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Review: Lizzy Legend
Title: Lizzy Legend
Author: Matthew Ross Smith
Genre: contemporary fantasy
Release Date: January 8, 2019
Series: none
Blurb
Lizzy Trudeaux loves basketball. She doesn’t have much by way of money, but she has access to the community court, a worn ball named Ginger, and she practices constantly. After fighting to join the boy’s team at her school, Lizzy is finally given the opportunity to show off her hard-earned skills.
When she answers what she believes is another bill collecting phone call, Lizzy receives a magical wish: the ability to sink every shot. Pure Swish. Now eviscerating the competition in the boy’s league is small potatoes—she has the skills to dominate in the NBA. With the help of her BFF Toby and some viral video action, Lizzy goes all the way to the Philadelphia Bells’ starting lineup, making history and taking names. Then, just as she’s about to go face to face with her hero, the best player on the planet, things begin to fall apart. But Lizzy isn’t a quitter and she’ll play her hardest for the love of the game.
What I Liked
Friends, I learned so much about basketball from this book! I don't follow the sport but I was still able to keep up with the games and what was going on. Lizzy is a great character who is fierce and determined, and even the magic wish she gets doesn't stop her from grueling practice she forces herself to do. Her friend Toby and her dad offer great balance to her dogged seriousness: Toby is goofy and always live streaming on his phone, and her dad starts off pretty beaten down and sad. Lizzy's growth throughout the book is very evident and a great lesson to kids about hard work versus being handed success.
What I Would Have Liked to See
Maybe a little more of the magic telemarketer!
My Favorite!
The format of the story goes between normal third person narrative, and like an interview style. It makes me think of shows that interview one person's friends and family and then splice together the clips of these friends and family talking. There are even tweets in there! It took me a minute to figure out what it was, but once I did, I really enjoyed it!
TL;DR
Teen girl with dreams of basketball stardom is granted a wish to never miss a basket, but she soon understands that this easy way out isn't going to bring her satisfaction.
