Customer Reviews

Hot Hand (Comeback Kids)

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Hi I am a student of Victoria the buyer of this book and my literacy teacher. If you are a teen kid who is in love with basketball or just likes it a lot then I recommend this book to you. This story takes place in a house and on and off the basketball court. The main character is Billy Raynor and his main conflict is that he is not a team player and seems like he just can't get along with his father on and off the court no matter how hard he tries. The coolest thing about my book is that the author doesn't just say Billy's team is winning; he puts more effort and details in it such as 30 secs. left in the 4th quarter with Billy's team winning by 4 the score is 50-47 and Billy's team has the ball. So if you think the review is good than you should see how good the book is!!!!!!!

Hot Hand: Mike Lupica's Comeback Kids

Ten year old Billy Raynor only lives for one thing, and that's basketball. When he's on the basketball court with his buddy Lenny and his team the Magic, he's truly happy and it seems like all of his problems disappear. Or at least they would if Billy's dad wasn't also the team's head coach. Worse, Billy's parents have just separated and his dad has moved out of the house. And Billy's dad won't get off his back about his playing, insisting that Billy shoots too much and is trying too hard to be a sports hero instead of a team player. Both Billy and his father want to see the Magic go all the way to the championship this year, but even if the team makes it, will the two of them still be father and son when it's all over?

Billy's difficult relationship with his father takes center stage in this novel. Billy's dad is stubborn, opinionated, and has his own ideas about what Billy should and shouldn't do. He often doesn't listen to Billy, and clearly has his own problems to worry about as well. In short, he's the kind of dad we all can be sometimes. While Billy and his father are antagonists throughout the novel, Billy nevertheless still yearns to make him proud. Lupica's depiction of a difficult father and son relationship is quite realistic of their conflict while also avoiding demonizing either Billy or his father. He also portrays how children can often feel trapped within situations larger than themselves, especially those situations (like separation) that may never have a happy ending. The level of the text is appropriate for young readers, and this is an excellent book for a child (especially a boy) who loves basketball or sports, who is caught in the midst of his parents' separation or divorce, or who has a father who may sometimes ride him just a little too hard when trying to teach him important life lessons.

As a Language Arts teacher, I am always searching for books that will get my young male charges into reading, especially those kids who think that athletes don't need to be able to read to succeed. Telling them this just doesn't work, but getting them to read things they can relate to does! Hot Hand is one of those books.

Billy Raynor is a ten year old basketball player. He's good, really good, but he has a problem: Basketball is a team sport. He's got another problem: His dad's the coach of his team. Oh, and he has a few more problems, too. His dad and mom are getting a divorce, his piano prodigy brother, Ben, is loosing interest in playing, his mom is never home, and the local bully won't leave Ben alone. On the plus side, Billy and his best friend, Lenny, have vowed that their Rec League team will go undefeated for the season, and it looks like they're going to make it.

Mr. Lupica has written a book that will hold a young boys attention, while imparting some important life lessons. The vocabulary is fairly easy, but the author seamlessly introduces important words and defines them throughout. The books characters aren't stereotyped the way they are in some of this genre's. Billy has real emotions, and Ben . . . ah, Ben. He's really taking things hard. The only person who is flat is Billy's sister, Emily. She's in high school, and all she does is talk. But it works because that's exactly what Billy's perception of her would be. The story isn't filled with stats and play-by-play, but there's enough to hold a young person's attention if that's what he's into.

Of course, this book will interest girls, too, there's no reason why it wouldn't, but the target audience is boys.

In short: this book is going into my classroom library. Nice job, Mr. Lupica.

bw

5/5

25 jul 2008

Billy passed? Mike Lupica's choice to title the book Hot Hand was perfect. Billy Raynor, a basketball player in the Rec. league, coached by his Dad. His Dad was a tough coach. Billy would make his shots but, his Dad would scream and tell him to involve everyone. I agree with his Dad but, not with his punishments. He kicked Billy out of a playoff game. His parents are divorced and Billy was having a tough time. Billy got suspended from school because he was defending his brother Ben. Ben, my favorite character, was a piano prodigy. I wish I could play piano like him. Billy had a Championship game the same day as Ben's piano recital. The family worked together and found a way to go to both events; Billy had to miss part of his game. At the gym Billy came out hot but, with seconds to spare his dad called timeout and said" I am going with the hot hand yours." I recommend this book to anyone who loves basketball. Mike has Billy tell the story and he has a great flow throughout the book keeping it interesting. Try reading Two-minute drill. Sports fiction lovers read it!

billy has a problem his dad yells at him when he shoots and tells him to pass more his dad even kicked him of the basketball team for one championship game because he did not pass his brothers piano recital lands on his chmapionship game billy teaches his dad what the true meaning of good sportsmanship at the end of the game his dad says « i am going with that hot hand of yours» billy is amazed when his dad says that

Billy passed? Mike Lupica's book Hot Hand was a great book. Billy Raynor is a basketball player in the Rec. league. His dad was his coach and was extremely tough. Billy would make all his shots but, his Dad would scream at him because he would never pass. I agree with his Dad but, not with his punishments. He kicked Billy out of a playoff game. Billy's parents are divorced and he was having a tough time. Billy got suspended from school because he got into a fight. Ben, my favorite character, was a piano prodigy. Billy had a championship game on the same day as Ben's piano recital. The family worked together and found a way to go to both events but Billy had to miss part of his game. At the game, Billy came out hot but, with seconds left his Dad called timeout. "I am going with the hot hand. Yours." He said. One reason I enjoyed this book is because basketball is my favorite sport. This book is great for anyone who loves basketball. Lupica has a great flow throughout the book, keeping it interesting. Also, read Two-minute drill. A Great book for sports fiction lovers!

I have been a big fan of Mike Lupica the author for quite sometime now since, Travel Team and I love this book. At some points it can lose it's luster but it is a great piece of literature. Billy Raynor is a ten year old basketball player who has suddenly been thrust into the position of man of the house when his jerk of a father leaves. This book takes you through the thoughts of a ten year old and is true to the way ten year olds think. This is a great read for kids of any age.