Racing the Rope
by Thomas Styles
Published by AuthorHouse
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Reviewed by Brenda A. Snodgrass
Sixth grader Geran Harris decides one day to learn to jump rope at recess. Geran and his three sisters have all been named for flowers. Geran from Geranium, and the three girls Violet, Lilly, and Daisy.
Jumping rope is normally dominated by the girls at recess, on their side of the playground. His sisters help him by turning the rope. Even his aged aunt tries to help him by explaining the whole concept of "Racing the Rope" and clapping to help give him a sense of rhythm.
There is an annual rope-jumping contest at their school, complete with a crown for the winner. The winner is allowed to take the crown home for the summer and then return it to the school when the new year begins. Geran is a boy obsessed with mastering this skill, and he drags his unwilling sisters into his obsession. As the girls quickly tire from turning the rope.
The boys at recess tease him unmercifully about playing with the girls instead of playing football with them. Geran is able to take this all in stride and hopes to lure other boys into the game. Eventually, one by one the boys defect from football to jumping rope. Geran even writes his own chants to use while jumping, along with the traditional chants used by the girls. This is very serious business to Geran, though he and the other children have loads of fun. Seemingly overnight, Geran becomes the ringleader and becomes quite full of himself.
Scattered throughout the story are the zany antics pulled by grade schoolers.
Racing the Rope is a delightful story, however, a major drawback is in the portrayal of children this young using profanity and God's name as a means of expressing themselves.
I alternated between actually laughing out loud or cringing in response to the Lord's name being used in levity.
Armchair Interviews says: Reader beware of the profanity issues for this middle reader book.