Mixed Doubles: A Benchwarmers Novel

by John Feinstein

Overview

Jeff and Andi return to serve up trouble in tennis season, in this standalone third middle-grade book in the Benchwarmers series by #1 New York Times–bestselling sportswriter John Feinstein.

Andi Carillo may have been a soccer prodigy and a basketball superstar, but tennis is where she really shines—she’s eleven years old and nationally ranked. For her, the sport is just for fun, but suddenly agents are crawling out of the woodwork to offer her deals. Her best friend, Jeff Michaels, is a pretty talented player himself, but he’s been dropped into the number-two slot in spite of a perfect record—and he’s getting a little jealous of Andi’s star potential. These teammates will have to lean on each other more than ever if they’re going to handle new emotions, face tough competition, and close out this challenging season with a win.

Mixed Doubles is the exhilarating final volume of this popular middle-grade series by a #1 New York Times–bestselling sportswriter.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780374312084
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	04/05/2022
Series:	The Benchwarmers Series , #3
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

John Feinstein is the author of more than forty books, including two #1 New York Times bestsellers: A Season on the Brink and A Good Walk Spoiled. He is also the author of numerous sports-related mysteries and adventures for young readers, including Backfield Boys and The Prodigy. His first YA mystery, Last Shot, won the Edgar Allen Poe Award. John has also contributed to The Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, Golf Digest, Golf Channel, Sirius XM, CBS Sports Radio, Comcast SportsNet, UMBC Basketball, and The Navy Football Radio Network.
John Feinstein is the author of more than thirty books, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers: A Season on the Brink and A Good Walk Spoiled. He is also the author of numerous kids mysteries. His first young adult mystery, Last Shot, won the Edgar Allen Poe Award. John also works for the Washington Post, The Golf Channel, Sirius XM Radio and Comcast Sportsnet.

Editorial Reviews

Tests and triumphs for two middle schoolers, folded into a harsh indictment of those who would exploit them.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Feinstein emphasizes the value of sportsmanship, friendship, and, most importantly, a real longing to play the game . . . The perfect pick for sports enthusiasts, ­budding sports journalists, or those who might wonder about the tennis world.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

03/01/2022

Gr 5 Up—This third installment of Feinstein's "Benchwarmers" series features middle grade athletes Andi Carillo and Jeff Michaels in an action-packed tennis season. Jeff is ranked as the number two tennis player, while Andi faces the razor-sharp attention that comes with being a tennis prodigy. In place of heartbreaks, popularity contests, and embarrassing moments, Feinstein portrays a firsthand account of the elite tennis world. With its fresh angle, the narrative becomes an investigation of sports agencies and the startling reality of what adults will do for fame and fortune. Placing Andi and Jeff in the action-oriented, investigative sports journalist's role, Feinstein presents a deep account of elite athletes' young lives. Although the book ends abruptly and some of the gender roles feel antiquated, Feinstein emphasizes the value of sportsmanship, friendship, and, most importantly, a real longing to play the game. VERDICT The perfect pick for sports enthusiasts, budding sports journalists, or those who might wonder about the tennis world.—Jennifer Strattman

School Library Journal

2021-12-15
Game, set, match for two young athletes, on the court and beyond.

Having gone from Benchwarmers (2019) to Game Changers (2020), sixth grade jock buddies Jeff and Andrea finish off Feinstein’s trilogy by leading their school’s tennis squad through a series of hard-fought competitions. Tight and quick as the sports action is, though—and readers will need to be well up on tennis scoring and terminology to keep pace—it’s what goes on between matches that drives the plot. Though Andi has excelled at soccer and basketball, tennis is her best sport—and she’s so good that agents are sidling up to her with business cards and even contracts in hand. His dad being a sports journalist, Jeff sniffs a story…and so it is that the two enlist their parents and other allies to gather documents and testimonials with the aim of exposing the slimy, unethical practice of inveigling talented child athletes into turning pro. Adding in a toxic sports parent and even a teacher/coach who turns out to be working for an agency, the author lays out an alluring but sordid picture of big bucks, glittering promises, and slick legal tricks. Andi remains untempted as she and Jeff battle their way to a tense season finale capped by clear signs that their friendship is (at last) moving to a new phase. Most of the cast is presumed White.

Tests and triumphs for two middle schoolers, folded into a harsh indictment of those who would exploit them. (Sports fiction. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews