Hot Hand. Mike Lupica's Comeback Kids
Normal Price:$9.99
Our Price:$3.99
Availability:Usually ships in 24 hours
... For more information or Buy from Amazon.com ...
Manufacturer: Philomel
Author: Mike Lupica
Binding: Hardcover
Publication Date: 2007-09-20
Publisher: Philomel
Label: Philomel
Number Of Pages: 176
Features for Hot Hand. Mike Lupica's Comeback Kids:
Small Picture
Medium Picture
Editorial Review
It’s simple. All Billy Raynor wants to do is shoot. After all, he is one of the best shooters in the league. But with his dad as his coach, and his parents newly separated, somehow everything’s become complicated. His brother Ben, the piano prodigy, hardly talks anymore. His mom is always traveling on business. And his dad is always on his case about not being a team player. But when Ben’s piano recital falls on the same day as the championship game, it is Billy who teaches his dad the true meaning of being a team player.
#1 New York Times bestseller Mike Lupica scores from downtown with this new series for young middle-grade readers.
Cached date: AWS Called=true
Customer Reviews
Another Lupica winner! 
2008-08-09
I have been a big fan of Mike Lupica the author for quite sometime now since, Travel Team and I love this book. At some points it can lose it's luster but it is a great piece of literature. Billy Raynor is a ten year old basketball player who has suddenly been thrust into the position of man of the house when his jerk of a father leaves. This book takes you through the thoughts of a ten year old and is true to the way ten year olds think. This is a great read for kids of any age.
Hoop-hoop-hoop! 2008-07-25
As a Language Arts teacher, I am always searching for books that will get my young male charges into reading, especially those kids who think that athletes don't need to be able to read to succeed. Telling them this just doesn't work, but getting them to read things they can relate to does! Hot Hand is one of those books.
Billy Raynor is a ten year old basketball player. He's good, really good, but he has a problem: Basketball is a team sport. He's got another problem: His dad's the coach of his team. Oh, and he has a few more problems, too. His dad and mom are getting a divorce, his piano prodigy brother, Ben, is loosing interest in playing, his mom is never home, and the local bully won't leave Ben alone. On the plus side, Billy and his best friend, Lenny, have vowed that their Rec League team will go undefeated for the season, and it looks like they're going to make it.
Mr. Lupica has written a book that will hold a young boys attention, while imparting some important life lessons. The vocabulary is fairly easy, but the author seamlessly introduces important words and defines them throughout. The books characters aren't stereotyped the way they are in some of this genre's. Billy has real emotions, and Ben . . . ah, Ben. He's really taking things hard. The only person who is flat is Billy's sister, Emily. She's in high school, and all she does is talk. But it works because that's exactly what Billy's perception of her would be. The story isn't filled with stats and play-by-play, but there's enough to hold a young person's attention if that's what he's into.
Of course, this book will interest girls, too, there's no reason why it wouldn't, but the target audience is boys.
In short: this book is going into my classroom library. Nice job, Mr. Lupica.
bw
5/5
25 jul 2008
He's On Fire! 
2008-01-07
Billy passed? Mike Lupica's book Hot Hand was a great book. Billy Raynor is a basketball player in the Rec. league. His dad was his coach and was extremely tough. Billy would make all his shots but, his Dad would scream at him because he would never pass. I agree with his Dad but, not with his punishments. He kicked Billy out of a playoff game. Billy's parents are divorced and he was having a tough time. Billy got suspended from school because he got into a fight. Ben, my favorite character, was a piano prodigy. Billy had a championship game on the same day as Ben's piano recital. The family worked together and found a way to go to both events but Billy had to miss part of his game. At the game, Billy came out hot but, with seconds left his Dad called timeout. "I am going with the hot hand. Yours." He said. One reason I enjoyed this book is because basketball is my favorite sport. This book is great for anyone who loves basketball. Lupica has a great flow throughout the book, keeping it interesting. Also, read Two-minute drill. A Great book for sports fiction lovers!
He's On Fire! 2007-12-21
Billy passed? Mike Lupica's choice to title the book Hot Hand was perfect. Billy Raynor, a basketball player in the Rec. league, coached by his Dad. His Dad was a tough coach. Billy would make his shots but, his Dad would scream and tell him to involve everyone. I agree with his Dad but, not with his punishments. He kicked Billy out of a playoff game. His parents are divorced and Billy was having a tough time. Billy got suspended from school because he was defending his brother Ben. Ben, my favorite character, was a piano prodigy. I wish I could play piano like him. Billy had a Championship game the same day as Ben's piano recital. The family worked together and found a way to go to both events; Billy had to miss part of his game. At the gym Billy came out hot but, with seconds to spare his dad called timeout and said" I am going with the hot hand yours." I recommend this book to anyone who loves basketball. Mike has Billy tell the story and he has a great flow throughout the book keeping it interesting. Try reading Two-minute drill. Sports fiction lovers read it!
