Shelley Shock [Paperback]

Grade 4-6-Adam and his friends are mortified when a girl comes out for soccer practice. Worse yet, Shelley is a great player who shows every sign of making the team. When the boys drive her away, Adam is her only defender. So, when the coach insists that the boys get her back before he will hold practice, the others turn to Adam for help. His fumbling efforts to make up with Shelley are misunderstood by almost everyone, including his friend Kim. As in Soccer Shock (1991; o.p.) and Shark Shock (1994; o.p., both Dutton), the protagonist often seeks advice from his talking freckles, Gilbert and Frankie, whom he contacts by "re-energizing" his eardrums via electric shock and then climbing into the bathtub. The freckles are rather like a dermal Odd Couple and their suggestions for dealing with Adam's girl troubles cause more trouble than they solve. While the fantasy element is amusing, it is not sufficiently explained for readers unacquainted with the previous books. Flashbacks give some history of the relationship between Adam and his chatty spots, but never manage to make the situation seem real. Readers who enjoyed the first two books will like this one, but others may be confused.
Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Gr. 3-6. The stress of starting middle school goes up a notch when the protagonist of Soccer Shock (1991) and Shark Shock (1995) confronts math and soccer team tryouts and the stirrings of unfamiliar feelings toward a girl, Kim. Adam's life grows even more complicated when another girl, Shelley, tries out for the soccer team and proves to be a better player than Adam. Adam wants to be friends with Shelley, but he doesn't want her to beat him out of a spot on the team. On top of that, it seems Adam is always unintentionally hurting Kim's feelings. As in previous adventures, he seeks advice from the freckles on his knees, but in order to be able to hear what they have to say, he has to receive a mild electric shock: he exposes himself to the current in an electric fence. This bizarre aspect of the story sets a somewhat disturbing example; it is also the plot's weak point. But there's still enough to recommend here. Humor, interesting characters, and a believable portrayal of the complexities of sixth-grade life will pull children through the plot's twists and quirks. Most readers will be amused by Adam's conversations with the opinionated freckles; some will go beyond that to realize that Adam's thoughtful decisions are the result of his integrity, which is bolstered by his family's support. Ellen Mandel
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Adam, the eleven-year-old with the amazing talking freckles, is in big trouble again. This time it's girl trouble. One girl seems to have a crush on him, and another one is so good at soccer that Adam is afraid she will get his place on the team. It's easy for middle school to get under your skin, but Adam thinks his skin can help him solve his baffling problems. His freckles don't seem to speak the language of love, so when he takes their advice, things get even worse--and wackier.

Mixing fantasy (talking freckles!) with humor, sports, and middle-school romance makes the third funny book about Adam by noted author Donna Jo Napoli a surefire crowd-pleaser. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.