The Right Hook of Devin Velma
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
From the author of Greetings from Witness Protection! comes another unforgettable middle-grade novel about friendship and family.
Devin wants to hit it big on the internet by pulling a stunt at an NBA game—one the entire nation will be watching. Addison can’t turn Devin down, but he can barely manage talking to his teachers without freezing up. How’s he supposed to handle the possibility of being a viral sensation?
Addi’s not sure why Devin is bent on pulling off this almost-impossible feat. Maybe it has something to do with Devin’s dad’s hospital bills. Maybe it all goes back to the Double-Barreled Monkey Bar Backflip of Doom. Or maybe it’s something else entirely. No matter what, though, it’s risky for both of them, and when the big day finally comes, Devin’s plan threatens more than just their friendship.
With memorable protagonists and a wonderful supporting cast, The Right Hook of Devin Velma is a one-of-kind knockout in middle-grade fiction.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Sixth-grader Addison Gerhardt suffers from anxiety, and when his best friend, Devin Velma, announces his intent to attract millions of Twitter followers by making a viral video with Addy's help, Addy is uneasy about the plan. But Devin is trying to get famous so that he can earn enough money to help pay for his father's heart surgery, which is not covered by insurance, so Addy agrees to assist. Devin's initial attempts fail; after he comes up with a scheme to appear behind a famous couple on the kiss cam at a Clippers game and nearly falls to his death, Addy saves him. The video of the incident goes viral, but it's Addy, not Devin, who rockets to fame, causing a rift between the boys. Addy's anxiety is realistically portrayed ("It was as if my brain ripped in half"), as are both families' financial concerns. Spot-on sixth-grade humor and sympathetic characters by Burt (Greetings from Witness Protection!) will hook readers as he explores fame and friendship in the age of social media. Ages 10 14.
