There, C-3PO is greeted by the old Proto Droid Proto One, who helps him down. Proto One introduces himself to the humans. Proto-One also tells C-3PO that he was abandoned by his previous masters and that he survived by repairing himself. While C-3PO takes an immediate dislike to Proto One, the old droid gets along with R2-D2 and the three humans. Proto still offers Kea to fix her broken ship while they take Jord to a medical unit. The droids leave with the humans on the White Witch. C-3PO tells R2-D2 to be careful about associating with supposedly unsavory droids like Proto-One. This book deserves a high rating for not only the personal touch of the writing, but also the message that is tells about concussions. While readers may very well have heard this message before, it is one worth repeating and if even if the book helps one person through his or her struggle with this injury, then Earnhardt’s reason for writing the book will be fulfilled. Also, there's lots of interesting Nascar insider stuff, and details about Dale Jr., his family, his business, his racing, tire tests, and lots of other cool Nascar stuff. Sadly, the mystery part of the story wasn’t interesting or intriguing. It was quite predictable but still had me side eyeing the end of the story.

The setting was strong and it was easy to visualize the events taking place in the different locations. I received a Netgalley e-arc of "Race to the Finish Line" by Aisha Yusuf in exchange for an honest review. Some parts of this review will contain spoilers, but I will mark those parts accordingly.

A vengeful Sise Fromm, Tig and Vlix confront Thall and his friends. Before the Fromms can hurt them, Proto-One shoots at the Fromm Gang and tells them put their hands behind their head. The gangsters try to flee but are confronted by a vengeful Boba Fett. Having lost the race, his speeder, his droid and nearly his life, Boba Fett decides that his debt to Sise Fromm is paid, and turns him, Tig and Vlix over to Jabba the Hutt. Fett is unwilling to listen to their pleas. It's also a story with a lesson that needs to be repeated over and over: if you had a concussion, or even suspect you did, get medical help as soon as possible. Do not try to "tough it out" or hope your symptoms magically go away. They won't. Anyway, it's a good read, and a book every athlete should read, especially young ones and their parents. On the tenth lap, Fett's speeder attempts to trap the White Witch with a tractor beam but R2-D2 hurls the detonator at Fett's speeder. Thall Joben wins the race with the White Witch. Fett is forced to eject from his craft before it explodes, destroying the vehicle and his droid. The announcer and Thall's friends congratulate Thall. C-3PO is also jubilant. Kea also thanks R2-D2. If you're not a race driver, stay the hell home. Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat that candy ass.”

A medical droid attends to the wounded Jord, who has broken his left arm. Thall advises Jord to rest but Jord is disappointed. Kea turns their attention to repairing the damaged White Witch or they will be disqualified. C-3PO objects to R2-D2's idea of hiring Proto One, whom he dismisses as a "walking scrap heap." Jord is open to hiring Proto-One but C-3PO reveals that he has found another droid to help them named BL-17, saying that he found him. In einer Stadt, in der sie sich tagtäglich um ihre Sicherheit sorgen muss, ist sie oft unglaubliche Risiken eingegangen. So, first to the contents of the book. Aaleyah is a strong willed girl who moves with her family from Canada to a small town in the US for a one year period, for her father's job. In the last year of High School, she nevertheless adapts as well as can be expected to the move. I was initially drawn to this book by the cover. It’s so striking and it tells you exactly what this book is about. Ihre zwei Freunde sind absolut toll! Ich lieeeebe sie. Aber dafür, dass sie beide auch POC‘s sind, hätte ich mir gewünscht auch mehr über ihre Erfahrungen und ihre Geschichte zu erfahren. Sie sind eher dafür da, damit die Geschichte fortlaufen kann. Nichtsdestotrotz liebe ich sie :,)

Ab dann fängt Aaleyah mit Hilfe ihrer Freunde an, die Probleme selbst in die Hand zu nehmen und die Stadt und ihre kuriosen Vermisstenfälle und menschenverachtende Einwohner auffliegen zu lassen. Es ist leider bis heute schwer gute Repräsentation zu finden, aber Aaleyah bekommt Applaus von mir. I have always been a massive fan of NASCAR, following Dale Earnhardt Jr. from the very beginning of my watching the sport. I vividly remember being 5 or 6 years old and begging my parents to buy me a poster of the #8 racecar at my school book fair and hanging it on my wall for over a decade later. Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

C-3PO, R2-D2, Thall Joben, Kea Moll and Jord Dusat are on their way to the Boonta Speeder Race in the Sand Sloth—with the White Witch attached to the hull. Thall asks Jord if he is ready to win the race. Jord vows to clean up the race. Kea asks C-3PO and Artoo how they are faring with securing the speeder for lightspeed. C-3PO says they are good and that the couplings should be fixed soon.Race to the Finish Line is an ownvoice story about a high school student moving from Canada to a small town in the USA where the KKK is still active and trying to uncover a sinister secret. While I obviously appreciate the anti-racist message and what this book was trying to do, from a literary stand point it just doesn't stand up. For example: When the gang decide to break into Liam's apartment. It seemed to jump to this scene rather suddenly, which would have been fine with a little more context. Liam was the only character I felt needed a little bit more work. He appeared to be a threat for so long, but then it turns out he's an undercover cop investigating this town. Which was a good twist! But I was waiting for him to turn on them again, because he was so sketchy throughout the rest of the book. Why did we have to guess the ethnicity of Alyeah’s friends? I can only assume that they were Latinx and Asian American but could never fully confirm that in the book. I hated when he retired from racing. I miss that guy. I miss the days of the beautiful #8 Budweiser car. I miss the #88 too, but that red car was special. I always thought I was a NASCAR fan. I was wrong. Turns out I was a Junior fan. I've watched parts of races since he's retired, but haven't finished watching one yet. Not even Daytona, or my favorite, Talladega.