A Whole New Ballgame
A Rip and Red Book (Rip and Red (1))
by Phil Bildner
Reading Profile
Should I read this?
Fast-moving, goofy middle-grade novel that follows two best friends through a fifth-grade year upended by a tattooed, no-homework teacher and a string of off-the-wall projects. Its biggest draw is the energy: short scenes, jokey dialogue, and basketball action keep momentum and make it a natural read-aloud. Its limits are shallower character work and episodic gags that can feel repetitive; readers after realistic school detail, sustained emotional stakes, or intricate plotting will find it lightweight.
Read this if...
- •a parent choosing a read-aloud for a 9–11-year-old who likes jokes and sports — short chapters and high energy make it easy to hold attention and get laughs at bedtime.
- •a fifth-grade teacher looking for a light classroom read to spark conversation about different teaching styles — the eccentric teacher and offbeat projects provoke quick reactions and talk.
- •a middle-grade reader (9–12) who enjoys buddy comedies and basketball scenes — the pace and humor match an appetite for playful, plot-driven stories.
Skip this if...
- •you'll likely put it down when the episodic gags feel repetitive or when you expected a tight, consequential plot rather than vignette-style antics.
- •annoying if you prefer nuanced character development, quiet emotional depth, or adult-level irony — the tone stays broadly upbeat and cartoonish.
- •skip if you want technical sports detail or realistic school procedures; the basketball and classroom elements are used for fun, not instruction.
Fifth grade is one crazy ride in this middle grade novel about two best friends.Rip and Red are best friends whose fifthgrade year is nothing like what they expected. They have a crazy new tattooed teacher named Mr. Acevedo, who doesn't believe in tests or homework and who likes offthewall projects, the more "off" the better. And guess who's als...
Before You Buy
Reading Specifications
Difficulty:hard
Audience Fit
- a parent choosing a read-aloud for a 9–11-year-old who likes jokes and sports — short chapters and high energy make it easy to hold attention and get laughs at bedtime.
- a fifth-grade teacher looking for a light classroom read to spark conversation about different teaching styles — the eccentric teacher and offbeat projects provoke quick reactions and talk.
- a middle-grade reader (9–12) who enjoys buddy comedies and basketball scenes — the pace and humor match an appetite for playful, plot-driven stories.
- you'll likely put it down when the episodic gags feel repetitive or when you expected a tight, consequential plot rather than vignette-style antics.
- annoying if you prefer nuanced character development, quiet emotional depth, or adult-level irony — the tone stays broadly upbeat and cartoonish.
- skip if you want technical sports detail or realistic school procedures; the basketball and classroom elements are used for fun, not instruction.
Check formats, pricing, and availability options for Kindle, physical print, or audiobooks directly.
View available editions on AmazonKey themes
Why recommended
appears in Basketball, Sports, and Fiction.
Recommendation Signals
Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.
No verified recommendation proof available yet.
Appears In
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