Marcus is one of the best players on his junior high school basketball team. He's the highest scorer and the best rebounder, but he's not so great at free throws. When Marcus misses four free throws at the end of an important game and his team loses, he begins to lose his confidence on the court.
With the help of a school custodian and former high school basketball player, Mr. Dunn, he learns about the "granny shot," an unorthodox way of shooting foul shots, and about Rick Barry, the former NBA star who used it throughout his career. Marcus tries the shot and is successful with it, but he resists using it because it looks silly and his teammates ridicule him. But when he finds himself on the foul line again in a crucial game, his desire to help the team win overcomes his pride. In the end Marcus learns the important lesson that appearances don't matter and pride stems from using knowledge and talent to do your best.
A sports history epilogue provides a detailed inside look at NBA player Rick Barry and the infamous granny shot.
"Basketball fans will empathize with an eighth-grade star center's struggle....Marcus learns a valuable lesson about self-image and open-mindedness. Fast-paced court action, vivid game descriptions, and an upbeat ending will lure middle-school and reluctant readers....Bowen scores again with a satisfying blend of historical sports commentary and fiction." --School Library Journal
"If you are a sports fan or just love sports books, you should check out the new AllStar SportStory series by Fred Bowen.... Bowen is a natural when it comes to writing sports stories and informing his readers about the past. These books are perfect for kids ages 8 to 12." --Newsday
"[Bowen's] pace is excellent and he has a knack for efficient evocation...." --Washington Post
# Leveling Information
# Accelerated Reader
# AR Quiz#: 32240
# AR Reading Level: 4.3
# AR Points: 2
# F&P (Fountas & Pinnell)
# F&P Level: O
# F&P Grade: 3-4
# Reading Counts
# Reading Counts Level: 4.2
# Reading Counts Points: 5
# Reading Counts Interest Level: 3-5
ANN BARROW has illustrated six titles in the AllStar SportStory series--The Kid Coach, Playoff Dreams, Full Court Fever, Off the Rim, The Final Cut, and On the Line. Her illustrations have also appeared in Cricket magazine and numerous books. She earned a degree in English literature and in painting from the University of Massachusetts, and has taught courses in children's book illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. Barrow lives with her family in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
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