Stepping up
(Book)

Ernie Dolan, 14, is plagued by the curse of the average. Nothing about him stands out - except his stutter. Only best friend Mike Rivers sees him at his best. Then, at a competitive basketball camp, Mike excels while Ernie is - average. When Ernie blunders in the first pickup game, Rick Craig, obnoxious camp hotshot, nicknames him "Choke." This sets the tone for Ernie's first week. As Mike hangs with Craig and the jocks, he and Ernie are on the outs, yet Ernie finds new allies. Then things change dramatically when Ernie morphs from outcast to hero, risking his life to save three camp mates from near tragedy. His funny, heartwarming story unfolds against the backdrop of exciting, authentic basketball action while touching on typical teen issues of friendship and the near-deadly consequences of peer pressure. -- Book jacket.