On the Field with...Derek Jeter (Matt Christopher Sports Bio Bookshelf) [Paperback]

Matt Christopher (Author), Glenn Stout (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Matt Christopher Sports Bio Bookshelf

The number one sports writer for kids discusses the personal life and baseball career of Derek Jeter, the young man from Michigan who achieved his dream to play shortstop for the New York Yankees. Includes career highlights and player's stats. Illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Glenn Stout is the author of more than seventy books including the best selling Yankees Century, Fenway 1912 and his award winning juvenile series "Good Sports."   You can learn more at Glenn's author page, glennstout.net or at goodsportsbyglennstout.com

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316135089
• ISBN-13: 978-0316135085
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.5 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #529,922 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read at the Plate with Derek Jeter, January 26, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: On the Field with...Derek Jeter (Matt Christopher Sports Bio Bookshelf) (Paperback)

The book I'm reviewing is At the Plate with Derek Jeter by Matt Christopher. I think this book deserves five stars. This book is a Derek Jeter biography. A problem that occurs in this story is when he's in high school. He almost gets cut from the team. This tells you how Derek Jeter became a pro baseball player. I would recommend this book to anybody.

Emerson N.J. fifth grade student

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baseball Sensation, December 15, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: On the Field with...Derek Jeter (Matt Christopher Sports Bio Bookshelf) (Paperback)

On the Field with Derek Jeter

On the Field with Derek Jeter is my favorite book because it is about my favorite player dreaming to be the player he is today! The setting is mostly on the baseball field. This biography is written by Matt Christopher and he has lots of good biographies. Derek Jeter is the main character and there are lots of people that helped him make his dream come true, like his dad! My favorite part is when he is assigned to the Minor Leagues! The book starts when his mom and dad meet. The theme of the book would be Derek Jeter's comes true. The book starts very exciting even thow it is very serious.
And I think anyone who is a baseball fan or a Yankees fan will love this book!
- Natatlie,9

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Derek Jeter realizes his dream of playing SS for the Yankees, May 1, 2002

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: On the Field with...Derek Jeter (Matt Christopher Sports Bio Bookshelf) (Paperback)

As with other juvenile biographies in the Matt Christopher "On the Field/Court with..." series, this look at New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter emphasizes work ethic and family life as much as it does achievements on the baseball diamond. Since Jeter dreamed of being the Yankee's shortstop since he was a little boy, the first half of the book follows the "dreams come true" motif, while the second half of the book, covering how Jeter's Yankees won three World Series in his first four seasons in the Major Leagues comes under the "succeeding beyond your wildest dreams" heading. In relating key moments for Jeter at bat, on the bases or in the field, there is an admirable attempt to provide the details and not merely refer to things you might remember having seen on television. But there is always something of an educational purpose behind these sports biographies, so young readers will also learn that despite all his talent, Jeter had to work very hard to become a baseball star. Being considered the top high school player in the country does not mean you are ready for professional baseball, even at the lowest minor league level. Young readers will be informed to learn that Jeter's fielding style and batting swing had to be readjusted to make him a better player. They might also learn something from the relationship he enjoyed with his parents and his attitude towards people and school, as well as towards sports, that make him such an admired sports figure.

I believe this biography is written by Glen Stout, although it is copyrighted by Catherine M. Christopher for whom Matt ChristopherTM is a trademark. It only sounds confusing. One of the fun thing with these books is that they are not written "down" to the level of their readers. You should always keep an eye out for words that will send kids running to their dictionaries. In this book the biggie is found in the following sentence: "Near the end of the season he magnanimously offered to move to third base so Derek could play shortstop for the varsity." Other titles in this series look at Kobe Bryant, John Elway, Wayne Gretzky, Mia Hamm, Lisa Leslie, Tara Lipinski, Sammy Sosa, and Tiger Woods to name but a few. "Matt Christopher" is, by its own admission, the number one sports series for kids and based on the few books I have read to date, I have no reason to suspect there are engaging in hyperbole.