Penalty Shot (Matt Christopher Sports Classics) [Paperback]

Matt Christopher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997 | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Matt Christopher Sports Classics (Book 51)

After a hiatus from the ice to get his grades back up to eligibility level, Jeff Connors returns to get the cold shoulder treatment from his teammates. During Jeff's absence, a threatening note was discovered in his best friend's locker--written in Jeff's hand. His protests of innocence fall on deaf ears, so Jeff is on his own to discover who's behind the sabotage.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6. In addition to being worried about losing his place on the hockey team because of a low English grade, Jeff becomes a victim of sabotage. He is shocked when Kevin, his best friend, receives a cruel note in Jeff's handwriting. To make matters worse, Jeff gets another low grade on his English paper even after correcting his mistakes with his tutor. He soon discovers that a teammate has been forging his handwriting. Christopher uses straightforward sentence structure and a simple vocabulary. Characters show positive yet realistic values?Jeff in dreading the tutor but knowing he needs help and the culprit in admitting his guilt. The mystery progresses quickly, provides clues that lead to more than one suspect, and reaches a satisfying conclusion. Some readers may not guess the ending, but they will feel successful in organizing the clues in their minds. Libraries needing more hockey stories will want to include this one in their collection.?Blair Christolon, Prince William Library, Manassas, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-5. Christopher's legion of fans will enjoy this fast-paced, action-packed sports story. After getting kicked off the hockey team because of bad grades, talented player Jeff Conner is determined to get back on and keep his starting position during the new season. He does keep it, thanks in part to help from a high-school writing tutor. But then life takes a downward turn when a threatening note forged in Jeff's handwriting is sent to Kevin, his best friend on and off the ice. Although the mystery is the most contrived part of the story, kids will probably like it, especially since Christopher throws in a red herring. Christopher gets the play-by-play scenes and the dynamics between the teammates just right. With a tidy ending that is reassuring, this has a sitcom ease that is sure to guarantee its popularity. Julie Corsaro --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Weekly Reader BCE edition (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316141909
• ISBN-13: 978-0316141901
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.4 x 7.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Games > Sports > Winter Sports

More About the Author

Matthew F. Christopher was born on August 16, 1917, in Bath, Pa. He was the oldest of nine children and a talented athlete, playing baseball, football and soccer in high school. He became interested in writing at the age of 14 and in 1940 had his first story published in a detective magazine. He began writing children's books in the mid 1950's with the publication of THE LUCKY BASEBALL BAT (Little, Brown and Company).

Christopher became well-known for his sports fiction novels for children with over 130 titles bearing his name. He was awarded numerous writing honors from state organizations as well as the 1993 Milner Award. Besides books, he had about 275 short stories and articles published in over 65 children and adult magazines over the years. He is considered America's best selling sports book author.

Matt Christopher and his wife Cay were the parents of four children and the grandparents of ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He died in 1997 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great messages for kids, July 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Penalty Shot (Matt Christopher Sports Classics) (Paperback)

Just read this book with my 6 year old hockey player...he loved it for the hockey action, and I loved it for the messages it sent about teamwork and friendship and overcoming fears. This is a terrific book for a young athlete.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read for Hockey Fans!, May 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Penalty Shot (Matt Christopher Sports Classics) (Paperback)

Penalty Shot was written by Matt Christopher and had a sports-friendship theme. It is a very good book. It is about a boy named Jeff, who the year before had been kicked-off the hockey team because his English grade had slipped. This year he is determined not to let that happen again. He even gets a tutor. Now someone has been changing his composition papers with flunking composition papers. Whoever switched the composition papers, even got into the garbage and dug out a note that Jeff had written to his friend and turned it into a friendship breaking note. Now Jeff has to find out who wants him off the team and who is messing with his friendship. It's a great book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Penalty Shot, January 27, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Penalty Shot (Matt Christopher Sports Classics) (Paperback)

Would you like to play hockey and then get bumped off the team? This happens in Matt Christopher's story Penalty Shot. A person named Jeff was a hockey player, he got bumped off the team last year. He is trying out for the team again this year. Wait till you see what happens! I thought this was a great book, because I love hockey! I think anyone would like this book!