Test match by David Warner with J. V. McGee

Ill. by Jules Faber. The Kaboom Kid bk 7. Simon and Schuster, 2016. ISBN 9781925368185
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Themes: Cricket, Friendship, Meeting Challenges. Davey Warner is an 11 year old cricket 'tragic'. Every moment of the day is an opportunity to think about cricket . . . even in the middle of a test at school. In this book in The Kaboom Kid series, Davey and his mates have organised a 2-day weekend cricket test match at the beach. Their rivals have included a surprise 'secret weapon', a Davey doppelganger, in the hope that this would unsettle Davey and his team. But even though Davey ends up in trouble with the authorities at the beach, there is still hope that they can pull off the big win.
This is an uncomplicated narrative which will appeal to young lovers of cricket (males and females). The friendship opportunities within a team sport are highlighted, but also the interest of competition adds a spark of narrative tension. Davey's family is portrayed in a wonderfully ordinary light, with a sunscreen promoting mother, who also sets rules for the young boy. This is a book that you can recommend to young readers - even those who are not cricket aficionados as cricket terminology should be understood by most.
Simple cartoon style black and white illustrations are scattered through the book. (Note: Teachers, who don't mind their profession being the object of some humour, could use this as a shared novel.)
Caroline Hull