When Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy

By Crystal Allen
Rating: 3 3/4 stars

Thirteen year old Lamar Washington is the King of Striker's Bowling Paradise.  With his best friend Sergio at his side, all Lamar needs is a honey to make his life perfect.  Well, perfect away from home.  Because at home, his brother Xavier the Basketball Savior is all anyone talks about and he takes up all of his father's attention which is all the more precious since their mom died of cancer.  To make things worse, Xavier beats up on Lamar when his father isn't around.  But Lamar tries to focus on what is going well for him--he just got up the nerve to ask out beautiful Makeda, and his icon, pro bowler Bubba Sanders is coming to Striker's on the 4th of July to give away some of his pro bowling balls!  Lamar can't wait, until bad news Billy Jenks enters the scene and convinces Lamar to start hustling other bowlers for money.  Lamar likes getting the easy cash, but when Xavier hits him one too many times, Billy gives him an idea of a way to get Xavier back in a stunning and hurtful prank.  But will Lamar follow through?  What does he have to lose?   This is a story about a family struggling to get along and about how the road to redemption and understanding may have to begin at rock bottom.  Readers will fall hard for Lamar's easy charm and root for him all the way to the finish.  POW! Strike!