Eyes on the Goal (4 for 4) [Hardcover]

John Coy (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: 4 for 4

Just before they’re due to start middle school, Jackson, Gig, Isaac, and Diego, four sports-loving friends, all attend the same weeklong soccer camp. Diego is an experienced soccer player, and Gig has a natural ability for the sport he never realized. But Jackson and Isaac are split into another group of players—a group with younger, smaller kids. For the first time, both boys aren’t the stars of their team. In fact, they can’t seem to get a handle on soccer. At the same time, Jackson is having a hard time getting a handle on his mom’s deepening relationship with her boyfriend, and her suggestion that they move in with him. And Gig is worried about his father’s deployment to Afghanistan.

 

Here is a story about how life, like sports, can be unpredictable, frustrating, and exhilarating.

 

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3–6—Jackson Kennedy has finished fifth grade, along with Diego, Gig, and Isaac. Diego, an experienced player, has convinced them all to attend a weeklong summer soccer camp at a local college. Initially, the boys are put on separate teams, because Jackson and Isaac are new to the sport. After enjoyable episodes with an alleged ghost and some girl interest, the four work together when Diego convinces a counselor to let them all play as a team for the final tournament. These friends exhibit a good sense of humor along with authentic-sounding complaints and bickering about playing and learning new skills. Personalities are further developed as Jackson finds his niche as a goalie and Diego exhibits humility as well as problem-solving talents on the field. Coy has created a story of just the right length to keep his fans engaged. It is not necessary to have read Top of the Order (Feiwel & Friends, 2009) to appreciate this one. Hints of fall football in middle school indicate that a third book is to follow.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

This second book in the 4 for 4 series (after Top of the Order, 2009), finds the quartet of Jackson, Gig, Isaac, and Diego readying for a trip to soccer camp, even though except for Diego, they’re more taken by sports that don’t bafflingly forbid the use of hands. Like before, Coy includes some issues for character depth, from Gig’s father being sent to Afghanistan to Jackson maybe having to move in with his mom’s new boyfriend, but these take a firm backseat to the action on the field, which Coy describes with straightforward, articulate prose. Light, enjoyable reading for those downtimes between sports seasons. Grades 4-6. --Ian Chipman

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (April 13, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312373309
• ISBN-13: 978-0312373306
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #865,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi, I'm the author of the picture books Night Driving, Strong to the Hoop, Vroomaloom Zoom, Two Old Potatoes and Me, and Around the World. Strong to the Hoop is also available in Spanish as Directo Al Aro and Two Old Potatoes and Me is available in Chinese.

I am a member of the NBA Reading All-Star Team as part of the Read to Achieve program. Crackback, my first young adult novel, is about high school football and my second, Box Out, is about high school basketball.

I am working on a middle-grade series and the first two books, Top of the Order and Eyes on the Goal, are now out. Love of the Game, the third book will be published in October of 2011. I live in Minneapolis and visit schools nationally and internationally.

Check out www.johncoy.com for more information, and yes, it's fine to use the material for author studies.