Very interesting premise behind Kick by Walter Dean Myers and Ross Workman. Myers is a well-known YA author; Workman is one of his teen-aged fans. They took turns writing the chapters - Workman writes as 13-year-old Kevin, who gets in trouble when he's caught driving (and wrecking) a car with his friend Christy as a passenger. Myers writes as Sergeant Brown, a police officer who can tell there's more to Kevin and Christy's story than he's hearing. There's a sub-plot about Kevin's soccer team heading into a championship; the action of the games is an interesting counterpoint to the rest of the story. Although the revelation of Christy's problem is somewhat anti-climactic, the developing relationship between Kevin and the Sergeant is great. A terrific collaboration!

A chance at a million dollars?!

Who wouldn't like a chance to win a million dollars?  Thirteen-year-old Whisper Nelson, the main character in The Million Dollar Kick by Dan Gutman actually has her doubts.  She's geeky, unpopular, and can't stand any kind of sports.  After winning a contest that her sister entered her in, she can win the big bucks if she can score a goal against Carmen Applegate, star of the local professional soccer team.  She hasn't touched a soccer ball since a huge soccer mistake in third grade...should she even try? Carmen is trying to psych her out, but with encouragement from classmate Jess and high school goalie Ellie, Whisper decides to try.  References to the environment throughout the story don't seem to fit it, but you'll understand the link at the end of the book.  Give it a shot!