Roller Boy (Hardcover)

Mateo Garcia is a young city boy who wants desperately to be good at something -something that will take him from that skinny kid with the big hair to someone who matters. Despite struggling with celiac disease, Mateo keeps his sense of humor and channels his innermost strength into an incredible ride on roller skates all the way to regionals. Mateo always assumed he'd make the baseball team with his buddy Jason, but when only Jason makes the team, his mood sinks low. So low, he knows he has to do something about it. But what? What can he be good at? When Mateo wins free lessons, he discovers he's pretty good at roller-skating. And it doesn't hurt that the most beautiful girl he's ever laid eyes on happens to be Roller City's star skater. But still, roller-skating? No way can Jason find out Mateo is whirling around in girly skates--anybody halfway to cool would be hanging at a skate park, on boards or blades. Other issues stacked against him are the strong reservations of his mother who feels Mateo should be spending his time studying, not skating, and his inability to eat gluten--no more grabbing a pizza with the guys. Despite these conflicts, Mateo keeps his sense of humor and channels his innermost strength into an incredible ride on roller skates that just might take him all the way to regionals.