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B o o k R e v i e w s
Something For Everyone
C h e r y l Jo n e s
Looking for another holiday gift? The choice might be a little easier after reading the following reviews of tennis books on the market.
The Kid from Courage
By Ron Berman
Looking for a holiday gift for that adolescent in your life? Young people will enjoy reading of the exploits of Bryan Berry from Courage, Kansas. The Kid from Courage is a welcome change from the run of the mill tennis books that gather dust on forgotten shelves of book stores and homes alike. The story is uplifting, interesting and most of all, readable. Berman introduces us to Bryan, a genuine kid, with a believable life. It is the tale of a fourteen year old’s forays into the world of junior tennis. Any youngster who reads at fifth grade level will find this book captivating. I was impressed with the discipline and perseverance that is gently inserted into the story without being preachy. For example, we see Bryan participating in tournaments, but he always remembers that he must keep up with his school work. Time spent waiting between matches is used for homework. A connection comes about between an oldster, Henry Johnson, who takes an interest in Bryan, and it is credible. There is a bond that links the two of them – youth and experience – which is believable and sincere. Homilies are subtle, but seem real and practical. A theme, “courage is not being afraid to lose,” wends its way through the story; not in a moralizing way, but in an “actions speak louder than words” kind of way. Bryan is The Kid from Courage on many fronts. Just as life is many faceted, Bryan appears to have a real life. He has a family, yearns to be popular, and isn’t perfect, much as most adolescents. His exploits in the tennis arena are not over done and the suspense is carefully dolled out.
Parents who are home schooling their children will enjoy the book, because there are thoughtful questions about each chapter, testing comprehension and the story’s connection to their lives. Whether or not the book is read for pleasure or for school credit, The Kid from Courage, fills a niche that has been sorely neglected. Before the book is wrapped, steal a peak. Many names familiar to those who grew up playing in Southern California, appear among the opponents Bryan must face along his way to Kalamazoo. Berman’s homagé to friend, Joel Drucker, becomes Joe Drucker, Bryan’s first opponent at Kalamazoo. (Drucker, characterized as a wiry left hander, has written his own homagé, to his hero Jimmy Connors, which follows.)
B o o k R e v i e w s
Something For Everyone
C h e r y l Jo n e s
Looking for another holiday gift? The choice might be a little easier after reading the following reviews of tennis books on the market.
The Kid from Courage
By Ron Berman
Looking for a holiday gift for that adolescent in your life? Young people will enjoy reading of the exploits of Bryan Berry from Courage, Kansas. The Kid from Courage is a welcome change from the run of the mill tennis books that gather dust on forgotten shelves of book stores and homes alike. The story is uplifting, interesting and most of all, readable. Berman introduces us to Bryan, a genuine kid, with a believable life. It is the tale of a fourteen year old’s forays into the world of junior tennis. Any youngster who reads at fifth grade level will find this book captivating. I was impressed with the discipline and perseverance that is gently inserted into the story without being preachy. For example, we see Bryan participating in tournaments, but he always remembers that he must keep up with his school work. Time spent waiting between matches is used for homework. A connection comes about between an oldster, Henry Johnson, who takes an interest in Bryan, and it is credible. There is a bond that links the two of them – youth and experience – which is believable and sincere. Homilies are subtle, but seem real and practical. A theme, “courage is not being afraid to lose,” wends its way through the story; not in a moralizing way, but in an “actions speak louder than words” kind of way. Bryan is The Kid from Courage on many fronts. Just as life is many faceted, Bryan appears to have a real life. He has a family, yearns to be popular, and isn’t perfect, much as most adolescents. His exploits in the tennis arena are not over done and the suspense is carefully dolled out.
Parents who are home schooling their children will enjoy the book, because there are thoughtful questions about each chapter, testing comprehension and the story’s connection to their lives. Whether or not the book is read for pleasure or for school credit, The Kid from Courage, fills a niche that has been sorely neglected. Before the book is wrapped, steal a peak. Many names familiar to those who grew up playing in Southern California, appear among the opponents Bryan must face along his way to Kalamazoo. Berman’s homagé to friend, Joel Drucker, becomes Joe Drucker, Bryan’s first opponent at Kalamazoo. (Drucker, characterized as a wiry left hander, has written his own homagé, to his hero Jimmy Connors, which follows.)