Super Stock Rookie, by Will Weaver

Bibliographic Information:
Weaver, W. (2009). Super Stock Rookie. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN-10: 0374350612

Book Awards:
None

Plot Summary:
Trace Bonham is a young dirt track stock car racer in Minnesota. His home track, Headwaters, is humble but friendly, and everyone knows everyone else. When Trace is invited to try out to be the driver for a new corporate super stock car team, everyone is happy for him (except the girl he likes). He is nervous about the tryouts, but drives well, and is selected as Team Blu's new driver. His elation at his gorgeous new car quickly fades as he struggles to acclimate to life in the corporate fast lane. His new mechanics seem to be up to something, and they also display a talent for alienating all of Trace's old buddies. Is this the right life for him?

Critical Evaluation:
This book has as much car racing nitty-gritty as anyone could want without actually switching to a how-to manual. That said, Weaver keeps it entertaining enough even for clueless-about-racing readers. Trace struggles lightly with loneliness and issues of change and moving on, as well as with his relationships with his parents, but it doesn't feel like the point of the book. The story is obviously meant to be but a chapter in the life of Trace, as it leaves the reader hanging on almost all the major questions: are the mechanics cheating, what does Laura-the-corporate-shark really want with Trace, will he continue to put up with the bad behavior of his crew, will fame and fortune turn him into something he doesn't want to be.

Reader's Annotation:
Trace has made to the big time in dirt track racing, now he just has to drive a new car better than everyone else.

About the Author:
Born in 1950, Will Weaver lives and writes in Minnesota. He has written many YA books, including a baseball series. He teaches creative writing at Bemidji State University.

Genre:
Sports Fiction

Curriculum Ties:
None.

Booktalking Ideas:
Racing strategies
Racing for kids

Interest Age:
12+

Challenge Issues:
None

Reason Included:
This seemed like a book that might pull in a reluctant reader who likes cars.