Nikki on the Line, Barbara Carroll Roberts
Nikki on the Line, Barbara Carroll Roberts
List: $24.98 | Sale: $17.49
Club: $12.49

Nikki on the Line

Author: Barbara Carroll Roberts

Narrator: Christine Lakin

Unabridged: 7 hr 25 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/05/2019


Synopsis

Nikki wants to be a basketball star . . . but between school stress, friend drama, and babysitting woes, will she be able to make it on her new team? Judy Blume meets Mike Lupica in this pitch-perfect, action-packed, and funny novel.

Thirteen-year-old Nikki Doyle's dreams of becoming a basketball great feel within reach when she's selected to play on an elite-level club team. But in a league with taller, stronger, and faster girls, Nikki suddenly isn't the best point guard. In fact, she's no longer a point guard at all, which leaves her struggling to figure out who she is and how she fits in.

The stress piles on as Nikki's best friend spends more and more time with another girl on the team, and when her science teacher assigns a family tree project that will be impossible to complete unless Nikki reveals her most embarrassing secret. As if that's not enough to deal with, to cover the costs of her new team, Nikki has agreed to take care of her annoying younger brother after school to save money on childcare.

As the stakes rise on the basketball court, at school, and at home, Nikki's confidence plummets. Can she learn to compete at this new, higher level? And how hard is she willing to work to find out?

Reviews

Goodreads review by Rachel on June 22, 2019

3 stars Honestly, this book gave me anxiety. All the things Nikki was dealing with and then more problems added in, I was very eager to get to the resolution of this book. As an adult reader, I enjoyed but did not love. As a children's librarian, I will be recommending this book to middle graders fre......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on November 30, 2018

A wholesome and engaging book championing the positive benefits of hard work. There's a lot to like about this debut author's novel. Nikki, the titular character is an admirably determined young woman. Her relationships with both friends and family members rang with authenticity. Her mother and bask......more

Goodreads review by Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) on January 07, 2022

Nikki on the Line is a fantastic, dynamic, and highly relatable middle grade book about identity, the ways family can be different for everyone, and pursuing a love of basketball. This fast-paced, character-driven story also focuses on evolving friendships and the value of parents being involved in......more

Goodreads review by Lynn on February 28, 2019

Hurray! A wonderfully engaging story about a young female athlete that incorporates terrific sports action - something that is sadly rare. Roberts has a real flair for sports writing and the many games and practices depicted in the book have a terrific you-are-there feel that is a real delight. This......more

Goodreads review by Cindy on March 14, 2019

Updated. Stars are rounded up to reward a female basketball player novel with great sports action. They are so few and far between compared with male player sports fiction. The descriptions of basketball practice drills, plays, and games took me right back to my youth learning the game with all the......more


Quotes

Praise for Nikki on the Line:A Spring 2019 Indies Introduce pickA Spring 2019 Indie Next List pick
"A tremendous book about basketball, taking risks, and becoming your true self."—Gary D. Schmidt, Newbery Honor-winning and bestselling author

"I rooted for Nikki both on and off the court as she navigates changing friendships, tough competition, and the mystery of what makes us who we are."—Wendy Mass, New York Times bestselling author of A Mango-Shaped Space

"In Nikki on the Line, Barbara Carroll Roberts crafts a compelling story of a girl trying to fit the pieces of her identity together at a time when everything around her is shifting. Layered, compassionate, and utterly engrossing."—Anne Ursu, author of The Lost Girl

"This charming and heartfelt debut is perfect for fans of Ali Benjamin and Kwame Alexander."
Booklist

"This accessible coming-of-age story comes alive in its descriptions of basketball and the game's resulting life lessons."—School Library Journal

"An optimistic middle-grade novel melding heartfelt realistic fiction and sports fare."—Kirkus Reviews

"Readers who enjoy sports stories as well as those who enjoy realistic fiction will instantly connect with Nikki."—School Library Connection