Nips XI written by Ruth Starke, is a well written story for older children or young adults. It helps people to learn that you should never give up, like Lan the main character. Lan and his cricket team want to play cricket, but their principal is against the idea. The principal wants to do dancing in costumes and have food for multicultural week.  Lan never gives up trying to play a cricket match against Kings. They set up the match and Lan's mother makes the uniforms. They are able to get their own coach with the help of Grace, the librarian.

The story works well in showing children to never stop giving up to achieve their goal. The characters in Nips XI  are well presented. Lan is a challenging young person who does not take 'NO' for an answer. He is very smart at getting past the many obstacles he has to face. The rest of the team follow Lan in whatever he does.  He proves to everybody in the story that he could achieve anything. Ruth Starke did a great job of writing Nips XI  because she makes  the end of each chapter very exciting so that you want to read the next chapter. We think she makes  the book to show that it is possible to deal with your obstacles. Ruth Starke's writing style makes you feel that you can see the picture in your mind.  Ruth is a clever writer because she is able to build up a scene of excitement as to whether the boys are able to win the cricket match or not. In  the end the boys win, but it isn't the match they win.  What they win is respect from King's College boys and their teachers, along with the respect of their parents, teachers and children of their  own school.