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Reviewed by Luwi Nyakansaila for Readers' Favorite
Racing the Rope by T.A. Styles follows Geran, a sixth-grade boy who wants to jump rope with the girls. It has always been a school tradition that the girls play their games and the boys theirs separately. One day, during playtime, Geran is fascinated by the girls' jumping rope and singing fun rhyming songs. He decides to join them and aims to win the end-of-year championship to become the first Jump Rope King. Geran practices, writes his own songs, and learns various techniques for jumping rope. Unfortunately, his actions lead to rivalries with girls who also want to win the crown, and when his friends discover his plans, they tease him for playing a girl's sport, but Geran is adamant. When he learns about his teacher's struggles with his sick son, Geran realizes that he and his classmates can use their skills to help others rather than create divisions.
Racing the Rope is an entertaining story with valuable lessons about perseverance, friendship, and breaking gender stereotypes. It teaches children to be kind and to choose unity over division. Children will connect with these characters because they have relatable challenges, like not understanding adult behavior and rules that do not make sense to them. Topics like bullying and family dynamics are also addressed, highlighting the importance of parent supporting their children. The dialogues are humorous and natural, covering everything from hating green fruits to giving each other silly names. T.A. Styles also includes limbo, Double Dutch, and helicopter, which are games you can also play with a rope. This is a fun read that I enjoyed from start to finish. Share it with your children to encourage them to follow their passions despite social expectations.
