"Thirteen-year-old Lamar Washington is the maddest, baddest, most spectacular bowler at Striker's Bowling Paradise. But while Lamar's a whiz at rolling strikes, he always strikes out with girls. And his brother, Xavier the Basketball Savior, is no help. Xavier earns trophy after trophy on the basketball court and soaks up Dad's attention, leaving no room for Lamar's problems. Until bad boy Billy Jenks convinces Lamar that hustling at the alley will help him win his dream girl, plus earn him enough money to buy an expensive pro ball and impress celebrity bowler Bubba Sanders. But when Billy's scheme goes awry, Lamar ends up ruining his brother's shot at college and every relationship in his life. Can Lamar figure out how to mend his broken ties, no matter what the cost? From debut author Crystal Allen comes an unforgettable story of one boy's struggle to win his family's respect and get the girl of his dreams while playing the sport he loves."
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"I had to read this simply for the fact that it sold for a lot of money at auction. Balzer and Bray spent their dollars well. This is a funny book with a boy protagonist. It screams "Voice" from page one, it tugs at your heart strings...and did I mention it's hilarious? " — Kim (5 out of 5 stars)
"I had to read this simply for the fact that it sold for a lot of money at auction. Balzer and Bray spent their dollars well. This is a funny book with a boy protagonist. It screams "Voice" from page one, it tugs at your heart strings...and did I mention it's hilarious? "
“Crystal Allen has the rare ability to make you laugh out loud one minute and swell with tears the next. The tween book world has a new hero—Lamar Washington—as well as a brilliant new author.”
“Under all the braggadocio is a boy with a big heart, and from the first sentence Lamar will have readers hooked.”
“Allen has written an engaging and humorous story and created a compelling character in Lamar, whose wonderfully inventive, laugh-out-loud idiosyncratic voice will leave readers wanting to hear more.”
“Lamar’s self-aggrandizing narration is fresh, funny, and intriguing…Themes of sibling rivalry, the loss of a mother, knowing one’s limitations, peer pressure and greed are woven throughout the story, resulting in a more mature character than the trash-talking big shot from the beginning. Humorous supporting characters, such as the old women who mother Lamar from their porches as he walks by, are written with heart and add a believable texture to Lamar’s story.”
" Unbelievably sappy at the end, but a good example of how to turn a bad situation around. "
" Great coming-of-age story whose plot follows a sport other than the cliche sports preteens read about. The dialogue in this book is also magnificent! It made the characters life-like & genuine to the age group Allen depicts. Excellent read! "
" Not bad. Had a hard time liking the characters, but in the end it was okay. If a little saccharine. "
" The voice really jumps at you from the very first line, and the book had me cheering Lamar on through his heartbreaking yet humorous journey. "
" A pleasant surprise. A great recommendation for reluctant boys! "
" I got more into it the second half. "
" I laughed, I cried, I'd read it again. Lamar has a heart of gold and I found myself rooting for him from page one. "
" A killer mix of hilarious and heart-wrenching. I fell hard for Lamar. Crystal Allen works magic on every page. "
Crystal Allen is the author of How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy, which received a Florida Sunshine State Award Master List nomination and was a Junior Library Guild selection. She is also the author of the acclaimed middle grade novels The Laura Line, The Magnificent Mya Tibbs: Spirit Week Showdown, and The Magnificent Mya Tibbs: The Wall of Fame Game. She currently lives in Sugar Land, Texas, with her husband, Reggie, and two sons, Phillip and Joshua. You can visit her website at CrystalAllenbooks.com.
JD Jackson is a theater professor, aspiring stage director, and award-winning audiobook narrator. He is a classically trained actor, and his television and film credits include roles on House, ER, Law & Order, Hack, Sherrybaby, Diary of a City Priest, and Lucky Number Slevin. He is the recipient of more than a dozen Earphones Awards for narration and an Odyssey Honor for G. Neri’s Ghetto Cowboy, and he was also named one of AudioFile magazine’s Best Voices of the Year for 2012 and 2013. An adjunct professor at Los Angeles Southwest College, he has an MFA in theater from Temple University.
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