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Overview
Steven Thomas is one of two lucky winners of the U.S. Basketball Writer’s Association’s contest for aspiring journalists. His prize? A trip to New Orleans and a coveted press pass for the Final Four. It’s a basketball junkie’s dream come true!
But the games going on behind the scenes between the coaches, the players, the media, the money-men, and the fans turn out to be even more fiercely competitive than those on the court. Steven and his fellow winner, Susan Carol Anderson, are nosing around the Superdome and overhear what sounds like a threat to throw the championship game. Now they have just 48 hours to figure out who is blackmailing one of MSU’s star players . . . and why.
Praise for John Feinstein:
“The best writer of sports books in America today.”—The Boston Globe
“Feinstein’s beat, it turns out, isn’t sports; it’s human nature.”—People on A March to Madness
“A basketball junkie’s nirvana.”—Sports Illustrated on A March to Madness
“One of the best sportswriters alive!”—Larry King, USA Today on A Good Walk Spoiled
Synopsis
Steven Thomas is one of two lucky winners of the U.S. Basketball Writer s Association s contest for aspiring journalists. His prize? A trip to New Orleans and a coveted press pass for the Final Four. It s a basketball junkie s dream come true!
But the games going on behind the scenes between the coaches, the players, the media, the money-men, and the fans turn out to be even more fiercely competitive than those on the court. Steven and his fellow winner, Susan Carol Anderson, are nosing around the Superdome and overhear what sounds like a threat to throw the championship game. Now they have just 48 hours to figure out who is blackmailing one of MSU s star players . . . and why.
Publishers Weekly
Two teenage sportswriters try to uncover a blackmail scheme at the NCAA Final Four. "Young basketball fans will most appreciate the caper, but mystery buffs will also turn these pages eagerly," according to PW. Ages 12-up. (July) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
For eighth-grade reporters Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson, winning the national writing contest would have been prize enough. When they receive their all-access tickets to the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament, they are understandably gleeful. Their euphoria comes down a few notches, however, when they overhear a coach pressuring a player to throw a key game. In the March Madness environment, the two young scribes don't know whether they have blundered into the biggest scoop of a lifetime or what threatens to become a near-death experience! Slam-dunk excitement.Publishers Weekly
Two teenage sportswriters try to uncover a blackmail scheme at the NCAA Final Four. "Young basketball fans will most appreciate the caper, but mystery buffs will also turn these pages eagerly," according to PW. Ages 12-up. (July) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.VOYA
Eighth-grade winners of a national writing contest, Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson, become all-access teen reporters to the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament held in New Orleans. After mingling with sportswriters, television personality Dick Vitale (awesome, baby!), and legendary Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski, the wide-eyed teens wander about the massive Superdome. Outside the Minnesota State team locker room, they overhear a grey-haired man tell star Chip Graber to make sure he chokes against Duke or else. Horrified that the future NBA player is being forced to throw the championship game, the intrepid teens spring to action. Using their wits and circumventing NCAA rules (refreshingly, Susan Carol knows her hoops and is an assertive leader), the cub reporters bypass security and confront Chip, offering to help him escape the blackmail plot. As a web of betrayal is unraveled, the trio realizes no one can be trusted, and even Chip is unsure who is actually pulling the strings about his illegal transcripts and who will cash in after the fix. This sports journalist's first young adult novel is set for publication just before March Madness 2005, the story's fast-moving pace will please basketball junkies. Mature readers might not buy into self-assured thirteen-year-olds pulling off brazen schemes, but how the teens outwit bumbling authority figures will appeal to the middle school crowd. Many red herrings and a vast array of adult characters popping up throughout the story perhaps makes this mystery too intricate for reluctant readers, but the insider's view Final Four basketball atmosphere is, well . . . awesome, baby! VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M J (Readable without serious defects; Willappeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2005, Knopf, 256p., and PLB Ages 11 to 15.—Rollie Welch
KLIATT
To quote the review of the audiobook in KLIATT, September 2005: Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson are teenagers who win a journalism contest. Their prize is a trip to the Final Four collegiate basketball championship series in New Orleans, and an opportunity to play sports reporters and write about the event. As they become more comfortable with their mini-celebrity status, they also become creatively bolder and gain access to places and persons usually off-limits to the public. During one of these forays, they overhear a conversation involving a star basketball player and a point-shaving scheme. Thus begins an adventure that will prove far more dangerous than they anticipated. Feinstein, a political and sports writer for the Washington Post, also includes real sports figures: writers, announcers, coaches and players. YAs, especially those interested in college sports, will definitely enjoy this. Never playing down to his audience, Feinstein provides plenty of surprises and plot twists to keep everybody entertained and guessing. KLIATT Codes: JS--Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2005, Random House, Yearling, 251p., $6.50.. Ages 12 to 18.—Miles Klein