Maxx Rumble Soccer Knockout by Michael Wagner

Black Dog Books, 2014. ISBN 9781922244802.
Highly recommended for boys aged 7+. Maxx Rumble Soccer Knockout is a great story for independent readers moving into their first novels. The soccer theme and Terry Denton illustrations will keep them engaged, the descriptions and events are funny and the text is large and easy to read. The chapters are short, quick moving and full of action.
The main character, Maxx, and his brother Rexx are involved in a soccer competition. Their team, the Saints, is up against the Crawlies and with names like Einstein, Freud and Newton you know the Crawlies are smart. Are the Saints smart enough to beat them? When Rexx gets a ball in the face and a pelican seems to be the Crawlies goal keeper, all seems lost! Maxx tries an inspirational speech but maybe Rexx's idea will help them win.
Kylie Kempster