Shots on Goal (Laurel-leaf books) [Mass Market Paperback]

Rich Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Series: Laurel-leaf books | Publication Date: November 8, 2005

It's soccer season, and sophomore Bones Austin and his team are struggling to make it to the district play-offs--against all odds. To make matters worse, Bones has a crush on the girlfriend of his best friend, Joey. Bones and Joey are forced to learn a little something about teamwork, even when hard times seem to be tearing them apart. Rich Wallace returns to Sturbridge, Pennsylvania, in his stunning follow-up to Wreslting Strubirdge, in Knopf Paperback for the first time.  

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this play-by-play account of a sophomore's soccer season at a small-town high school, said PW, "Wallace's ear for locker-room banter and his knowledge of adolescent egos shine through." Ages 11-16.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-10?Life in a small town in Pennsylvania isn't too exciting for 15-year-old Bones and his buddies, but they find ways to amuse themselves. They focus on their soccer, hang out by the Turkey Hill convenience store, and watch girls. Bones and Joey have always been close friends, but suddenly things are different. It starts over a girl but quickly escalates into every part of their relationship?from soccer to their part-time jobs. The tension spreads to the rest of the team, causing problems between teammates and making the coach furious. It takes a while for them to resolve their differences, but both boys come out of the experience with some new knowledge about their lives, and about themselves. Wallace has created a cast of characters that is three-dimensional and interesting. The situations and emotions that Bones experiences are all very real, and young people will relate to them. This is a book that will appeal to many different readers, although non-sports fans may get lost in some of the detailed descriptions of the soccer games. The writing is simple enough to entice reluctant readers. A deftly written book, and a solid addition to any YA collection.?Dina Sherman, Brooklyn Children's Museum, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (November 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679886710
• ISBN-13: 978-0679886716
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 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: #1,272,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rich Wallace is an award-winning author of many novels for kids and teenagers. Recent work includes the Kickers series of soccer novels for kids in grades 2-4; the middle-grade historical novel War and Watermelon, set in the summer of Woodstock; and Sports Camp, about an 11-year-old boy away at camp for the first time. Novels for teenagers including Wrestling Sturbridge, Playing Without the Ball, and Perpetual Check, among others. He is also the author of The Timbertoes feature in Highlights magazine. Visit his web site at www.richwallacebooks.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars shots on goal review, December 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shots on Goal (Laurel-leaf books) (Mass Market Paperback)

I think that "Shots on Goal" was an excellent book. It was great for anyone at the high school level. You don't even have to have to like soccer. he sees perfectly into the sife of most high schoolers dealing with issues such as drugs, girls, and friendship. Overall I would give the book a rating of ten on a scale of one to ten. I think that Rich Wallace should keep on writing.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A book with a lot of potential, but the plot of a soap opera, November 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shots on Goal (Hardcover)

This is a short book about Barry Austin. He lives in a tiny suburb with his mom, dad, and older brother Tommy. Barry plays soccer as well as working as a dishwasher with his best friend Joey. Barry's problem begins with Shannon, the girl that Joey KNOWS Barry likes. All of a sudden Shannon is hanging all over Joey, and Barry is left with Eileen. On top of that, their soccer team was doing well, but now it is beginning to look like the team doesn't stand a chance against Greenfield. What will they do? I found this book to be rather dull. The plot sounds vaguely familiar to a soap opera on TV, and is about as interesting. Maybe it is the plot itself, but neither Barry nor Tommy is very realistic, and their situations are even less realistic. I believe that Rich Wallace has a lot of potential, but I don't understand why he would waste it like this. I would not recommend this to very many people.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Soccer and Friends, March 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Shots On Goal (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Library Binding)

A review By Kayla
Barry, a high school student, struggles between friends and playing soccer. Sturbridge is where he lives and their soccer team has a chance at winning league this year. His best friend Joey, one of the best soccer players on the team, has trouble-staying friends because of their soccer playing. Joey is a ball hog and doesn't pass. Joey thinks that Barry (Bones) and the team aren't playing there hardest. Joey and Bones also have trouble with girls because they both like the same girl and they both get with her. Bones has to deal with pressure from his mom, the soccer team, and Joey.

This story is real easy to read. The words aren't hard and the book just flows through the story. The soccer screens are great. They really tell you what is happening and you can picture it in your head. It talks about stuff that real teens would do like have a party the weekend your parents go away and the jealousy between friends. It shows a great struggle between two friends that are trying to stay great friends. It even shows them getting so mad at each other that they start fighting. It shows problems in the soccer team, some wanting it really bad and others out there just to play. The parts I didn't like is after some chapters it had some inside opinions, poem like things, I didn't get them or like them. They confused me. I didn't know who wrote them and why there were writing them.

I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to whoever liked soccer and enjoyed reading great soccer screens. Also to people who liked reading about friends and their friendship, it has a good story between Joey and Bones. Shots on Goal is a fun and easy book to read.