Agassi and the Great Cycle Race by Khyrunnisa A. – feel good story for kids age 8+

Agassi and the Great Cycle Race is a delightful, feel good story for kids age 8+, about perseverance, friendship, and finding joy beyond winning and cycling adventure.

Synopsis

What’s in a name? Plenty.

Agassi Joel Roy hates his first name and wants everyone to call him Joel. He hates tennis too—and most other sports. But when he hears about the cycling competition in his town, he decides to take part.

So what if he doesn’t know cycling? Or doesn’t own a working cycle? With a borrowed cycle—accompanied by a rather unexpected companion—and ample courage, Joel begins his lessons, with his neighbour Zeba as his tutor.

Will Joel reach the finish line or will cycling join the list of most hated sports?

Review

Agassi and the Great Cycle Race follows the story of Agassi Joel Roy — yes, you read that right, three names, all thanks to his tennis-obsessed parents. Unsurprisingly, Joel (as he prefers to be called) wants nothing to do with tennis. He’s into football, jogging — basically anything but swinging a racket.

When he see the advert of District Cycling Competition for children under ten, he gets excited and to the surprise of his parents decide to take part. The Surprise because Joel doesn’t own a bike. Oh, and he doesn’t know how to ride one. He have only one week to get bicycle and learn to ride it. His parent aren’t going to buy a new one to get it destroyed in just seven days but the solution came with a family friend who have bicycle and a parrot, named Steffi who uses its handle as personal perch.

I really enjoyed following Joel’s bumpy (literally) journey to learn cycling. It brought back a wave of nostalgia — memories of zooming around the neighborhood, school runs on two wheels, and of course, the legendary falls that left scars still bragged about today. Even more meaningful, this story nudged my own child — who’s been terrified of bikes after a bad fall last year — to give cycling another chance. I’m calling that a big win.

The friendship between Joel and Zeba was heartwarming, and watching her help him master the bike was a highlight. Steffi the parrot added a dash of chaotic charm, making the whole story even more entertaining. The twist at the climax was a fun surprise, shifting the course of the race in a way I didn’t expect.

I loved the ending and its message: it’s not just about winning the race, but about persistence and crossing the finish line. And let’s be honest — Joel’s outcome was pretty satisfying, even if he didn’t snag first place.

Overall, Agassi and the Great Cycle Race is a delightful, feel-good story about perseverance, friendship, and finding joy beyond winning. With humor, heart, and a feathery sidekick, it’s a charming read for kids — and a nostalgic nudge for adults. Highly recommended for young readers (and hesitant cyclists) alike!

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Have you read this book or wish to read?
Can you ride bicycle? Any book you read about it?

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