Junior Library Guild

• Likable twins Tiki and Ronde are upbeat, conscientious, and more concerned with teamwork and friendships than winning. When their team loses, for example, they help make light of the situation on the bus ride home: Ronde starts by saying their game was as ugly as “a turtle wearing lipstick,” and Tiki adds, “As moldy eggs on burnt toast!” before the rest of the team chimes in.
• The middle-school players’ abilities are realistic and relatable. Though Coach Raines tells Tiki that he and his brother each have “speed, . . . a good glove, [and] strong arms,” Ronde makes a big base-running error in their season opener and Tiki strikes out when he only swings for home runs.
• This baseball-oriented addition to the Tiki and Ronde Barber series has authentic game action, in which the twins make some clever and unexpected plays.