Top of the Order: The 4 for 4 Series

by John Coy

Overview

Jackson's mom is dating. Gig's dad is going to serve in the Middle East. Isaac might be going to a new school. Diego spends his spare time working. These four friends lead different lives, but on the baseball field, they're a strong team—the top of the order. As their last year of elementary school ends, the boys want to have their best baseball season ever. But this year, they might not even have enough players to stay in the league. Then a great player volunteers to join the team. But it's a girl! And she plays with a pink glove! Now the team is coming apart at the seams. Will this end up being the worst season ever?

Here is a story about how life, like sports, can be unpredictable, frustrating, and exhilarating. Top of the Order by John Coy is part of the 4 for 4 series, an action-packed middle grade series for young readers about four boys from diverse backgrounds who deal with family, friendship, and school situations.


“Appealing characters and plenty of baseball action will make this a hit with young sports fans.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Coy effortlessly captures the voices of boys on the verge of adolescence. Jackson and his friends are fully developed.” —School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780312611118
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	03/02/2010
Series:	4 for 4 , #1
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	530L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

John Coy has written several books for children and spends much of his time as a writer-in-residence at elementary schools. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Read an Excerpt

“Run out to the position you want to play,” Coach claps.

I run to short, the best position on the field. Gig races to the mound. Diego takes first and Tony Cerrato’s at third. In the outfield, Isaac’s in center, Steve Stein’s in left, and Cole Gunderson’s in right. Behind the plate, Noah Hauser is catching. But nobody is at second.

As I blow a bubble, I turn to see a clatter on the hill behind first base. A boy on a bike is racing toward us. He pulls up to the fence and leans the bike down.

Then I realize it’s not a boy. It’s Gig’s sister, Sydney. What happened? Why is she here?

She pulls a black glove out of her backpack. “I want to play.”

I look at Gig on the mound. His mouth is open and his eyes are bugging out. Everyone else, including Coach, is staring at Sydney as she walks onto the field.

Who does she think she is?

Reading Group Guide

Discussion Questions
1. "I still think of the divorce and dipped cones together. I never get that kind anymore." (p. 28) Jackson can't help associating the memory of divorce and DQ dip cones. Why? Do you associate certain tastes, actions, sounds, smells, or objects with a bad (or good) event?
2. G-Man tells Jackson that "sometimes you have to challenge yourself," but Jackson's dad say that "sometimes you have to do what you want" (p. 30). Which one do you think is right? When is it better to challenge yourself, and when is it better to do what you want? Does Jackson make the right decision about staying on the Panthers?
3. Why are they so surprised when Sydney comes to join their game? They say she can't because she's a girl, but is that the real reason they don't want her to play? Why is Gig so angry about his sister joining the game? Is it right for them to try to "force her out"? (p. 44-45) What would you do if you were Jackson?
4. Gig says that "Baseball was the one place I didn't have to deal with her. Now she wants to wreck that, too." (p. 47) However, Sydney tells Jackson that "I'm not doing it to him. . . I'm doing it for me." (p. 59) How do Gig and Sydney's points of view differ? Jackson can see both of their perspectives, but to what extent do Gig and Sydney understand what the other is feeling? Who does Jackson decide to side with, and why?
5. How does Sydney react to her teammates' and opponents' teasing? What does her response say about her personality? What would you do if one of your teammates was being teased like the other team teases Sydney? What would you do if you were Sydney? Have you or one of your friends ever encountered bullies? How did you deal with them? (p. 127)
6. If you could send a message to yourself in the future, what would you say? What would you say to yourself one year in the future? What about five or ten years from now? What do you think your future self would think of the person you are now?
7. Jackson's not happy about having to catch instead of playing shortstop. How does he handle having his favorite position taken from him? Is he a better player as a shortstop or as a catcher? What does he learn in his new position?
8. Jackson dreams of being a tree split by lightning. (p. 115-117) What might the different things in his dream represent (running behind all his friends, being stuck in the mud, turning into a tree)? What things have split in his life?
9. How does Jackson make up with Gig when Gig's mad at him? Is there anything Jackson could have done differently to repair their friendship?
-What does Gig do to make up? What do their responses say about each of them? While we see how upset Jackson is about his best friend's silence, we don't get to see Gig's thoughts. What might he be thinking when he acts mad at Jackson? Do you think his thoughts match his words?
10. What do you think the superhero Jackson creates says about him?

11. Follow Hayes' instructions to create a superhero. What's his, her, or its name? What superpowers does your hero have? Write a short story or draw a comic about his, her, or its adventures. (p. 133-136)


Overarching Questions and Activities
4 for 4 Series by John Coy
Top of the Order: 978-0-312-37329-0
Eyes on the Goal: 978-0-312-37330-6
Love of the Game: 978-0-312-37331-3
Take Your Best Shot: 978-0-312-37332-0
Grade Range: 3-7 grade; Age Range: 8-12 years
Discussion Questions
1. "I don't notice day-to-day changes, but when I think back to fifth grade, a lot has changed."(Take Your Best Shot p. 125)
The 4 for 4 series covers seven months, from May of the boys' fifth grade year to November of their sixth grade year. How have Jackson, Gig, Isaac, and Diego changed between Top of the Order and Take Your Best Shot? What specific events in each book changed them or taught them something? Who do you think has changed the most?
Think back to seven months ago. How have you changed since then? What have you learned? What events in your life have caused you to change? Have you changed as much as Jackson, Gig, Isaac, and Diego have?
2. "You have to know what you want. Otherwise, he'll decide for you. . . He'll push, but if you stand your ground with him, he'll respect your decision." (Top of the Order p. 56)
The four boys sometimes clash with authority figures like parents, teachers, and coaches, but at times they have to stand up for what they believe in or what is right for them. When do they admit that they were wrong, and admit that adults were right? When do they stand up for themselves because they know what they want? How do their decisions change them and help them grow?
3. How do Jackson's first impressions of people change after he gets to know them? Does he ever misjudge people, and think a person is different from how he or she actually is? Why? How does he discover what they're really like?
For example, why is Jackson surprised when Ted comes through for him? (Love of the Game p. 151-152)
4. "Right now my best chance to start is switching to defense. I don't care what Gig and Isaac think. I've got to do what's best for me." (Love of the Game p. 77)
Throughout the books, Jackson, Gig, Isaac, and Diego talk a lot about how important it is for them to stick together. However, they sometimes realize that they need to make decisions on their own, even if their friends disagree. How do they each learn to make decisions independently? What do they each decide to do that the others don't approve of?
5. Do each of the boys have a different sport that they're best at and enjoy the most? Which sport is it for each character? Do you have a favorite sport? Is it the same as the one you are best at?
6. What are their different strengths and weaknesses of each of the characters, in sports and in life? Do you find that some of the things that you are strong with in sports are also things that you're strong with in other areas of your life? Do some of the things you struggle with show up in other areas. Or is there a difference between success in sports and success in other areas of life?
7. What new challenges do you think will face the boys during the rest of the school year? The rest of middle school? How do you think baseball will go for them in sixth grade? Will Sydney come out for the team?

8. Which of the characters do you relate to the most? Why? Do the other characters remind you of people you know? Do you think you and some of the people you know would make good characters in a book?

Editorial Reviews

Coy (Box Out) brings his successful combination of relatable characters and sports action to his middle-grade debut...Coy does a good job keeping his story grounded in the concerns that kids this age would have, and his characters . . . are appealing and true to life. Young baseball fans will enjoy the infield banter, Gig's corn-dogs-up-the-nose antics and the grand slam ending.” —Publishers Weekly

“Keeping the tone light and folding in suspenseful game action, Coy underscores the importance of teamwork, bonding, and being open to change both on and off the field.” —Booklist

“Gripping play-by-play and a fast-moving plot will appeal to sports enthusiasts and reluctant readers.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Coy (Box Out) brings his successful combination of relatable characters and sports action to his middle-grade debut. Jackson Kennedy, the affable fifth-grade narrator, lives for baseball. Playing shortstop for his school team helps take the sting off his troubles at home and school: divorced parents, a newly dating mom and middle-school worries about eighth-graders who "make you drink a Coke so fast, you hurl in the garbage can." Jackson and his team have high hopes for the coming season until Sydney-his best friend Gig's sister-shows up to play second base (with her pink glove, no less). Jackson mentally wrestles with this as most boys his age would: she's a good player and the team needs her, but she's still a girl. Coy does a good job keeping his story grounded in the concerns that kids this age would have, and his characters-such as Gig, the goofball whose dad is about to be shipped to Afghanistan, and G-Man, Jackson's baseball-loving grandpa-are appealing and true to life. Young baseball fans will enjoy the infield banter, Gig's corn-dogs-up-the-nose antics and the grand slam ending. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)

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Publishers Weekly

Gr 3-6

Jackson approaches the end of fifth grade with mixed feelings: he's ready for middle school, but word is that eighth graders make life miserable for the incoming class. It's May, though, and now he's looking forward to baseball. The team has some great players, but is down a second baseman, and if one can't be found, the season is going to have to be forfeited. When Gig's sister shows up at practice, Gig is furious. But Sydney quickly shows her stuff, leaving Jackson in a quandary. Does he support Gig by trying to pressure her to quit the team, or does he put his feelings for the team ahead of their friendship? To further complicate matters, Jackson and his brother are shuffled back and forth between their divorced parents' households, and his mother is dating again. The adults in his life want him to challenge himself. Can't they see that his life is already full of challenges? Coy effortlessly captures the voices of boys on the verge of adolescence. Jackson and his friends are fully developed. Gig's perception of his sister as always showing him up comes through clearly, and when he tells Jackson, "Baseball was the one place I didn't have to deal with her. Now she wants to wreck that, too," students will appreciate the dilemma. Gripping play-by-play and a fast-moving plot will appeal to sports enthusiasts and reluctant readers.-Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

School Library Journal

Bored with school, ten-year-old Jackson Kennedy can't wait for summer baseball, but as the season approaches, so do distractions: A girl joins the team (with a pink glove, no less), his mother has begun dating again, middle school looms and his friend's father has been called up for service in Afghanistan. Except for Sydney's joining the team, the other issues stay in the background, and Jackson's first-person narration tells a simple and straightforward tale of individuals who come together to become a team. Sydney handles taunts, pitches aimed at her head, base runners barreling into her and batting woes to earn the respect of her team, though she curiously drops from Jackson's radar as soon as the season ends, and his bond with other boys solidifies as they brace themselves for middle school. Appealing characters and plenty of baseball action will make this a hit with young sports fans. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews