“Okay, fourth graders.”

From Mike Dawson’s The Fifth Quarter.

Lori loves all things basketball and is constantly seeking to make sure that she continues getting better with her playing. One way that Lori seeks to get better is by playing in her school’s fifth quarter, which is a no-points mini game played between the players that would often be left on the bench during a normal game. Another bright spot for Lori’s time in the fifth quarter is that she gets to play with her friend Sophia and both girls can work on playing better together. When Lori’s parents announce that her mother is going to run for a position on the city council, Lori is worried not only because it changes her basketball practice plans, but the council seat is currently being held by one of her friends’ dad. As Lori’s parents focus more on the campaign, Lori finds herself struggling with her friends as her insecurities about Sophia’s friendships with others push Lori to be mean to those around her. While her life spirals out of control, Lori fights to keep basketball a priority, but the more she learns about the sport, the more she learns about herself.

While this book is interesting overall and provides an important message about kindness and sportsmanship, the attitude of the main character proves more hindrance than relatable development. While Lori’s character strives to be genuine, the character just comes off as whiny and spoiled for a majority of the story. By the end of the story, things thankfully balance out for the most part, finally allowing The Fifth Quarter to reach readers where they are.