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NIPS XI
BOOK REVIEW
by The
Groovy Girls!!!
NIPS XI is written by Ruth Starke. This story is very relevant to everyday
life, enjoyable and funny. It is an excellent book to read. This
book is written for around 8 year olds and older. This story shows
that being a good sport, showing initiative and being a good role model
can be achieved by playing a fair game of sport. This story explains that
racism should not be tolerated in today's society.
The plot of this story is based on a Vietnamese boy called Lan, and his
friends, who just want to be Australian rather then being treated as outsiders
from another country. So they forget their differences and join together
to make a cricket team. They are determined to play cricket instead doing
Vietnamese dancing in a multicultural parade. Some of the other characters
include Izram from Pakistan who doesn't like running, in case someone sees
his fat. Tomas, another of Lan's friends, didn't fit in because
he didn't understand a lot of English. Then there was Spinner, their
coach who was once a student at Kings College, but more importantly, an
ex test cricketer.
Kings College is a very rich school that has a top cricketing team. NIPS
XI decide to play against them. Kings College is full of bad sportsmanship,
sledging and bad behaviour. In the end King's College won the cricket game,
but did not win self respect or the respect of others. They had learnt
a lesson in life, and that was, being fair and playing honorably is a bigger
win than the points on the score board.
We found his book very realistic, because of the way Ruth describes the
people with the words she uses. Every now and then you feel you're
there and you can see what the people look like in your mind through the
descriptive words she used.
http://www.ruthstarke.itgo.com