Cut from AAA hockey last season, seventh-grader Hudson Pickle needs to make the basketball team this year. But, after having an asthma attack at the first tryout, his chances aren't looking good. His former best friend, Trevor, is also trying out. But he won't even speak to Hudson since Hudson had all but ignored him while concentrating on hockey. And as if that wasn't bad enough, now his uncle Vic --- who's been staying with him and his mom since a suspicious fire at his house ---has been diagnosed with a genetic respiratory illness. Could this mean Hudson has something worse than asthma? And while this DNA mystery is being unraveled, will the truth about what happened to his father finally be revealed as well?

Yolanda Ridge's compelling coming-of-age novel for middle-graders combines humor, action and mystery --- with a dose of genetic science to keep things interesting. It offers a rich reading experience with complex characters and a multilayered story. Thoughtful, authentic and likeable Hudson will inspire readers with the grit and perseverance he relies on to get through his difficulties, and the self-deprecating wit he uses to manage middle-school social dynamics, evolving friendships and a changing family structure. There are also multiple mysteries running throughout the story --- involving Hudson's father, his uncle and his own health --- that are sure to keep the pages turning.

Yolanda Ridge is the author of the middle-grade novel Inside Hudson Pickle and the juvenile nonfiction title CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA, both of which were Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections. She has also written two environment-themed novels for Orca Young Readers line, Trouble in the Trees and Road Block. She has a master of science degree and is adept at making complex concepts understandable—a skill she uses in her writing, teaching and author visits. She lives in Rossland, British Columbia.

Yolanda Ridge's profile page

• Winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre
• Short-listed, Chocolate Lily Award

... fast-paced ...

CM Magazine

This entertaining story will have readers aged nine to 12 laughing and cheering for Hudson as they turn the pages to eagerly learn the truth.

The Calgary Herald

Fans of novels about sports and family drama, such as Kwame Alexander's The Crossover, will appreciate this realistic tale.

School Library Journal