Bad Shot

Taekema, Sylvia. Bad Shot. Part of the Sports Stories series. 2017. 126p. ISBN 978-1-4594-1161-6. Available at FIC TAE on the library shelves.

Cody Wallace is the top basketball player at his middle school. He loves shooting hoops and spends as much time as he can practicing. But when Nick Spinelli moves to the area and begins to come to Cody’s school, everything changes. Nick is as good, if not better, than Cody. He’s got real basketball shoes. His family has season’s tickets to the Toronto Raptors. He plays with a ball autographed by LeBron James. And Nick is personable. He quickly assumes the top dog position with Cody’s friends. Cody feels left behind, with his worn shoes and old basketball.

When team tryouts begin, Cody is excited. Nick shows up as well, however, and soon the two of them are in a contest of wills. Nick is always saying the right thing to Cody, but it always comes out in condescending tones. Nick is trying to undermine Cody, and he successfully gets under Cody’s skin when, during a game, Cody scores in the wrong basket. As Nick’s bullying becomes more aggressive, Cody finds himself liking the game less and less. Can he confront someone whom, to all eyes, is always doing the right thing, and regain his love for the game of basketball?

Fans of basketball will enjoy the vivid descriptions of games and practice. For a similar read about a middle school kid and his love of basketball, take a look at Travel Team.