The Million Dollar Shot (Million Dollar Series) [Turtleback]

Dan Gutman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2004 | Series: Million Dollar Series

Eleven-year-old Eddie gets a chance to win a million dollars by sinking a foul shot at the National Basketball Association finals.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6. Another page-turner from the author of The Kid Who Ran for President (Scholastic, 1996). Eddie Ball, 11, lives with his mother in a cramped trailer in rural Louisiana. Although he dreams of moving to a "regular house," Mrs. Ball's salary at the Finkle Foods Factory is low, and her bills are many. Eddie's best friend is his African-American next-door neighbor and classmate, the poetry-loving, basketball-playing Annie Stokely, who lives with her father. When both adults are laid off from the factory, Eddie enters one of Annie's poems in a poetry contest sponsored by Finkle Foods; the winner gets a chance to sink a foul shot during halftime at the first game of the NBA finals for a million-dollar prize. Early in the book, Eddie wins the poetry contest?but can he make the basket? Shooting lessons from Mr. Stokely improve Eddie's free-throw success rate, but someone seems to be sabotaging the practice sessions. Things become more complicated when Mr. Finkle visits Eddie, admits that his company is having financial troubles, and offers him a bribe to throw an air ball. Gutman expertly builds up suspense to the moment of the shot, milking the throw itself for several delightfully agonizing pages. The story, with occasional basketball tips well woven into the narrative, will appeal to both sports readers and general audiences. Gutman's subtle humor, exciting sports action, and excruciating suspense make this title an outstanding choice for reluctant readers.?Denise E. Agosto, Midland County Public Library, TX
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Dan Gutman is the author of many novels for children, including four other Million Dollar books. He is also the author of theFunny boy books,andVirtually Perfect(winner of the Nevada Young Readers' Award and a Virginia Young Readers' Award Nominee). He lives with his family in New Jersey. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Turtleback: 114 pages
• Publisher: Demco Media (August 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 060629953X
• ISBN-13: 978-0606299534
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,298,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

This is hard. I'm a pretty regular Jersey guy who spent fifteen years trying to write newspaper articles, magazine articles, screenplays, books for adults, and just about everything else before I discovered the one thing I'm good at--writing fiction for kids. I aim for kids who DON'T like to read, and hopefully the kids who DO like to read will enjoy my stuff too. For all the gory details about me, check out my web site.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Million Dollar Shot, March 24, 2001

By 

David Jiang (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Million Dollar Shot (Million Dollar Series) (Paperback)

The Million Dollar Shot is about a boy named Eddie. He lives with his mom in a poor trailer park, but one day Eddie sends a poem into a contest hoping to win. One day he gets selected to shoot for 1 million dollars in New York City. He did shoot it and he got 1 million dollars! The ending is very good, but I won't tell you what it was... you'll have to find out yourself. This book is quite funny and entertaining. This book would've gotten 5 stars but it wasn't very long, if it was longer it would've been a spectacular book! No matter what, this book has got to be read!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a suspenseful story., August 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Million Dollar Shot (Million Dollar Series) (Paperback)

The Million Dollar Shot is an excellent book that's very exciting. There was a lot of suspense and every chapter left 'the ball hanging in mid air.' I give this book and it's author five stars!!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Million Dollar Shot, October 21, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Million Dollar Shot (Million Dollar Series) (Paperback)

The Million Dollar Shot

The Million Dollar Shot is just one of many great sports books by Dan Gutman. Once you pick it up, you will not want to stop. Eddie's mom hates her job, and she does not like her boss at all. He laid her off her job, and she thinks she should get it back. But meanwhile Eddie and Annie are trying to get into this NBA free throw contest in New York City. Annie loves to write poems, and Eddie loves to play basketball. Eddie enters this contest to try to help his mom by getting her job back so that means wining the million dollars, but getting in he has to write a poem and Annie helps him do that. Annie loves to write poems and Eddie loves to play basketball. Eddie and Annie live in the same trailer park so they get to know one another. Annie is a nice friend to send in her own poem. They both like each other really well. They both are really nice to each other. This is just one of great realistic fiction. The conflict in the book is between Eddies mom and her boss/Job, and also between Eddie and wining the million dollars and get his moms Job back. This book is 5th grade and up reading level. Does Eddie Sink the shot that could when him millions? Find out by reading The Million Dollar Shot.