystery.

Kick tells the story of Kevin Johnson and Sergeant Brown and the bond they began to form a unquie bond. Kevin is the typical young man. He loves soccer more than anything, and he's a pretty good student as well as friend. Though, everything changes the night Kevin is arrested for taking a car without permission. Soon enough he lands an offense on his previously clean record, and the touch, sensible, and somewhat sweet Sergeant Brown enters Kevin's life with hope that he'll be able to get Kevin's life back on track again. Little do they know that everything is soon to change yet again, that soon they will have a great friendship. But will it be able to take the heat of a possible future court date as well as the secrets and confessions that keep tumbling out about that fateful night? Only time and more pages can tell in this read that will leave Myers fans cheering for Kevin and Sergeant Brown every step of the way!

The best part of Kick is hands down the characters because both were likable and relatable. Kevin was the average teen boy, one that I'm sure boys and girls alike will have no problem relating to, and while Brown was tough on the edges on first, it was easy to see he was a softie at heart. One of the things I loved most about Sergeant Brown and Kevin was the friendship they began to form over the course of the book, because not only was it touching but inspiring as well to see Kevin began to look up to Brown as his mentor and step in father figure so to say.

While the execution of the premise were a bit average and predictable, I had an easy time falling into the story, because I enjoyed learning more about soccer, the lives of the characters, and the legal process with every page. Also, I felt both Myers and Workman did a great job of leading up to the big reveal of what happened that night as the book progressed because it had just the right amount of tension and suspense to keep me intrigued.

Lastly, the most inspiring aspect of this book would have to be the fact that Walter took Ross (a teen fan of his) on to write this novel with him after exchanging several emails. It was originally what got me interested in this book, and the final outcome was decent overall, because while Kick had its choppy parts at time because of the alternating perspectives, it was easy to see the talent Myers has and Workman is sure to accumulate plenty over time with his stories as well!

In all, Kick is a promising debut from this writing duo, and I look forward to reading more by each, especially if they will be writing together!

Grade: B

Kick is now out!

Source: Publicist/HarperTeen. Thanks Laura!