Junior Ninja Champion: The Fastest Finish by Catherine Hapka
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on January 15th 2019
ISBN: 1328859010
Pages: 176
Goodreads

Members of the Fit Kidz gym are back together in this second installment of the series as they continue to train for the premiere of Junior Ninja Champion.  Izzy and JJ have already been selected to compete in the finals and Ty is an alternate.  Ty is still struggling to handle his disappointment about not being a finalist and his friends are concerned with his moodiness.  All of this is compounded when a new competitor joins the gym. Noah has never trained to be a ninja but has a lot of experience being on stage, singing and dancing.  As it turns out, he is a natural on many of the stations and when JNC announces that they will host one more round of try-outs for those who did not previously compete, Noah instantly wins a spot in the finals, much to the exasperation of Ty.  The tension between the two boys worries the team but they stay focused on the goal: conquering the tremendously difficult obstacle course. Finals approach, nerves are at an all-time high and JJ, Izzy and Noah have the time of their lives competing. Win or lose, they are ninjas!  This is a much needed series for sports-themed novels that will appeal to both boys and girls. Short chapters and alternating points of view move the story along. Readers who are fans of American Ninja Warrior will love this series and be eager for more.  While The Fastest Finish can be read as a stand-alone, middle grade readers are sure to want to read more about the Fit Kidz gym.  

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook