The Million Dollar Shot

by Dan Gutman

Overview

There's nothing but net in this engaging tale of basketball and life.

Eddie "Air" Ball wants to win the Finkle Foods poetry contest for a chance to sink a million-dollar free throw at halftime of the NBA finals. He knows he can make the shot, no problem. He's not so sure he can write a winning poem, though. Luckily, Eddie has the help of his best friend, Annie "Oakley" Stokely. Not only is Annie as good at shooting baskets as Eddie is, she also knows a lot about writing poems. But someone wants him to miss and will stop at nothing to keep Eddie from winning. Together, the two friends might have a chance to win the money that will help their parents move them out of their trailer park homes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781423100843
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	09/01/2006
Series:	Million Dollar Sports Series
Edition description:	Revised ed.
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	170,541
Product dimensions:	5.15(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.55(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Dan Gutman is the author of many novels for children, including four other Million Dollar books: The Million Dollar Strike, The Million Dollar Goal, The Million Dollar Kick, The Million Dollar Shot the Funny Boy books and Virtually Perfect (winner of the Nevada Young Readers' Award a Virginia Young Readers' Award nominee). He lives with his family in New Jersey. He invites you to visit him online at dangutman.com.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 4-6--Another page-turner from the author of The Kid Who Ran for President (Scholastic, 1996). Eddie Ball, 11, lives with his mother in a cramped trailer in rural Louisiana. Although he dreams of moving to a "regular house," Mrs. Ball's salary at the Finkle Foods Factory is low, and her bills are many. Eddie's best friend is his African-American next-door neighbor and classmate, the poetry-loving, basketball-playing Annie Stokely, who lives with her father. When both adults are laid off from the factory, Eddie enters one of Annie's poems in a poetry contest sponsored by Finkle Foods; the winner gets a chance to sink a foul shot during halftime at the first game of the NBA finals for a million-dollar prize. Early in the book, Eddie wins the poetry contest--but can he make the basket? Shooting lessons from Mr. Stokely improve Eddie's free-throw success rate, but someone seems to be sabotaging the practice sessions. Things become more complicated when Mr. Finkle visits Eddie, admits that his company is having financial troubles, and offers him a bribe to throw an air ball. Gutman expertly builds up suspense to the moment of the shot, milking the throw itself for several delightfully agonizing pages. The story, with occasional basketball tips well woven into the narrative, will appeal to both sports readers and general audiences. Gutman's subtle humor, exciting sports action, and excruciating suspense make this title an outstanding choice for reluctant readers.--Denise E. Agosto, Midland County Public Library, TX

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