The Basketball Blowout

Basketball season is underway at Franklin Elementary School, and the MVP club, comprising five best friends, is determined to represent their school in the weekend travel tournament. However, the school can only send one team to the tournament, forcing an intense winner-take-all playoff bracket between the MVP club and the school’s other teams. Although the MVP club is very talented, their lack of teamwork and inability to finish their shots threaten to disqualify them from the weekend tournament.  

Alongside the playoffs, the school challenges the basketball teams to sell popcorn for travel expenses, promising shirts to the winning team and a grand prize of the “coolest pair of sneakers” to the player who sells the most popcorn. With the playoff game and popcorn prize on their minds, the MVP club commits to practicing basketball and selling popcorn. However, difficulties quickly arise for the club, with low popcorn sales, a lackluster practice, and the introduction of a mysterious boy in their school. Can the MVP club pull it together and achieve its goals? 

The Basketball Blowout is the exciting fourth book in the MVP series, continuing the MVP club’s adventures in the realm of basketball and fundraising. Like the other books, the story focuses on the five young members of the MVP club—Max, Alice, Nico, Luke, and Kat—and their involvement in the school’s sports and community. While the story attempts to provide appropriate attention to each character, most of the character development revolves around Luke, who struggles to sell his popcorn and make his shots in the big moments. However, the kids display remarkable character and perseverance in the face of their challenges, and their ability to work as a team to overcome their problems will be inspirational for many readers. Adding in the childhood perspective of basketball tournaments and competitive school fundraisers, the book becomes a relatable and enjoyable story for all ages. 

The heart of the story lies in its lessons on teamwork and inclusion. Early on in the book, the MVP club struggles to win basketball games because they aren’t working together. To make matters worse, they allow the competitive spirit of the fundraiser to get in the way of their friendship. However, through the observation and advice of their new friend Jason, they realize that they’ve “been competing against each other” and need “to work together to beat Jenna’s team” and “win the sneakers.” Jason’s incorporation into the MVP club also highlights the theme of inclusion. When the kids learn that Jason comes from a financially challenging situation, they band together to raise awareness for his dog-walking job and help him earn more money for his family. These lessons remind readers of the importance of friendship and teamwork, demonstrating that the power of many can accomplish even the most difficult tasks. 

The book is divided into ten short chapters, with each chapter typically comprising eight to ten pages and containing several black and white illustrations. Although the writing doesn’t use large diction, its paragraph format and multiple story lines may make the book challenging for beginner readers. The story’s ending also includes additional material, featuring a small glossary of basketball terms and a sneak peek at the book Ballpark Mysteries: The World Series Curse by David A. Kelly. Much like its predecessors, The Basketball Blowout continues the MVP club’s sports adventures with its signature action scenes, lovable characters, and applicable lessons, making it a must-read for sports and early chapter book readers. 

Sexual Content 

• None 

Violence 

• None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

• None 

Language 

• Kat, one of the kids in the MVP Club, teases her brother Luke about his stinky feet. “My feet are smaller than your big clown feet! Plus, your feet stink like a skunk eating rotten eggs in a garbage bag! There’s no way I’d want to wear the sneakers after you’ve been wearing them.” 

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content 

• None 

by Caleb Kleinmann