  | Junior Ninja Champion : the competition begins (Junior Ninja Champion) Author: Hapka, Cathy | |
| Price: $20.28 | ||
Summary:
[#1] Five unlikely friends are brought together to compete in the first Junior Ninja competition, a televised contest of athletic ability based on the popular National Ninja Champion show.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.60 Points: 4.0 Quiz: 501770 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (04/15/18)
School Library Journal (01/01/18)
Booklist (03/01/18)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 01/01/2018 Gr 3–6—When National Ninja Champion, one of the most popular reality TV shows on television, announces that it is going to have a junior version, it brings together Ty, Kevin, Izzy, J.J., and Mack to Fit Kidz, a kids-only gym owned by Ty's parents. The characters range in ability and drive: from Izzy, whose parkour background gives her a leg up in the initial practices, to Mackenzie, who starts as a blogger intending to report on the others but brings a scientific background that allows her to help them improve. Kevin, who beat cancer and has an overprotective mother, inspires his teammates and mom with his performance. It is Ty, however, who demonstrates the greatest leap forward when he must decide between trying out for the show or for his traveling soccer league. Hapka provides a fun background with the development of the show, including the trials faced in the courses and the nicknames given to the competitors and the coaches. The characters are allowed to have foibles and weaknesses, such as Izzy's fear of heights. VERDICT A fun, fast-paced read that will leave readers wanting to find out if the kids qualify for the next episode.—Betsy Fraser, Calgary Public Library, Canada - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 03/01/2018 National Ninja Champion has announced a kids’ version! This excites five local kids to form a team together. Ty, a natural athlete, believes the competition is his for the taking. Kevin wants to participate, but ever since he survived cancer, his mom believes he is made of glass. Izzy’s parkour skills make her a natural at the balance challenges. J.J. is training just for fun. Lastly, Mack, a blogger, uses her science knowledge to show everyone how to tame the Crazy Cliff, and they convince her to join the team. In this series opener, the kids make it through the preliminary round and compete in the filmed semifinals. While some elements of the plot are a tad repetitive, such as the training montages and following each character through the challenges in their local round and the semifinals, Hapka’s book is ultimately a fun and timely read that will appeal to young fans of American Ninja Warrior competitions and might inspire some to search out ninja gyms for a first-hand experience. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.
