Review of
Kickoff! By
Tiki & Ronde Barber, ISBN 9780545096683
5 out of 5 stars
The Barber
twins were both quality players in the NFL, Tiki was a running back that
amassed over 10,000 yards and Ronde was a defensive back. Both had long careers,
Tiki played ten seasons while Ronde played sixteen.
This book is
an attempt on the part of the brothers to write adolescent sports fiction and
in general they succeed in creating a quality story. The two main characters
are Tiki and Ronde Barber and they are just starting their first year of middle
school. One suspects that this story is largely autobiographical.
Even though they
are athletically skilled, when they join the football team they are relegated
to the lowest level on the depth charts. This leads them to question their
worth and consider quitting, but following the role model of their mother, they
persevere and succeed.
As they begin
to shine in practice and the players ahead of them in the depth chart get
injured, bot Tiki and Ronde start getting some playing time. They experience
some setbacks, but they contribute heavily to the success of their team as they
move towards the championship. They also learn not to look down on an elderly widow
woman that appears to be a bit demented. She turns out to be a valuable member
of their community.
This is a good
story in the tradition of Scholastic Books sports fiction. There are lessons
for football, school and life, all wrapped up in a story about a youth football
team.
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