Eva to the Max

A tween motocross athlete reckons with the sport’s impact on her everyday life in this dynamic verse novel from Caprara (The Ripple Effect). Nothing is more important to North Carolina seventh grader Eva than competitive motocross. Beyond the thrill of flying through a course and the confidence boost she gets from trouncing her competitors, Eva treasures the time spent maintaining her beloved bike and trading “garage talk” insults with her father, her godfather, and her best friend Toby. Lately, however, Toby seems more interested in making art than watching her compete, and Eva’s mother has been more vocal about her worries for Eva’s safety, brought about by trauma related to a biking stunt that seriously injured Eva’s father. When Eva’s older brother mentions that the sport is straining the family’s finances, Eva resolves to qualify for the upcoming national championship, hoping that a standout showing will secure a sponsorship. But like her idol, Evel Knievel, impulsive Eva has a quick temper, and when flaring emotions cause her to lose focus during a race, leading to a busted bike and furious parents, her dreams of motocross glory feel further away than ever. Energetic verse teeming with kinetic details and motocross jargon deftly relays exhilarating races alongside Eva’s struggle to balance chasing her dreams with navigating interpersonal upheaval. Characters read as white. Ages 10–up. Agent: Allison Hellegers, Stimola Literary Studio. (May)