Marc had a terrible year in fifth grade: he canāt swim or do pull-ups, doesnāt know his multiplication tables, and is being terrorized by school bully Kenny. But Marcās uncle Jake, a Navy SEAL, will be spending the summer with Marc and his mother, and once he arrives, he begins training Marc to be a āWarrior Kid.ā The training is both physical and mental, and chapters are dedicated to principles such as living by a code, early morning workouts, and discipline (āDiscipline equals freedomā screams one page in giant capital letters). Marc embraces his uncleās guidance, gets stronger, and starts sixth grade confident and able, even standing up to and reaching out to Kenny in a too-neat conclusion. Willink, a leadership instructor and retired SEAL, places worthwhile emphasis on physical activity, mental sharpness, and hard work. But Marcās dismissal of his motherās ability to help him because, āa lot of the time it seems she just doesnāt understand meā (in part because āshe works a tonā) is a disappointing stereotype, and Bozakās b&w line drawings donāt add much to the boyās journey. More treatise than fully developed story. Ages 8ā12. (May)
