Winners Take All [Paperback]

Fred Bowen (Author), Paul Casale (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Series: Allstar Sportstory

The newest title in the best-selling AllStar SportStory series features fast-paced sports action, off-the-field drama...and a glimpse into baseball's rich history! In order to win an important baseball game, twelve-year-old Kyle claims to have made a difficult catch that he actually dropped. He thus sets in motion a chain of events that he feels powerless to stop. The unearned win gives his team, the Reds, an unfair advantage in the championship series against the Cubs. Everyone-from his teammate to his parents-consider him the hero of the game. But the heady excitement of the praise and attention he receives is not enough to silence his conscience, which starts getting to get the better of him. He is afraid of embarrassing himself and disappointing his family and teammates if he tells the truth, but he is increasingly uneasy in his deception. He even considers deliberating throwing the next game in the series to try to offset the damage. It isn't until his sports-crazed grandmother tells him about Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson, a pitcher whose reputation for honesty was so great that umpires would ask him to make calls during games. Mathewson made the calls-and sometimes against his own team! In the end Kyle learns a valuable lesson about sportsmanship, and realizes that being a hero is only worthwhile if you have earned it. The final playoff game between the Reds and the Cubs provides exciting and nail-biting action that will have young readers on the edge of their seats.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-7-A story with plenty of play-by-play action, a good plot, a valuable lesson, and some interesting baseball history. During an important game, Kyle, 12, falls over the outfield fence while making a catch. The ball falls out of his glove, but he picks it up and pretends he caught it to win the game for the Reds. Jason, a member of the opposing team, saw what happened and later threatens to expose him unless the Cubs win the league championship. Kyle's sports-savvy grandma tells her grandson about Christy Mathewson, a pro pitcher in the early 1900s who was known for his honesty and sportsmanship, but Kyle still maintains his silence. After he scores the winning run in the final game, the Cubs protest the previous controversial catch. The league commissioners hold a hearing, at which Kyle confesses. The Cubs are declared the winners of the questionable game, and the two teams are tied. The Reds then beat the Cubs fairly in the game for the championship. The story is told in an interesting, nondidactic manner that makes it a good baseball tale with a lesson in honesty. Bowen pitches a winner here.-Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WI

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

....he skillfully interweaves fact and fiction and uses historical sports plays and concepts as a backdrop for the story. -- School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers; 1st edition (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561452297
• ISBN-13: 978-1561452293
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,105,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Winners Take All, November 26, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Winners Take All (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Allstar Sportstory) (School & Library Binding)

I am a 5th grade student at Waldron Mercy Academy(FSJ).
Kyle was an amazing baseball player. He always told the truth until...Kyle just wanted to win so bad against this one team called "The Cubs" that he made a fake catch. He thought no one saw him,but he wasn't a hundred percent sure if you asked me. Anyway back to telling the story. Everyone believed him,his dad(who was really proud of him),his mom, gradmother(who kneweverything about baseball and was practically in love with it), his whole team and coach, everyone who saw him, and his best friends Nate and Claire. What will Kyle do if the person who saw him tells that he made a fake catch?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Winners Take All, November 1, 2002

By 

Sammy (Holland, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winners Take All (Paperback)

Have you ever been accused for cheating? We'll Kyle Holt has, the Reds center fielder, When he caught the winning catch to beat the Cubs. Even though Kyle didn't catch the winning ball the ump didn't know so he called it good. So then after the game a kid called him and said" If the Cubs don't win the championship, your secret wouldn't be a secret." Now if you are starting to get into this one and only sport fiction book you should read it. This book is full with interesting things, exciting things and wonderful things too. So I would definitely recommend this book to other kids.
Sammy

4.0 out of 5 stars JJ's review, October 24, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Winners Take All (Paperback)

This book is about a boy named Kyle Holt who is a real good center fielder and they are playing a really good baseball team. Well anyways this really good hitter comes up and he hits over the fence and kyle falls over the fence and acts like he catches it so that make the Reds win. All through the book Kyle doesnt think KNow one seen him but someone did. THIS BOOK IS REALLY GOOD I THINK YOU SHOULD READ IT .