Product Description
Tina Esparza loves soccer, especially that it's a team sport where no one player is in the spotlight. Imagine her surprise when the coach asks her to train as the team's goalkeeper. Will Tina be able to overcome her shyness and accept a position that puts her in the center of attention? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good book! Relates to my life
This is a good book. In the story, shy Tina is a fan of soccer, especially the fact it's a team sport where she won't stand out to much, which is good, because Tina hates getting attention. When she joins a new soccer team, everything is great until her coach asks her to do something for the team...play keeper!!! That horrifies Tina. Everything about keeper, even the uniform, stands out! Can she overcome her shyness to play the best she can? This book appeals to me partly because I am rather shy, and play a lot of keeper on my team, so I stand out. However, playing keeper has helped me overcome most of my shyness and be a good player, on and off the field, just like Tina. ... Read more

Product Description
The New York Yankees played their first game in the American League in 1903. Since then, they have become the best team in baseball, bar none. Now this action-packed and fact-filled volume brings the Yankee's great history to life. From Babe Ruth's called shot and Lou Gehrig's tearful farewell speech, to Reggie Jackson's three hits on three pitches and Derek Jeter's game-saving catches, classic moments are recounted with such vivid description that readers will swear they can smell the popcorn and hear the crack of the bat. The book includes team records and post-season results from 1903 to 2006, as well as lists of Yankees inducted into the Hall of Famers and photos of the most memorable plays and people in Yankee history. For New York fans and people who just like to know everything about baseball, this is a must-read!
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent Book for any Yankees fan
This is an excellent book for any Ynakees fans young or old to enjoy. Highly recommended

Great
I've given this book as a gift so I can not really tell you about the content of the book just that it was in very good condition and got shipped to me very quickly.

Kids love it!
Any child into baseball or sports will love this book and others by Matt Christopher. Easy reading a full of facts and history! I give it as a gift all of the time.

Filled with interesting facts
Reviewed by Matthew Feliciano (age 8) for Reader Views (5/08)

"The New York Yankees" book is filled with interesting facts about the New York Yankees team.The team started in 1903 and this book takes us through the history of the team to the present time.

In 1903, the National League team and American League teams wanted to be together so they put a new team in New York.This small team became what is now known as the Yankees.They were not very good when they started playing, but the fans still liked to go to the games.Some of the players, on their own, were really, really good but the Yankees had trouble as a team.

This book tells about the things that happened as the Yankees became who they are.We got to read about Babe Ruth, how the Yankees built themselves up, and we even saw the team when they were bad.The Yankees got better and better and became a team who was a legend.Even though I am a Boston Red Sox fan, I liked reading "The New York Yankees" a lot.
... Read more

Product Description
Troubled by his violent behavior on the soccer field, Mark Conway desperately tries to find out what is bothering him, before his teammates turn against him. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Dear reader
I really liked the book. It gives excellent tips on soccer. The tips come from a little boy that comes from England to America. The little boy's name is Mark. And his parents are getting divorced and he comes from England and moves to America to live with his grandparents. This book is great it shows you how the little boy over came his challenges. I like how he doesn't let any of the kids on the team get to him because he has to live with his grandparents. This is a great book. I suggest it for any reader.

The Comeback Challenge was Great!
I thought that The Comeback Challenge was great. Mark, who was on the scorpions team, was angry that his parents, who kept on fighting, and they each wanted him to live with him or her, because they were getting a divorce. Currently, he had to live with his grandparents, until it was settled. Also, the team captain Lance, didn't really like Mark that much. At the end Mark stays with his grandparents another year. Mark was the one to tell the judge that. Also at the end the problem with Lance was solved, and Mark was elected captain for the next soccer season. ... Read more

Product Description
Even though he is the tallest member of the basketball team, a young boy finds he is far from being the best player. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A sports book more about friendship than it is about sports
Juvenile sports fiction tends to have a formulaic plot. The main character struggles to perform at a high level and faces some additional personal adversity but when the big game at the end arrives, manages to make one or more of the big plays that decides the game. Matt Christopher is quite different in this story in that while the main character (Johnny) struggles against personal adversity, his team does not win at the end.
Johnny has recently moved to a small town from New York City and is very tall, hence his nickname. He loves basketball, but has never been conditioned to jump well, so he is often out leaped by much shorter players. Jim is a boy with a bit of an attitude, when Jim is tasked to show Johnny around the school; Jim deliberately bumps Jim so that he spills his milk. This is the first of a series of incidents where Jim harasses Johnny, even to the point of danger.
However, when Jim is suspended from his team, Johnny calls the coach and asks that he give Jim another chance. This is the start of a friendship between the two boys and Johnny learns about the interests of Jim, a process that ends quickly when Jim's house catches fire. Finally, the last game pits Johnny's and Jim's teams in a contest that is close where Johnny finally begins to jump well, but ends in Jim's team being victorious. There are no hard feelings, the boys are happy with a game well played and Jim and Johnny leave the locker room together.
This book is more about two boys learning to understand each other than about the sports. Adolescence is a difficult period of life and most times bad behavior towards others is an expression of unhappiness with personal circumstances. That is the case with Jim, once given a chance he shows that he is at heart a good friend, a lesson that all adolescents should learn.

Johnny Long Legs
Many events take place in the story Johnny Long Legs. In the beginning of the book Johnny moves to New York City with his mom to live with his mom's boyfriend and his son. Soon after the son (Toby) asks Johnny to join the schools basketball team. Johnny figured why not he had played some in New York so he figured he'd give it a try. All of the kids thought that Johnny was going to an awesome player because he was so tall and had probably played a lot in New York. In the first few games Johnny doesn't do to great. He isn't great at shooting and can't jump to save his life. This shocked people because of his height. Johnny would always loose on jump balls now matter how small the kid was and how hard he tried. Fans began calling Johnny "Lead foot" and "Johnny Long Legs". Johnny practiced jumping whenever he could and finally outjumped his toughest opponent at the end of the story. Johnny was finally proud of his nickname "Johnny Long Legs".

My favorite part of the book was when Johnny out jumped his rival opponent and tough competitor Jim Sain. They had been neck and neck or hand and hand shall we say all year. I thought this part of the book was great because Johnny realized that all the hard work he did to strengthen his legs and to improve his jump really did pay off.

I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys sports novels Matt Christopher is a great sports writer in my opinion and great for kids. Also if you want a page turning book this is definitely a book for you! There was a lot of excitement and intensity in this book. I feel that this book was a quick and easy but awesome read!

Johnny Long Legs Basketball Adventure
This book is about a boy named Johnny. He was not into sports until he wanted to try it out. He was tall, real tall to be in middle school. People wanted him actually to try out and he did. When they had practices and games, Johnny didn't start or play too much. This was very new to him playing basketball that season. If you like sports, especially basketball, you may like it because it tells you all the basics of basketball.

Good Book
Its a good book, and I'm the guy on the cover, just throwing it out there

The Tall Kid
In the book Johnny Long Legs, by Matt Christopher, Johnny is a boy in 7th grade who just moved in with a boy named Toby. Toby asks Johnny if he wants to play on his basketball team called the White Cats. Johnny, who was very tall started out slowly. Jim Sain caused Johnny lots of problems, both on and off the basketball court. With a lot of help from Toby, and after a lot of practices, Johnny became a better player. Although Johnny and Jim continued to do battles on the court, they became friends off the court. This book is very exciting and is really hard to put down. ... Read more

Product Description
Lisa Gaddy is a starting fullback for the 'Cats and she plays her position well -- except for one thing. She's small for her age, so her throw-ins from the sidelines don't go very far. Sometimes the ball winds up landing in front of an opponent instead of a teammate. She can't stop taking throw-ins (though one of her teammates thinks she should), but unless she grows three inches before the season ends, there doesn't seem to be any way she can improve. Or is there? The coach has an idea to turn Lisa's throw-ins into the 'Cats' secret weapon.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

TERRIFIC -- gender-neutral series! DAUGHTER loves it!
This is yet another WONDERFUL installment in the SOCCER CATS series.

Our 6-year old daughter is an avid and excellent reader.She loves the series.

We have given the book (and others in the series) as GIFTS to BOYS AND GIRLS aged 7-8 years and received only positive feedback from the children and their parents.

HIGHLY recommended FUN, funny and age-appropriate reading!

ENJOY! ... Read more

Product Description
Dennis O'Malley is a master on his skateboard. Although everyone else he knows skis all winter, a bad skiing accident has left him afraid to try it again. But when his friend Tasha gets a new snowboard, Dennis begins to wonder if he can turn his skateboarding abilities into snowboarding abilities. As he tries to develop his skills, he is challenged by rival snowboarders who make him doubt himself on his board. Can Dennis overcome his fears on the slopes in time to prove them wrong? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Read this book!
This is one of the first books that I read for pure enjoyment. It's about a boy named Dennis O'Mally, 13, in the 6th grade who gets a snowboard for Christmas. When his parents say that they have already done their Christmas shopping, but one of his best friends had gotten him a snowboard. Read this book, it is awesome! (written by Alex, age 9)

Snowboard Maverick
Can a skateboard pro conquer the slopes? Dennis O'Malley is tested when it starts to snow, and he has to shelf his skateboard.Dennis is a hard core skater who learns to snowboard. He learns at a school with the help of his friends.

Dennis wants to board, but his parents don't want him to, so he boards on his own time.But when he goes the mountain is divided into two.His experience is tested when he must race on Ford's Mountain, to share the mountain.

Personally, my favorite part is when Dennis catches big air, and has to ride down the mountain to get help, to save his friends, which are stuck, because one decide to try and drop in, but she had no real experience with the sport.This is my favorite part because it shows how strong Dennis's friendship really is.This book is really about a teenage boy who falls in love with a new action sport.The theme of this book is just really about following what you love.

What I personally liked about this book was that it dealed with snowboarding which I love.If I could change one thing though, I would make the plot not so near the end.Anyone who enjoys action/sports books should read this.

I like this book a lot
Once there was a boy named Dennis who could skateboard very well, but in a few days it would be winter season and he could not skateboard because in his place it would start to snow and he can't skateboard in snow.
So his two best friends Robbie and Tasha said that they would teach him how to snowboard and Dennis said yes. But he had a fear of it also because once he had fallen and gotten hurt. He started by learning how to fall. After that he started by going down the school house hill.
Now whenever he used to start, there used to be a small fright coming up his back and you know why. Then he raced one of his friends down, he did not know but his friend gave him a head start. He was thinking where she was and then she zoomed down and won.
Then suddenly the two school bullies came and challenged Dennis and now they will race at Floyds Mountains and that is the place Dennis fell and Brock his bone now read the book and see what happens to Dennis at the race. I recommend this book to people who like snowboarding or who like snow. I rated this book 4star because this was a very good book to me.

By Ali Soorty
(Pakistan)

Can a skateboarder become a snowboarder?
The book I'm reviewing is Snowboard Maverick by Matt Christopher. I think this book deserves four out of five stars. It is a interesting book. This book is about a boy who is great at skateboarding, but his friends want him to try snowboarding. He likes it but he gets into trouble. The problem of the story is he gets dared to go down Fords Mountain. I recommend this book to anybody who likes snowboarding.
Emerson, NJ Fifth Grade Student

This book was big pimpin
The book Snowboard Maverick was a very great book.It tell you about a person who loves skateboarding and whenever it snowed he couldn't skateboard cause it was too icy.So all of his friends are snowboarding adn he wants to learn how.Whenever he learns to be pretty good he is challenged buy a big bully who is a very good snowboarder.He is very scared of the bully but his parents encourage him and he takes the challenge.Whenever he showes up they go down the hill and it is the first one down the hill who wins and he beats the bully and quits skateboarding and becomes a snowboarder.Every winter when it snowes him and his friends go snowboarding.This book is one of the best books i have ever read. ... Read more

Product Description
The thrill of an interception, the crash of helmets, the seemingly impossible catch in the end zone -- Matt Christopher has captured all the suspense and play-by-play action of nine remarkable football plays and the personalities of the athletes who made them. Tom Dempsey's sixty-three-yard field goal, Joe Namath's guarantee of a Super Bowl win in 1969, and Walter Payton's record-setting 275 yards rushing in a single game are among the moments recorded in this not-to-be-missed book from America's best-loved sports writer for children. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Enjoyable recapitulations of nine of the greatest moments in professional football
Matt Christopher is one of the best modern authors of juvenile sports fiction and in this case he takes facts and makes them exciting and entertaining. American football is a great game with a long history of dramatic events and Christopher takes nine of those events and paints exciting recapitulations of the action. The events are:

*) Jim Marshall's return of a fumble in the wrong direction that led to a safety for the other team.
*) Joe Namath's brash prediction of a Jets victory in Super Bowl III
*) Tom Dempsey's record-breaking kick of a 63-yard field goal.
*) Franco Harris making the catch now universally called "The Immaculate Reception."
*) Walter Payton setting a single-game rushing record against the Minnesota Vikings
*) Steve Young's dramatic desperation run against the Vikings on October 30, 1988
*) Joe Montana's engineering of a last-minute drive to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII
*) Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Frank Reich's engineering of a comeback from a 35-3 deficit against the Houston Oilers to win a playoff game on January 3, 1993
*) Emmitt Smith shaking off a shoulder separation and continuing to play to help the Dallas Cowboysdefeat the New York Giants on January 2, 1994.

The best writers of sports fiction can take actual events and translate them into words that retain the excitement. In this book Christopher demonstrates that he is one of the best.
... Read more

Product Description
When his father is accused of causing a fire through faulty wiring, Dana tries to get to the bottom of the allegations. But when he discovers the shocking truth, he must decide whether to keep quiet or ruin a reputation by going public. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Top Wing
My son who is 9, struggles with reading, so some of the vocabulary was a real stretch for him.We use a "fist" method, where he counts the words on a page that are too tough, and if he gets the whole fist, the book usually is just that.We were close on many of the pages and though the story was good, as were the messages, this is not a good book for a child who has a "decoding" issue.It took almost 10 days for us to get through it. Even his teacher admitted she knew it would be a challenge.

Top wing
TOP WIND


My book is about a kid. His Name is Dana and he plays on the soccer team.One day he came home from soccer practice and his home was on fire.The parents came home too.The fire fighters said, "Kids did it."
The kid's soccer team found the house burning.The kids on the soccer team were doing a bad job and lost all their games.The soccer team helped to get a new home.The next year the team won every game and won a championship cup.
I like the book top wind and it is a good book.The book is for every one to read.I would give it a ten.

GreatBook!
I'm a 9 year old boy who loves sports.I had to read a mystery book for school.This book was perfect because it was interesting, fun to read and exciting.It starts out with two 12 year old boys named Benton Crawford and Dana Bellamy.They are neighbors, friends and on the same soccer team.A fire breaks out at Benton's house.Dana's dad saves Benton and his sister.Benton starts a rumor that Dana's dad who was their electrician had done a bad job wiring the house and that was what Benton thought caused the fire.After the fire Benton never passed the ball to Dana anymore.Things get really heated up between Benton and Dana.
How did the fire really start? Was Dana's dad really responsible? You'll be surprised to find out the answers to the mystery when you read this book.
I would recommend this book to everyone.It was fun to read! ... Read more

Product Description
Cap Wadell loves football, but it seems unlikely that he'll ever get to play on a real team-his hometown is so small that there aren't enough boys in his school to fill a regulation squad. Then his grandfather tells him how he solved that same problem years before: He and his schoolmates started a six-man football league. If Cap wants to do the same thing, Grandpa will be happy to help. He'll even coach the team if the league gets off the ground. It does, and soon Cap and his friends are learning the rules of six-man football. Cap is in competition for the starting quarterback spot with Jimmy Cash, but that's not a problem. What is a problem is that Grandpa and Jimmy's grandfather have reignited an old football feud. When their rivalry starts to affect the team, Cap wonders if the team will survive. For a complete list of all of Matt Christopher's titles, please turn to the last pages of this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

It was a very good book
The book that I read was very good it is about a kid by the name of cap wadell who love to play to play football and cap is in a little competition with jimmy cash for starting quarterback. but the real problemis ggranpa and jimmys grandfatherhave reignited an old football feud. and it start to affect the team

Catch This Book
The book I'm reviewing is The Long Arm Quarterback by Matt Christopher. I give this book four stars because it is well-written and a fun book to read. This book is about how Cap's grandpa starts a six man football league with the surrounding towns. Cap's grandpa is the coach for Cap's town. When the first practice came, Cap's grandpa found out that one of his players was his rival's grandson. Jimmy's grandpa and Cap's grandpa played against each other in a six man league during high school. Later on, Cap's grandpa finds out that Jimmy is also a quarterback along with Cap. Read this book and find out who will start at quarterback and if Cap's grandpa and Jimmy's grandpa will become friends.

THe Long Arm Quarterback
The book The Long Arm Quarterback is a good book.In the book they start a six man football team.There team is pretty good but they are not the best team in the leage.There are three or more book on football that Matt Christopher has writen.I would like to read more books on football that Matt Christopher has writen.

THe Long Arm Quarterback
The book The Long Arm Quarterback is a good book.In the book they start a six man football team.There team is pretty good but they are not the best team in the leage.There are three or more book on football that Matt Christopher has writen.I would like to read more books on football that Matt Christopher has writen.

The Long Arm Quarterback
I like football so this book was good to read.This book is very exciting.I would like to read more books like this one.I think there are lots of other book that are about football that Matt Christopher wrote. ... Read more

Product Description
DESCRIPTION: Mention the name Muhammad Ali and people the world over will know exactly whoyou’re talking about. The former heavyweight champion is one of the most recognized and beloved sports figures of the past century. In the ring, he made an impact with his powerful fists and lightning quick feet. Outside the ring, he earned a reputation as a good-natured, free-spoken personality who liked to make up poems about how he planned to beat his next opponent.

Yet Muhammad Ali was much more than a boxer and a braggart. He emerged during the tumultuous 60s as a man with strong spiritual convictions and an unwavering belief in the importance of the Civil Rights movement. Today he continues to support charitable causes and peace efforts even as he fights a new and more daunting opponent--a debilitating syndrome that has impaired his speech and motor control. Though he can no longer "dance like a butterfly" or "sting like a bee," to sports lovers everywhere, he is still "the greatest."

Get to know a true legend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Kids getting to know Who Ali really is. Excellent Book.
Muhammad Ali's life and his legacy is something that should be passed on to our children and our children's children.

Without a doubt he was "The Greatest" inside the boxing ring, but considering his life and his accomplishments outside the ring as well as inside the ring are makings of a legend, to say the least. The effect he had on my life as a child and later as an adult was tremendous.

Teaching our children how to deal with adversity and challenges that seem to be impossible to overcome is much easier if we use a real legend's life story to guide them.

This is truly a must read for everyone, regardless of being a fan of sports or Boxing in particular. He is indeed the Greatest, and Matt Christopher portraying that in his book was remarkable.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/031610843X/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Best Book Ever!!!!!
Sandy was a kid who loved baseball.But at times it seemed as though he liked Rod and his motorbike more.He also has to leave games early to take care of his sisters.I liked the book and it is full of details about baseball.I also play baseball myself. My favorite part of the book was when Sandy told his coach why he has to leave games early. You guys should all read this book!!!!

My favorite book when I was a kid
I checked this book out from my school library back in the late 70's (the original edition) and it became my favorite book.I loved it because I was left-handed, and this book was something I could really relate to.I probably read it 50 times.

This book is about Sandy who is good at baseball.
Sandy is a boy who plays baseball for the Spacemen and I think he is really good at short stop.Sandy gets nervous around Rex the dog. The Spacemen are a good team. I think it is a very good book and the ending iscool. ... Read more

Product Description
Buzz cut or ponytail? Grunge look? Tattoo, body paint, or earring? How about none of the above? When Zach takes up skateboarding, he doesn't realize that he's expected to look a certain way -- and cop a certain attitude, too. At least that what it seems like. But Zach just isn't comfortable with any of these things; he wants to skateboard for the fun of it, and maybe take part in a few competitions. Will he be ostracized because he looks and acts so "normal"? Or will his decision to stay true to himself mark him as a renegade, the very attitude his skateboarding buddies will appreciate? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Skateboard Renegade
Skateboard Renegade
By Matt Christopher

Have you heard of Skateboard Renegade by Matt Christopher?It's about a boy named Zach and his friends who want to get their ears pierced.They also want to get tattoos.So Zach steals his sister's money to get his ear pierced.Then he tries to get his tattoo, but doesn't have enough money. I like the book because it has a bit of skateboarding, and I'm learning how to skateboard. It is an awesome book. If you like sports then this book is for you.If you read this book and like it, read the other Matt Christopher's books.

Christopher, 9
Cunniff School
Watertown, MA

Skateboard Renegade
Skateboard Renegade
By Matt Christopher

Do you want to find the best skateboarding book ever.It's Skateboard Renegade By Matt Christopher. I think it is the best skateboarding book ever, because it teaches you a lesson. It is about a kid named Zach and he gets accepted to an academy.Before school started with his skateboarding buddies they get tattoos and bleach their hair. Then, Zach steals money from his sister so he can get his ears pierced.
Later, he wanted to go to the park with his friends and skate but he can't because he has to teach his sister how to skateboard because he stole the money from her. If you want to learn how to skateboard, read this book. The lesson is don't steal, but if you do just tell your Mom or Dad and then you will not get in as much trouble. If they ask before you tell they them always tell the truth.

Anthony, age 10
Cunniff School
Watertown, MA.

books like this are terrrible
a. skateboarding deserves better than to be portrayed in this light.
b. the 9-12 year old reader deserves to be given more credit.
no one should buy this book. i wouldn't give this a star if it was an option

WONDERFUL!
Matt Christopher is THE BEST author of 9-12 year old chapter books.He offers a lot of books covering all sports.Matt Christopher turned my son into a reader!

Skateboard Renegade
Zach Halper loves skateboarding with friends.When Brian gets his hair bleached and spiked and he gets his ear pierced, Zach does it too.To do it, he had to steal fourty dollars from his sister.When his sister Zoey finds out about it, Zach has to give his sister skateboarding lessons for two months or else his sister will tell on him.Zach has to go to a new school because his test scores were high.When he goes to the new school, he ends up looking like a freak.WHen he finally makes a new friend there, he joins a club with him called the computer club. When he goes to visit his uncle in California,his Uncle is in a skateboarding exhibition.WIll Zach ever get his old look back?Read this book to find out! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Long Shot for Paul
Matt Christopher's Long Shot for Paul is an awesome and encouraging book. Glenn , a normal young boy, teaches his brother Paul how to play basketball.The main problem was that Paul was mentally handicapped.Basketball came slow to Paul.
My opinion of this book is that it is exciting and encouraging.Its exciting because you always want to know whats going to happen next.Its encouraging to know that Glenn is helping his brother get through the season.At first the coach won't let him play because they don't have enough jerseys.But when he gets his jersey he acts like the happiest kid on earth.
I'd recommend this book to you if you like basketball.But don't just read this one there area lot of other sports books with football, baseball, motorcross, tennis and more.The reason I like sports books is because they give me ideas on what to do during a game, and they're just good to read.

Disabled Dude
Would you think that a disabled kid could learn so fast?Well Paul can.In Matt Christopher's Long Shot For Paul , the main character, Paul, learns to play basketball in 2 weeks.He and his brother Glenn are playing for the Sabers, but the players are being hard on Paul.Will the players accept Paul?

I thought this book was awesome.It was a sports book and I love sports.Any kid who is into sports should read this book.On a scale from 1 to 10 this would definitely be a 10.

I bet the author wrote this to get people to understand that just because people are different, it doesn't mean that they are not good at stuff or they aren't nice.

Paul's Problems
This book is a good book.It's about a boy named Glenn and his brother Paul, who is mentally challenged.Glenn helps Paul in basketball so he can make friends.But some people still won't accept him.This is a good book, and I would recommend it to any kid.It teaches you not to judge people just because they are different before you get to know them.

Shooter Paul
This book is about a kid who is disabled and can't learn as fast as others.His name is Paul, and he has a brother named Glenn.His brother was trying to teach him basketball so he would have something to do.Glenn wants Paul to have friends besides him.He thought it would be a good experience for paul to play a sport.I thought this was a good book.

A good book!!
This is a good book for kids.I bought it for my son because he likes basketball, so, even though he is not "developmentally disabled" (in Mr. Christopher's words), I felt that he could relate to it on at least one level.This is the story of Paul who really wants to be a very good basketball player, but, as his peers and his coach are quick to tell him, he is kind of a strange-looking and he can't quite hold the ball right.But Paul finds much success and love in his life, because his brother still cares about him, even though Paul does have a droopy face and drools sometimes when he's excited.This book was confusing at first; Mr. Christopher refers to Paul as "developmentally disabled," a term which I found rather too vague.Once I realize that what Mr. Christopher meant was that Paul was mentally ... not-right, the book made a whole lot more sense to me.So by this one, cross out all of the "developmentally disableds," and replace them with "mentally not-rights," so your child will understand.Put this one under the Christmas tree! ... Read more

Product Description
Matt Christopher, the number one sports writer for kids, profiles basketball superstar Michael Jordan, covering his childhood, college career, rookie years, and current professional standing. Real-life sports action plus Matt Christopher's easy-to-read style makes for a reading experience that's not to be missed. Photos throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

5 star book
If you are a Michael Jordan fan and love the game of basketball then this book is for you. This is probably one of the best books Matt Christopher has written. In his famous writing style he tells the story of Michael Jordan from "The Rack" to his third and final retirement. It is a fast paced, action-packed, and fact-filled book that you will not be able to putdown. It highlights information from when he was barely able to dribble the ball to many all-star appearances and many MVP'S. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about a hard worker and the best basketball player of all time. The story of "His Airness" will not disappoint you.

Michael Jordan
This book was an awesome book.It has a bunch of information aboutMichael Jordan throughout his whole life.It has information from when he was a young boy all the way into the NBA.I definitly recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in Michael Jordan or that is a fan of the NBA. This is a well written story that has great facts and stats of Michael Jordan.

Great Book
James and Deloris met in high school after attending a basketball game.They married on Feb. 17, 1963. Michael one of four children was born.The youngest son of theJordan household, baseball was Michaels favorite sport. One day his father put up two wooden backboards and baskets and gave the boys a basketball. They called it the Rack.Michael practiced often to try to keep up with his brothers. When in high school it was recommended he attend a basketball camp known as a Five
Star Camp. Education was always important to his parents, they knew that unless he was a good student all of his athletic talent would go to waste. In the fall of 1981 Michael enrolled in the University of North Carolina.After playing for three years there was little left for Michael to accomplish. He decided to turn pro and on June 19, 1984 he was picked by the Chicago Bulls. He made history and won championships for the Bulls and won consecutive MVP awards.

I liked this book very much. It is very hard to shorten in length the information this book has given me about the life of this great basketball star.

The saddest part of the book was when they talked about his father dying. From what the police could piece together James had apparantley pulled of the highway to take a nap and was attacked by two eighteen year old boys.They were later arrested and charged for the murder of James Jordan. Michael retired to spend more time with his family.

Caseys MJ review
On the court with...michael jordan was the best book I've ever read.it waz soooo cool.It had everything i needed for my book project thati had to do for school.I learned so much about michael jordan after reading that book.i recommend u buy this book.i would give it 5 stars cause itwaz the best.bye

the phat mj
i think this book was the best book.i also hink mj is the best b-ball player well untill i come into the nba!=)i like how it tell about all his life and how he didnt make the high school team and i also learned a lot more than i already new i hope u read it ... Read more

Product Description
Jimmie, captain of his baseball team, declares himself pitcher although the other players want Paul. When the team starts losing, Paul quits and everyone is disgusted with Jimmie. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

OK BOOK FOR YOU
Baseball Pals is written by Matt Christopher and it is about 97 pages and it has short chapters. If you like baseball books and one were there is a kid that wants to play one spot and there is a kid that is a lot better than him at that spot and they are the best of friends. This book is one that you would like if you have a lower reading level. One thing I didn't like was that there wasn't that much detail on the characters, but there is a lot of detail towards the games and what they are thinking in there heads

baseball pals
I read a book about peopelthat play baseball.And it made me feel unhappy because jimmy didn,t get to pich. But i thing peopel would like this book because it is funny and grat.But the part i liked is when he got to pich.And befor that he was outfeild and infeild.And he sometimes he wated to be cacher

Another one by Matt Christopher
The Book of baseball pals is an amazing book. It all starts out about a kid named Jimmie who was the manager of his baseball team. He though he could pitch, but really everyone knew that Paul was better and still didn't admit to it. So then Paul decides to pitch for another team. When the season starts Jimmie's team is really bad because there team has no pitchers. Paul and Jimmie are best friends so they never want to be on different teams, so there are many problems along the way.
In this book it shows how sometimes when you're a kid you want to be the pitcher and want to be the best player but that isn't always the right thing. It will teach some kids not to be selfish all the time and know that they always aren't the best player. For the length of the book it had some really good action of sports. If you like sports this would be an awesome book to read. It is a really hard book to put down while reading it. I like the theme of this book and also the plot. That is why I put 4 out of 5 stars on it.

HowI Rate my Baseball Pals.
This book was a really good book.I especially like how it's a sports novel but also explains life lessons.The story is about two friends that both want to pitch for their baseball team but the team only wants one pitcher, one of the friends is the captain of the team and decides the positions and assigns himself pitcher.The other friend feels left out and they split up.This book has some great morals, 1. Don't single one person out.2. Let everyone try.3.realize your friends.By: Dominic, A Sixth Grader from Maine

p.s. Matt Christopher ROCKS!!!

baseball pal's
this book was the best book in the world i have ever read it was so full of action and pleasure. i think jimmie thinks to much of himself and well it was a good book. it makes me think about baseball and pal's. the end ... Read more

Product Description
The exciting sequel to Slam Dunk!

Julian Pryce was once the star center of the Tornadoes. But when he joins a new team after his family moves, he suddenly finds himself the star benchwarmer. It turns out the Warriors already have a starting center, Paul Boyd, who has no intention of sharing the court with Julian. The coach is no help, either, for one simple reason: Paul is his son! Now Julian may have to take drastic measures if he's going to get back into the game. . . but is he to blame when Paul winds up in the hospital? ... Read more

Product Description
Anticipating a boring summer before meeting energetic cycling enthusiast Red Roberts, Dough Cannon helps out with the construction of a new bike path and overcomes his personal demons in order to become a young athlete. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Book Review

The book Olympic Dreamis about a kid named Doug Cannan.He's a fourteen year-old boy and is in the eight grade.Doug's the goalie for his school hockey team.Slowly he's growing into a self confident person.Doug plays video games all the time at an arcade across the street from his house.Sadly, he has kids call him `'wide body''which he doesn't like and it hurts his feelings.

Doug lives in a small town somewhere in the United States.The time that this story took place in was in the 1990's.In Doug's family there are his mom, dad, and his sister,that is a lot older than him.

Doug's older sister, Kate, is getting married to Terry.Terry's friend, Red, was in town for their wedding.Red almost made the U.S.A. Cycling Team, and he loves to ride for fun.When the arcade across the street burned down, Doug needed something to keep him busy during the summer.

Doug asked Red if he could go to the cycling club with Red.Once Doug arrived at the club, he noticed that all the guys who did cycling were fit.He got on the bike and started to ride down the track.On the downhill and even parts of the track, it was easy for him, but on the uphill climbs, it was difficult.As doug kept practicing, the more he enjoyed it.

Again his weight was a factor in the hard parts of the rides, but he still liked it when he finished his workout.The first couple of races were a little disappointing.As Doug trained until he couldn't do anymore, it paid off.When Doug went to more races and did better and better, something amazing happened.He was accepted to participate in the State Championships.He won all because he trained and trained.

The main point this author made was to say that if you have to work for it, it just can't come to you easily.My opinion of the book is that it is a good, enjoyable book.I can't say that it will be the best book I will ever read, but it is a good book.What I liked about this story was that the topics are very interesting.The cycling part my dad does for fun and so do I.

I would like to recommendthis book for boys and girls, ages 6-13, even though it is about a guy.The kids that would like it would like sports books, also.I had an enjoyable time reading this book.If you read it, I hope you will like it, too.

olympic dream
I thought this book was an exciting book because in every part of the book there was something happening. I also liked it because it had a lot init about biking and how to get started in biking with out showing it directly. It also showed that if your a kind of lazy person who just sits and watches television all the time that you can get out and do something to make yourself proud like doug did on the book.

Astonishing Olympic Dream
Olympic Dream by Matt Christopher is an extremely amusing, in my opinion.This book takes place in a small town in the U.S., late 1980's.It is about an adolescent boy. Doug, who meets a man, Red, that completely changes his life.They become friends and Red teaches Doug to ride a bike. The reasons I am recommending this book are, that the author was very descriptive on every part including the characters and setting.He went into superb detail about each characters personality.He described the setting which was the town so that you could visualize it as you were reading it.For instance he described the arcade and old wooden shack with 6 arcade machines each costing a quarter to play.He also made this book have a wonderful moral.This book teachers a lesson that stuck in my head and sticks in others heads too.The moral was never give up and never stop trying.Even though he described the book well he didn't describe it enough to make it boring. Some people say that the problem with this book is that there wasn't a main character.That can be exceptional or miserable but in my opinionthat is extraordinary.I think having more than one main character is remarkable because the story isn't focused on one person but on three or four people.This makes the story more absorbing.The three main characters lives all connect.One is the best man in Doug's sisters wedding.Doug is taught to ride a bike by Red (the best man) and they all support each other and it shows different points of view.

READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
This book was fantastic! It really explains how to become a true Olympian. I really encourage people to read this great book! ... Read more

Product Description
Lou Barnes puts himself offside during soccer games and that can cost the team a chance at a goal. Then one game a dog runs on to the pitch and reminds him of his position and the offside rule. But who taught a dog how to play soccer and why? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a soccer dog
I like this book because a dog plays soccer and saves this boy from getting run over by a car. I also like this book because it is funny and it is easy to understand. After the boy figured out that the dog had saved him he wanted to keep him, but his owner came to pick him up. The next day against the panthers the owner of the dog came to watch the game. To his surprize after the game he came up to the boy and said "you can have him ". ... Read more

Product Description
Superstar running back Terrell Davis helped his team, the Denver Broncos, to two consecutive Super Bowl titles, first in 1998, then again in 1999. He holds multiple records, including those for postseason rushing average, consecutive 100-yard rushing games in the postseason, and best per-game rushing average. A unanimous Pro Bowl selection for 1999 -- his third straight year of playing in that game -- Davis was also named MVP and Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press for 1999. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Greatest Running Back EVER!!!
Have you ever seen Terrell Davis play football? Well Terrell Davis was the one of the best running backs for the Denver Broncos and the NFL. Terrell is an African- American man who lived in a bad neighborhood. Also, he had a lot of migraine headaches. As a kid he played little league football and went on to play high school football. In high school, he played on offense and defense being the best player on his team. The college scouts saw Terrell's talent in football, so he earned a scholarship toplay football at Georgia (the college). He finished college and then got drafted in the 6th round by the Denver Broncos. Terrell was a slow runner, but was tough and buff. Terrell couldn't play as a rookie for a little while but the next year he became the starting running back for the Broncos. Terrell led his team to two Super Bowl victories with John Elway. John Elway was one of the best quarterbacks. (A quarterback is a person who throws the football to a receiver and hikes the ball). Before Terrell retired, he set a lot of records, won lots of awards, and won one MVP award. I learned all of this by reading,On the Field with Terrell Davis, by Matt Christopher.

I liked this book because it tells you about football and the best player in the NFL. Also, I liked this book because it tells you about all the highlights and the childhood of Terrell. Matt Christopher has written a lot of books about sports stars. He wrote about Tiger Woods, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddox, and Steve Young. I read most of his books but I really like reading the book about Terrell Davis. I recommend this book to football fans.

On the Field with Terrell Davis
On The Field With Terrell Davis was great.Terrell Davis's rushing recordwas 329 yards. Terrell Davis grew up around drugs andalcohol. But he still went to college and
got drafted sixth in the NFL.
He was a two- time Super Bowl champion1999.In 1998, he had 78 carries, 468 yards, 6.0 average, 3 touchdowns, and4 catch. Terrell Davis best year was in 1997.I like the book On the Field with Terrell Davis because It had his career stats. Career stats are his yards. Touchdowns and stuff like that.
I wish the book had been longer I'm not going to tell you the whole book.If you want to learn more about the book read On The Field With Terrell Davis.

Excellent for Davis fans Adequate for others
This biography will delight young fans of Terrell Davis although readers without a working knowledge of football may have difficulty following the play-by-play descriptions that occur at different points in this story. The vocabulary is acceptable for the target audience, and while the writing is not outstanding - it is adequate. ... Read more

Product Description
While his mother is working overseas, Matt Harper is living temporarily with his uncle in Dragon Valley, where he practices his snowboard technique and contends with a local bully. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Snowboard Champ
When Matt Harper steps off the plane, he knows his life is about to change. For one thing, he'll be living with his uncle for a year while his mother works for the government in a mysterious job overseas. For another, compared to Chicago, Dragon Valley is tiny. In fact, everybody seems to know everybody else's bussiness. But as long as Matt can hit the slopes with his snowboard, he figures he'll get along okay. That's before he has a run-in with Riley, the eighth grade's most popular boy and the school's best snowboarder. Soon rumors are being spread about Matt's past-that Matt was in a gang, that he did drugs, that his mother is in prison. Will Matt be able to prove his innocence before Riley's campaign to ruin him snowballs out of control?
Overall:
Book is great! It's fun and keeps your eyes glued to the pages. Breakneck speed boardin fun! Buy!

Snowboard Champ
This book is called Snowboarding Champ. The author of this book is Matt Christopher and it has one hundred sixty pages. I gave this book a four rating star out of five. This book is about a boy named Matt Harper who has a mom and dad that are divorced. His mom works for the government and he lives with her in Chicago. His dad however, has another wife and Matt doesn't like her. Matt's mom has to go on a secret job and Matt has to leave Chicago to go to live with his Uncle Clay's house during the winter in Dragon Valley where it snows during the winter and is hot during the summer, which isn't really a bad thing. His Uncle Clay is like a kid and loves to snowboard. Since Matt was at a new place he would have to attend a new school. At the school there was a kid named Riley who was very popular because of his snowboarding skills. While Matt was at school, Riley started to pick on him because he might be a threat. They challenged each other to a contest and Riley won by a little but everyone knew that the judges lied. There was a competition at school and this was a chance for Matt to prove himself to all the kids but someone had gotten him into so much trouble that he wasn't allowed to attend. After his uncle had yelled at the principle the school let him attend. Matt had ended up winning the whole competition and someone reported that Riley had committed the crime and not Matt. Riley's parents also busted him and sent him off to military school. While Matt is sitting at his Uncle Clay's house he gets a letter from his mom saying that she is trying to get money to feed the poor for many poor little states in different countries. He thought that was a pretty cool job and bragged about it to everyone at school where he now belonged. My recommendations for this book are anyone who likes to snowboard or who likes adventure books. ... Read more