Maxx Rumble Soccer series by Michael Wagner

Ill. by Terry Denton, Black Dog Books, 2014.
Shocker, bk 2. ISBN: 9781922244819.
Grand Final, bk 3. ISBN: 9781922244826.
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Soccer, Sports, Competitions, Brothers. After nine years author Michael Wagner has finally added another sporting series to his much loved Maxx Rumble Cricket and AFL Football books. This time Rexxy, Maxx's younger brother is old enough to play for the Stone Valley Saints Soccer team in a knockout competition.
True to formula the competition is fierce, devious and up to no good. Wagner delights in choosing puns for team players, there's Oliver Sudden, Buster Hamstring and Lou Nartick on the field for the Outhouse Rodents. In Shocker Boofa the opposition captain uses a deadly weapon, his beautiful sister Jennifer Boofersoon who casts a love spell cast on poor Rexxy who is smitten and totally not focussed on the game. As the reader knows the final minutes are key to the Saints success and Maxx is always on hand to come up with the last minute save.
In Grand Final the Saints come face to face with the Plankluvin Pirates the 'rottenest' team in the competition. Unfortunately, there are only four Saints fans supporting Maxx's team whilst the Pirates have a huge following. Tensions mount as the crowd's noise level interferes with hearing the referee's whistle. Another tense game is played and the reader will be delighted to read of Maxx and his team's determination to pursue the prize.
Terry Denton's cartoons capture the key moments of the soccer games and his humorous style of drawing adds to the enjoyment of these books. This new series is suitable for younger readers, especially soccer fans.
They are great middle primary class novels for readers from 7-9 years.
Rhyllis Bignell