Mack McGinn's Big Win

Sixth grader Mack competes with his older, sports-star brother to try to live up to parental expectations to win. Reluctant readers will eat this one up - like mac 'n' cheese.

This story was enjoyable, and should definitely appeal to young boys (maybe 3rd - 5th grade), and reluctant readers. The narrative is quick and interesting and so is the storyline. Mack lives in the shadow of his older brother Rory, and makes several unsuccessful attempts to 'best' his brother when it comes to sports. The McGinn family is a bit of a sports legacy in the town of Danville, so Mack has a lot to live up to. The author tried hard to make Mack and the other boys' language realistic and, at times, educational. I cannot see this book being a good series - it struck me as a one-time book for this character. It was a good book though, and might even engage some boys enough to read it through.

It's usually said that it is difficult to write across genders and that writers should usually avoid it. Whenever I read a book by a male author with a female protagonist or vice versa, my radar goes up and I read with a more discerning eye. However, Coleen Paratore wins big with her story of the upwardly mobile McGinn family. Ms. Paratore captures the all-boy family with a verve and authenticity that I don't see in most boy books. The competitive spirit, the jealousies, the adolescent boy "yuck factor", and the love shine through on every page. And it's such a fun read. Mack McGinn's Big Win is a big win in my book!