25 April, 2012

Ishmael and The Hoops of Steel

Title: Ishmael and the Hoops of Steel
Author: Michael Gerard Bauer
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Young Adult
Format: Book - library

From the Blurb: Ishmael has made it to the Senior School and things are really looking up. His nemesis and chief tormentor Barry Bagsley has finally decided to leave him alone, while his dream girl and chief goddess Kelly Faulkner has finally decided not to. Has he broken free of Ishmael Leseur's Syndrome at last? Could his remaining two years at St Daniel's College actually be described as 'normal'? Absolutely not.

What I thought: This is the first book from the The Children's Book Council of Australia Older Reader's Short list.  This is the third book in a series, however, despite the fact I haven't read the first two books, I was easily able to pick up the story. It most probably helps that the book begins at the start of the school year so it is like starting afresh.
Ishmael and his mates - Ignatius, Scobie, Bill and the Razzman - are set to make their final two years at St Daniel's ones to remember. But along the way, as always there are challenges and room for improvement.
I quite enjoyed this - enough to borrow the first two in the series. Bauer's characters are believable, but amusing. Their escapades could happen and their support of each other everything we hope for our boys. Knowing how Ishmael ends up, I look forward to going back and reading where he comes from.

Challenges: Aussie Author Challenge