Rebound by Eric Walters Date of Publication: 2000 ISBN: 0773674853 Number of Pages: 259

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Average
GENRES: Realism, Sports
THEMES: Coming of Age, Friendship, Bullying, Responsibility

SUMMARY:
Last year at his “new” school, Sean and his new friends served detention after detention and were always in trouble. This year in grade 8, Sean wants a fresh start, vows to stay out of the vice-principal’s office and is determined to make the school basketball team.

David also wants a new start but he is bitter over the way his life has been changed by a car accident that has left him confined to a wheelchair.

On the first day of school Sean gets yelled at and punched by David, then gets tangled up in his wheelchair and then is accused of fighting with David. As punishment, Sean is forced by the vice-principal to become David's host or guide.

Tolerance turns to friendship as Sean begins to understand what it means to be confined to a wheelchair, and as David deals with his bitterness by using his knowledge and skills to help Sean make first string on the school's basketball team. They share their adolescent troubles regarding parents, girls, school, etc. and learn the importance of “rebounding.” Sean makes the school's basketball team and David makes a wheelchair basketball team.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...

• likes sports (especially basketball)
• knows someone with a physical disability
• likes “real” stories
• likes stories where characters learn important life lessons

WHAT ELSE?
This novel won the 2001 Red Maple Award and the 2002 Snow Willow Award, and is a great reluctant reader book. There are a few swear words and YA references, but nothing too shocking.

RELATED LINK:
Author's Website