Shark Attack

Description

74 pages
$8.95
ISBN 1-55028-620-X
DDC jC813'.54

Author

Year

1998

Contributor

Reviewed by Deborah Dowson

Deborah Dowson is a Canaadian children’s librarian in North Wales,
Pennsylvania.

Review

Matt Tucker is counting on his peewee rep fastball team to win the
county championship this year. He hopes to impress his father with a
trophy to place next to the ones his older brother has on display in the
family room. Unfortunately, a rival team has an amazing new pitcher who
looks to be unbeatable. In desperation, Matt thinks of an underhanded
plan to sabotage the rival pitcher. When his scheme is found out, Matt
is embarrassed and humiliated, but an understanding coach and supportive
family help Matt turn to positive ways to improve his team’s chances
of winning the championship. The Sharks improve their skills, boost team
morale, and win pride and self-respect. Matt’s experience demonstrates
that children can solve problems for themselves and achieve very
positive outcomes.

Shark Attack is an admirable addition to the high-quality Sports
Stories series. The well-written story is right on the mark for the
intended audience of 8- to 13-year-old sports enthusiasts. Children will
find much to appreciate in this wonderful mix of human interest and
sports excitement. The creative and lively main character is easy to
relate to, both in his folly and his wisdom. The addition of drawings by
a 13-year-old is a nice touch, and the theme of the “Sharks” is a
great unifying idea. This enjoyable book is likely to motivate baseball
players to be great sports and is a great choice for any children’s
collection. Recommended.

Citation

Peers, Judi., “Shark Attack,” Canadian Book Review Annual Online, accessed November 14, 2024, https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/18481.