How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy in Mock Newbery 2026

Apr 05, 2011 Doret rated it liked it

13yr old Lamar Washington is one of the best bowlers in Coffin, IN. Unfortunately not many people appreciate the sport of bowling, Lamar wants to change that. He also no longer wants to be known as the prankster, so girls take him seriously. Lamar's ready for his first girlfriend.

Last year Lamar and Sergio, his best friend played tricks on Makeda, giving her the nickname fivehead. When Lamar spots Makeda at Strikers he doesn't recognize her. Now Lamar is doing everything can to prove he's a diff 13yr old Lamar Washington is one of the best bowlers in Coffin, IN. Unfortunately not many people appreciate the sport of bowling, Lamar wants to change that. He also no longer wants to be known as the prankster, so girls take him seriously. Lamar's ready for his first girlfriend.

Last year Lamar and Sergio, his best friend played tricks on Makeda, giving her the nickname fivehead. When Lamar spots Makeda at Strikers he doesn't recognize her. Now Lamar is doing everything can to prove he's a different person and can be trusted.

Lamar's older brother Xavier is a basketball star. Lamar's dad is too busy working and praising Xavier's game to notice Lamar. At home its all about Xavier the basketball hero. Lamar spends most of his time at Strikers Bowling Paradise. Tired of always being broke and borrowing money from his best friend Sergio, Lamar decides to team up with Billy Jenks. Billy is all about himself, making money and is bad news. Lamar's friendship with Sergio suffer after he starts hustling with Billy.

But Lamar likes finally having money in his pockets. He wants to use the money to impress Makeda Phillips buy his dream pro bowling ball, the pro thunder by Bubba Sanders. Sanders is Lamar's favorite bowler and he's coming to town. Before Bubba arrives, Lamar does one last big prank that could get him in a lot of trouble.

I thought Lamar had a very over the top personality. It was a little too much for me. Though there is something to be said for a 13 yr old Black boy with a lot of confidence. I just didn't connect with Lamar the way I would've liked. At times I felt his language was dated.

I do like that the author gives the reader many sides of Lamar. At home Lamar is the silent victim of his brother's violent outburst. With Makeda, he's nervous, doing his best not to say the wrong thing. Its very nice to read a middle grade novel that deals with a first relationship from the boys point of view. One of the books strengths was Lamar's friendship with Sergio. I really enjoyed the back and forth between them.

The story has a lot of funny moments. One in particular that had me laughing so hard it hurt. This was a well rounded story. I think a lot of middle grade readers will enjoy it.

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Jun 14, 2011 Becky Barrier Nelson rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 5th-only, newbery-candidate-2012

I read this by CD and the African-American accent of the reader made the voice of Lamar and others seem very authentic. At first, listening to what I would call jive-talk turned me off. I imagine that's how African-American students might feel listening to some very caucasian-sounding dialogue. I do think this novel will speak to many of our students that other novels might not reach. It is well written and addresses a variety of issues: fathers raising sons, bullying, stealing, hustling, brothe ...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Lisa Nocita rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya-2011, tag-2012-13

Lamar is a slightly nerdy, asthmatic, never been kissed, king of the bowling lanes guy saddened by the recent loss of his mother and living in the shadow of his basketball superstar brother, Xavier the basketball savior. It's summer vacation and Bubba Sanders, a pro bowler, is coming to Coffin, Indiana! Looks like it could be shaping up to be Lamar's best summer ever, especially when he lands a girl and an easy paycheck. But things quickly go awry and Lamar finds himself in big trouble.

Not part ...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Deanna rated it really liked it

Shelves: juvenile-fiction, 2011, sports

Thirteen year old Lamar is the "King of Strikers", the local Bowling Alley. Somewhat of a prankster, Lamar finds himself in big trouble when he pulls the worst prank of his life while trying to get back at his attention seeking, older brother "Xavier the basketball savior". With interesting characters, the author writes a humorous tale of sibling rivalry, teenage crushes, friendships and family issues.
I especially liked that this realistic fiction book has a heavy sports theme, but will appeal ...more

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Nov 12, 2011 Teresa Garrett rated it liked it

Shelves: humorous, realistic-fiction, middle-grade, fall-2011

The dialect in this book made it hard for me to get into it at first. I would really like to hear students' opinions. Overall story line was good. Family has experienced the loss of mom and has not processed the loss. Friction between brothers comes to a head with Lamars big prank and forces everyone to deal with their own situations. ...more

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May 18, 2012 Diane rated it liked it

Very funny, and very predictable. But you don't get many bowling books. ...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: chapter-books

funny!

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Feb 23, 2013 Brenda Kahn rated it really liked it

Shelves: brothers, humorous

Who'da thunk that "Oh mylanta!" could be an apt expression of surprise along with holy guacamole and a few other unique expressions, which escapes me right now. Lamar's voice is as endearing as it is exasperating in this story featuring basketball and bowling, laughter and tears and the bonds of friendship and family. ...more

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