Not my favorite Shoe book, but then I'm not a tennis player nor particular fan. Follows the usual pattern of these books, with one daughter the ''less lovely'' and (apparently) liked of the family.

Booklovers everywhere have all drooled over the little book shop Kathleen Kelly owned in the delightful movie, You've Got Mail. We've relished the thought of working among such an atmosphere of twinkle lights and children's literature. And what a selection she had too. Whoever was in charge of choosing the books to be highlighted in the movie did a pretty top-notch job! Have you read them all? Notable mentions are The Betsy-Tacy books and The Shoe Series.

"Noel Streatfeild wrote Ballet Shoes and Skating Shoes and Theatre Shoes and Dancing Shoes. I’d start with Ballet Shoes first; it’s my favorite. Although Skating Shoes is completely wonderful—but it’s out of print." —Kathleen Kelly, You’ve Got Mail

If you haven't read this fun series, it's about time you did. Ballet Shoes probably should be read first but the stories are all pretty individual, with different characters in each; the only thing linking them are "shoes" and the characters in the first book being referenced once or twice in a couple other titles. So if you or your child has a favorite recreation and there's a shoe for it, you'd be fine just starting with the one you're excited about the most.

Enjoy!

Ages: 8 - 14

Cleanliness: One of the main characters is not a well-behaved child. She is selfish, cheats and manipulates to get her way. I wish I could say she learned her lesson and changed but it was hardly a satisfactory change at the end as she was still commenting negatively about the punishment she had received earlier. If you can get past her and just tell your kids she's the example of a brat, you can like this book too. The word "stupid" is used. Sherry is mentioned.

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An excellent children's book which many adults too can learn from.

The introduction says this world does not exist anymore in which this story is set: children obey their p[parents, families egg each member on to do well, even make harsh sacrifices, a lorry driver can be trusted to drop a kid off at home, and winning for your country but winning with integrity means much. The characters, especially David and Nicky are very well written and endearing.

So much aspiration and inspiration in this story, in this style of writing, Noel Streafeild is a joy to read and this is without doubt one I shall be reading to my own children.

A Noel Streatfeild I never read as a child! First time reading it now - I have The Circus is Coming new to read as well, hooray :)

I enjoyed this, but I didn't love it quite as much as her dancing books. Maybe also it's me coming to this fresh as an adult and not reading it with childhood nostalgia too, but I just kept noticing very strongly how much the children were pushed into doing tennis. It was like their father and grandfather decided they would all be fabulous tennis players and that was that. Suddenly that's what all the spare money is for, and there are so many lessons and tournaments and everything, and it was so much more than just a little hobby. And then when Nicky proved to be good - oh my, the poor thing! When everyone decided SHE was the one to pin all their hopes on, and they kept making her do all those concentration exercises, and if she was just sitting around reading they'd tell her to get up and practice her backhand or whatever... just, too much.

Also, her punishment for selling the umbrellas to the tin peddler - no presents for her next TWO birthdays AND next two Christmases - I'm sorry but that's just obscene! The next birthday, sure... but to stretch out a punishment for so long just seems too unfair :( I also felt the family were a little unfair when they walked out on her having her tantrum on the court and just went home, leaving this 11-year-old to get home by herself. And then the same again after the burglar* incident. Damn that family went in for harsh punishments. How about doing the walking off and not watching the rest of her set part, but maybe waiting somewhere at the court for her? Only fiction, only fiction, I know!

*I was so sad when the tin peddler tried to rob them - I honestly thought his pensive 'hmmm' was that he was going to quietly return the umbrellas!

An enjoyable story about sibling rivalry the second in the "shoes" series.

What a dreadful book! I don’t think there was a single character who was nice, except maybe grandfather and the dog! They were all so horrid to each other, and selfish, spiteful. Even the parents were deliberately mean and awful to the children. The premise is their grandfather thinks they have potential to be good at tennis, they don’t have much money so they all promise to save up to help. But one child doesn’t want to play at all, one plays but no one thinks she’ll be any good so they ignore her, and the twins show promise so everything is plowed into them. But when Nicky, the one no one believes in, actually proves to have more promise than the others, rather than praising her and supporting her they purposely make her life horrid so she doesn’t get too big for her boots. Horrendous! The eldest, Susan, does well until she can’t stand the thought of Nicky being better than her, so she just gives up. What an attitude. Add to that punishing poor Nicky for selling four umbrellas to make up her share to go in the tennis house, she gets only an umbrella for the next two Christmas presents and next two birthdays! So mean. She might not have the best temperament and character, but I’m not surprised growing up in a house where you are deliberately shunned, shamed and told how awful you are.

I hadn't read this in years but have decided to re-read much of Streatfeild's novels as it has been a while since I indulged in doing so.

The Heath children are sent some money by their grandfather to play tennis. Their father who used to play starts by coaching them and they have some success.

I realised I hadn't read this book that many times and remembered Nicky most of all. I can now see why! Although I love Streatfeild this book is not that well structured and as I have just demonstrated it is very difficult to describe the plot without it sounding very dull! This time round, I noticed the fashion at the time was not showing off your talents which I hadn't picked up before. I still loved Nicky, David, Agag and the servants but I definitely found Susan and Jim more infuriating. I would love to know why this was Streatfeild's favourite. Maybe I have missed something?

An enjoyable snapshot with some great characters and an unusual subject for Streatfeild but not her best.

3.8 stars

A little rougher than Ballet Shoes but still very enjoyable.

Tennis shoes is one of four books in the shoes series by Noel Stratfield. They can be read in any order as they are all about different children perusing their dreams. It was a very interesting book as you think it is going to go one way but the story takes a different turn. I would recommend this book for children aged 9-13.

I can't believe I found a Noel Streatfield I'd never read! Have gone back to being about ten years old :)

Good

This book is Good if you like stories of old england
Not normally my thing but it was pretty good.

I hate this entire family except for Nicky, and I hope they die.