Diminutive Manny Ramos, a sixth grader, goes out for the football team at his New Jersey school. He weighs a mere 87 pounds while some of his teammates are closer to the 155-pound maximum. Although he is a fast runner, he hardly gets to play during practice. When he gets a chance to participate in the kickoff of the first game, he makes a couple of mistakes that contribute to the squad's loss. Then it's back to no action for Manny. Another opportunity results in success and finally he feels like he's part of the team. The family scenes are well written and believable. The close relationship between Manny and his five-year-old brother is nicely portrayed. A drawback is a description of a girl as "short but built," and again that "she's after" a popular boy. Later, Manny responds to an opponent with "Screw you." While probably realistic, this dialogue seems unnecessary. Still, this story conveys an important message about perseverance and making the most of one's strengths. Packed with plenty of action, it makes an OK choice for sports fans.–Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.