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Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Tyler McAllister, earlier seen in The Trouble with Lemons and Eye of the Beholder , has gone out for the high school wrestling team, even though he's only in eighth grade. Little does he anticipate that far more strenuous contests will occur off the mat. A teacher's fatal stroke and a coach's injury call up disturbing questions about mortality, but the appearance of a new teacher, the beautiful, young Miss Williams, inspires Tyler's first love. Hayes masterfully blends humor and heartache, casting Tyler as the understated narrator of his own tumultuous affairs. Perceptive, funny and, above all, believable, Tyler struggles to strike a balance between emotional extremes as he endures the confusion and chaos of early adolescence. Hayes has a rare understanding of his characters' milieu, and readers will particularly appreciate his canny descriptions of school functionaries, such as the overeager social worker who presides over the ``crisis intervention center'' set up to help the essentially untroubled student body deal with the death of ``Old Lady Waverly.'' The author's steady hand allows the reader, like Tyler, to see serious or disturbing events for what they are--part of life. Ages 11-up. (Dec.)

School Library Journal

Gr 6-8-Eighth graders Tyler and Lymie, who appeared in Hayes's The Trouble with Lemons (1991) and Eye of the Beholder (1992, both Godine), try out for the high school wrestling team, which needs competitors in the lower weight divisions. In the meantime, Tyler, who provides the first-person narrative, falls hopelessly in love with his young science teacher. After drumming up the courage to invite her to his house for Thanksgiving dinner, he's crushed when she unexpectedly arrives with a date-his wrestling coach. He's also facing the stress of his first meet, which is coming up quickly. Lymie, Tyler's affable sidekick, provides constant comic relief throughout the story. Hayes adeptly portrays the concerns and insecurities of adolescent boys and also brings out the humor in their self-perceived darkest moments. The dialogue rings true to the age group, and Tyler's feelings, which range from euphoria to depression, are thoughtfully drawn. Here's hoping that we haven't seen the last of these boys.-Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WI