Olympic Dream

July 1, 1996
Gr 4-6-Lumpy and unathletic, 14-year-old Doug Cannon is faced with summer vacation and-after the video arcade burns down-nowhere to hang out. Somewhat reluctantly, he begins to help the local organization of "Rails to Trails" convert an abandoned rail bed into a bike path. A medical student and near Olympic-caliber cyclist encourages Doug to take up cycling; by the end of October, he's gotten into shape and wins a race. Christopher does a good job of presenting the main character's early self-consciousness and eventual pride and confidence. The title is a little deceiving, since the book has nothing to do with the Olympics (they are a distant, hazy dream of Doug's). However, as sports novels go, this one is fast, straightforward, and readable.-Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL