Heather M. O'Connor

Fast Friends

Tyson is speedy-quick. His teacher keeps telling him, “Too fast, Tyson!”
When a new kid joins the class, Tyson is the first to make friends.
Why? Suze loves race cars, reading and speed — just like him.

Fast Friends is a heartwarming picture book about friendship and inclusion. Every child has a voice – if we take the time to listen.

Illustrated by Claudia Dávila
Published by Scholastic Canada
ISBN 978-1-4431-7040-6

Peek inside!

Where to get Fast Friends

Indigo

Amazon

Blue Heron

Scholastic book fair

Scholastic reading club

Book extras

Listen to me read Fast Friends

What inspired Fast Friends?

Teacher resources

Yes, I do school visits!

Disponible en français

Cette charmante histoire d’inclusion célèbre l’amitié entre une fille en fauteuil roulant et un garçon qui adore la vitesse, et dépeint les liens incassables qui se tissent pendant l’enfance.

ISBN 978-1-4431-7041-3

Où acheter Amis instantanés:

Indigo

Amazon

Blue Heron

My sincere thanks to the Ontario Arts Council for funding Fast Friends through a Recommender Grant. You help good books grow.

O’Connor will keep the game’s fans close with plenty of in-the-know soccer patter, but she will also draw other readers with the story of Jack’s slow absorption into a gambling… Hard-hitting…and as memorable as a prison tour for young men who think crime is a sport and a joke.

Kirkus Reviews

A fast paced, entertaining read that will really appeal to all soccer players, both boys and girls, especially those struggling to sustain a reading habit.

Resource Links

O'Connor deals with topics that would be well worth discussing with almost any teen: the value of team-work; honesty; and ethics. I will certainly include Betting Game in our curriculum resource collection and would recommend it for other school libraries as well. **** /4 Highly Recommended.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

Betting Game easily captivated my interest with its action and suspense and honest teen characters… The kind of read that will grip both sports fans and reluctant readers.

CanLit for LittleCanadians

Tight and authentic sports action combined with engaging characters make this title great for sports fans as well as readers who enjoy action and drama.

School Library Journal

The fast-paced writing has enough soccer action to keep reluctant readers turning the pages, and the gambling intrigue, along with a side plot involving a new player on Jack’s team, adds to the increasing conflict… The tone, dialogue, and emotional stakes ring true. A solid pick for hi-lo sports fiction.