Tennis Shoes

Tennis Shoes by Noel Streatfeild is an excellent book. It is part of the highly popular and classic “Shoes Collection” from the best of children’s English literature. Though Tennis Shoes is one of the lesser known Shoes Books, it has certainly earned its place beside the others. I find that I am particularly partial to this title, as I play tennis and can therefore understand the concepts of the matches played in the book. The storyline is indeed charming: The Heath children, Jim and Susan, (who are twins) Nicolette, (or Nicky), and David, are encouraged to take on tennis, for their father and grandfather both played quite well in their younger years. Grandfather gives them a tin house to keep their extra money in, for tennis related things. And it is promptly named the Tennis House. As it turns out Jim and Susan are the only children who really wish to become good at it. David is certain that he has a future in the musical world, for he has a promising voice, and Nicky… well, Nicky is a tad too lazy, to become serious about such a thing. (Or so they think.) Susan and Jim work hard at it and they win several games at tennis competitions, meanwhile Nicky begins to work on tennis herself, and soon it begins to seem that she may have the strongest natural talent of them all. Nicky has never been in the spotlight before, (It is always Jim or Susan.) and she enjoys it thoroughly. But what will happen to her talent? What will happen to Jim and Susan? What will happen when someone tries to steal the Tennis House? I enjoyed this book immensely, and I hope you will too!