Sports
Satch and Me by Dan Gutman
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Sep.30, 2013, under Historical Fiction, Sports, Student Reviews
Review by Carson W.
Who would like this book? Male baseball fans would like this book.
The goods on the book: This is a great book that teaches you a bit about what the Negro baseball League in 1942 was like. The main characters are Stosh, Satch, and Flip. It’s mainly about Satchel Paige and his life playing baseball. The book shows Satchel as a person and a player. If you don’t know who Satchel Paige is, this is a great book to learn about him. This a fun book with Time Travel and an aged Flip.
The details: 175 pages, 2006 Review by CarsonW.
Heat by Mike Lupica
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Sep.22, 2013, under Real life, Sports, Student Reviews
Review by Carson W.
Who would like this book? Males in middle school.
The goods on this book: Heat is mainly about a boy named Michael who loves baseball. His team is very good and almost always wins. But people start to doubt his age, saying “He’s too old!”. Then, the Little League says he can’t play until he finds his birth certificate. But, his birth certificate is nowhere to be seen. This is a problem because Michael has no parents, and only his older brother is with him. This a great book with lots of excitement and humor.
The details: 220 pages; 2006 Review by Carson W.
Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jul.31, 2013, under Battle of the Books 2013-2014, Sam's Reviews, Sports
Who would like this book? Football fans and people who like books about triumphing over adversity would like this book.
The goods on the book: Nate Brodie, 13, seems to have everything going for him. He’s quarterback of his 8th grade football team and has a great coach and great teammates. He is best friends with the irrepressible Abby McCall and gets along well at school and at home. His parents are struggling financially, though, and have put their beloved house up for sale. As they juggle multiple, unsatisfying jobs, Nate gets knocked off balance. He is really thrown for a loop when Abby tells him that she has a degenerative eye disease that will cause her to go blind. Then, Nate wins the opportunity to attempt a million dollar throw during halftime at the New England Patriots’ Thanksgiving football game. What will Nate do with this opportunity, especially when his football game goes awry? Nate narrates his own story with honesty, bringing the reader along with him to insights and courage. There’s some good humor along the way, and football fans will appreciate the play-by-plays of Nate’s important games. Though some plot developments are predictable, the inevitable climax is still moving and satisfying. This book is a great selection for Battle of the Books 2013-2014.
The details: 272 pp. 2010 Review by Samrarian
Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get back on the Board by Bethany Hamilton
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jun.09, 2013, under Non-fiction, Sports, Student Reviews
Review by Rachel U.
Who would like this book? 4th graders to adult females would love this book. If you like the ocean or sports, then you would love this book. Also, if you like true stories that are really inspiring, you would love this book.
The goods on this book: Bethany has her mind set on being a pro surfer, but when she loses her arm to a shark she thinks her dreams are crushed. But she is a strong Christian. She is able to put her faith in God. I really like this book. It is so inspiring and Bethany is a great person who wants to help others and she always puts God first. She is not ashamed to share her faith in God.
The details: 213 pp. 2004 Review by Rachel U.
The Rivalry: Mystery at the Army-Navy Game by John Feinstein
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.06, 2013, under Historical Fiction, Mystery, Sports, Student Reviews
Review by Tyler M.
Who would like this book? Any sports fan would love this story that’s full of facts and fiction.
Why? Anyone would love this adventure that takes you behind all of the events that happen before one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports. This book contains all of the fun facts such as “How was the rivalry formed?” or “Some of the greatest moments of Army vs. Navy.” It also has some highlights of the 2009-2010 football season. So in the story, whenever Navy scores a touchdown that changes the game, there’s always a penalty. The referees do it so often it gets on everyone’s nerves. Like the ref wants the other team to win. THIS BOOK IS THE BEST SPORTS BOOK IN AGES!
The details: 266 pp. 2010 Review by Tyler M.
Summer Ball by Mike Lupica
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Nov.14, 2012, under Real life, Sports, Student Reviews
Review by Ben M.
Who would like this book? I think this book would be good for mostly boys because its a book about basketball. Some girls that like basketball might like this book also.
Why? Summer Ball is a book about a boy named Danny and he is in love with basketball. Danny’s friends decide to go to a basketball camp. They want Danny to go with them, so he decided to go. He went through a lot of things at the camp: from basketball, to meeting new people, to fighting. I think this is a really good book, and I would read more books by this author.
The details: 244 pp. 2007 Review by Ben M.
Travel Team by Mike Lupica
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Nov.01, 2012, under Real life, Sports, Student Reviews
Review by Jack G.
Who would like this book? I think that mostly 6-8 graders would like this book. I think mostly guys would like this book.
Why? There is a boy named Danny and he likes basketball. He trys out for a travel team and doesn’t make the team. Then his dad talks to the coach, and he starts a team. Danny has a lot of problems with his dad because he has not been a very good dad, but he is getting better.
The details: 274 pp. 2006 Review by Jack
Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.28, 2012, under Real life, Sports, Student Reviews
Review by Chad S.
Who would like this book? Sport fans would love this book, mostly boys.
Why? The main character, Brady, gets a once in a lifetime opportunity to win a million dollars. All he has to do is make a football throw from 30 yards away into a hole. There are some challenges with one of his best friends. He has financial issues, but that won’t stop him from playing his most favorite thing, football. Will he make the throw? Read the book and find out!
The details: 244 pp. 2009 Review by Chad S.
Travel Team by Mike Lupica
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.16, 2012, under Real life, Sports, Student Reviews
Review by Ben M.
Who would like this book? I think any boys that are into sports would like this book and maybe some girls.
Why? Travel Team is a sports book about a boy named Danny. Danny is a 12 year old boy who plays basketball. When he got to tryout for a basketball team, he didn’t make it. So he decided to make a new team. His dad Richie is the coach. Richie is a divorced alcoholic who loves the game of basketball like his son Danny. Danny and Richie put together a team of some of Danny’s friends and they go through a basketball season. Richie and Danny are almost more like brothers because of they way they act around each other. They get closer as the book goes on. This book is about how people who maybe aren’t the best can come together and do a pretty good job. I think this is a great book, and I would love to read more books by this author.
The details: 274 pp. 2004 Review by Ben M.
Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.14, 2012, under Real life, Romance, Sam's Reviews, Sports
Who would like this book? Both males and females looking for a book about a guy telling his story as he struggles with real family problems, his first romance, and his transformatio from skinny geek to stupid fast.
Why? Felton has been beset by problems ever since the tragedy of his father’s suicide ten years before. Now almost 16, he is struggling with the severe depression of his mom and the idiosyncrasies of his little brother. Felton has always been scrawny, with bullies taunting his as a “squirrel nut.” A growth spurt is transforming Felton’s body and his speed is getting noticed by the football coach. As problems at home compound, opportunities with friends – including the beautiful Aleah – open possibilities that astound him. Felton tells his own story with a sharp perspective that is both very funny and very moving. I love this book and think that it would be great for anyone looking for a good combination of problems, sports, romance, and self-discovery.
The details: 311 pp. 2011 Review by Samrarian
