(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. The hi-lo series continues with four more facile sports books, these all featuring girl protagonists: rhythmic gymnast Louie Lin (Balancing), softball catcher Rana Parisi (Softball), sports reporter Maya Esposito (Report), and ice-hockey player Alana O'Brien (STEAM). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the activity's anxieties and thrills. Silly, juvenile cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward middle-school sports stories. Review covers these Calico: Game Face titles: Balancing Act, Softball Surprise, Sports Report, and STEAM & Ice.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. The hi-lo series continues with four more facile sports books, these all featuring girl protagonists: rhythmic gymnast Louie Lin (Balancing), softball catcher Rana Parisi (Softball), sports reporter Maya Esposito (Report), and ice-hockey player Alana O'Brien (STEAM). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the activity's anxieties and thrills. Silly, juvenile cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward middle-school sports stories. Review covers these Calico: Game Face titles: Balancing Act, Softball Surprise, Sports Report, and STEAM & Ice.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. The hi-lo series continues with four more facile sports books, these all featuring girl protagonists: rhythmic gymnast Louie Lin (Balancing), softball catcher Rana Parisi (Softball), sports reporter Maya Esposito (Report), and ice-hockey player Alana O'Brien (STEAM). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the activity's anxieties and thrills. Silly, juvenile cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward middle-school sports stories. Review covers these Calico: Game Face titles: Balancing Act, Softball Surprise, Sports Report, and STEAM & Ice.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. The hi-lo series continues with four more facile sports books, these all featuring girl protagonists: rhythmic gymnast Louie Lin (Balancing), softball catcher Rana Parisi (Softball), sports reporter Maya Esposito (Report), and ice-hockey player Alana O'Brien (STEAM). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the activity's anxieties and thrills. Silly, juvenile cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward middle-school sports stories. Review covers these Calico: Game Face titles: Balancing Act, Softball Surprise, Sports Report, and STEAM & Ice.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. Four seventh graders face athletic challenges: Griffin reluctantly steps in as soccer goalie (Between); Javon feels the heat as a relief pitcher (Relief); Torry becomes the go-to player on the basketball court (Pressure); and Marcus questions his value in the 4x400-meter relay (Baton). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the anxieties and thrills of the game. Silly cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward stories. Review covers the following Calico: Game Face titles: Between the Sticks, Chasing the Baton, No Relief, and Pressure Point.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. Four seventh graders face athletic challenges: Griffin reluctantly steps in as soccer goalie (Between); Javon feels the heat as a relief pitcher (Relief); Torry becomes the go-to player on the basketball court (Pressure); and Marcus questions his value in the 4x400-meter relay (Baton). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the anxieties and thrills of the game. Silly cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward stories. Review covers the following Calico: Game Face titles: Between the Sticks, Chasing the Baton, No Relief, and Pressure Point.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. Four seventh graders face athletic challenges: Griffin reluctantly steps in as soccer goalie (Between); Javon feels the heat as a relief pitcher (Relief); Torry becomes the go-to player on the basketball court (Pressure); and Marcus questions his value in the 4x400-meter relay (Baton). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the anxieties and thrills of the game. Silly cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward stories. Review covers the following Calico: Game Face titles: Between the Sticks, Chasing the Baton, No Relief, and Pressure Point.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. Four seventh graders face athletic challenges: Griffin reluctantly steps in as soccer goalie (Between); Javon feels the heat as a relief pitcher (Relief); Torry becomes the go-to player on the basketball court (Pressure); and Marcus questions his value in the 4x400-meter relay (Baton). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the anxieties and thrills of the game. Silly cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward stories. Review covers the following Calico: Game Face titles: Between the Sticks, Chasing the Baton, No Relief, and Pressure Point.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Game Face series. Eighth grader Chase's hard work pays off when he is pulled up to play on the varsity football team with his best friend, Tripp. But when Tripp blacks out during a game, Chase is torn between reporting the concussion and risking his friendship. This series-opener plods along at points and its dialogue is stiff, but the action picks up during the football scenes.

Reviewer: David Elzey