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Feinstein, John
12 Reviews
(3)
YA
Almost-seventeen-year-old Frank Baker is a golf prodigy poised for college. Frank's ambitious, hard-driving father, however, wants him to turn pro immediately. Frank resists with the help of his high-school coach and a former pro-golfer turned journalist. The engaging story is filled with on-the-green action and jargon, which are targeted toward golf fans, but the unexpectedly high drama should draw in others, too.
Reviewer: Jack Forman
(3)
YA
Childhood friends and star football players, Jason, who's Jewish, and Tom, African American, are freshmen at an elite Virginia boarding school. They're shocked by racial biases they encounter, and they set out to expose the ugly truths behind the school's practices. The protagonists are idealistic yet inured to the difficulties they face in this sports story with a thought-provoking look at how schools can propagate prejudice.
Reviewer: Carolyn Shute
(3)
4-6
Triple Threat series.
Alex's baseball season begins with a surprise: his friend Matt wins the appeal of his PED suspension in football (The Walk On). However, Matt's baseball prowess and desire to prove himself challenge their friendship. Series fans will engage with these returning characters as they maneuver jealousy and loyalty within their team, families, and friendships. Dramatized sports action scenes reward baseball fans.
Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan
(4)
4-6
Triple Threat series.
Alex, fresh off his dramatic football season (The Walk On), starts playing basketball and again finds himself resenting an upstart classmate. It's not until around the book's halftime that the somewhat slow story adds real tension when a teammate reveals he is gay. Series fans will enjoy the development of character relationships, as Alex tests his leadership skills off the court.
Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan
(4)
4-6
Triple Threat series.
New freshman Alex Myers has a "golden arm," but he has little chance at quarterback as brusque Coach Gordon's son, Matt, owns the spot. But Matt is supportive of Alex, as is Christine, a school newspaper reporter digging for a scoop about the team. The lengthy underdog story, complete with action-packed football details, feels drawn-out as readers wait for the championship game.
Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan
(3)
YA
Danny works to guide his friend and teammate, Terrell Jamerson, through the trials and temptations of the college recruiting process, as agents, boosters, and other "dudes" look to hitch a ride with the top recruit. Engaging characters (including real-life cameos), intense basketball action, and sports-writer Feinstein's behind-the-scenes background provide an authentic view of a system that can both promote and exploit young athletes.
Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan
(2)
YA
In Feinstein's sixth sports mystery novel, Susan Carol is a world-class swimmer and teen reporter Stevie, her boyfriend. Susan Carol feels pressure to win the gold for lucrative contracts; Stevie wonders how far a corporation would go to ensure its client's victory. The answer is "too far," hence the (quickly and neatly solved) mystery. The Olympic action and intrigue will please fans.
Reviewer: Dean Schneider
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2012
(3)
4-6
In their fifth book, teen newspaper reporters Stevie and Susan Carol cover the Army-Navy football game. They interview coaches and players--and the President of the United States--and expose a betting scheme among the game's officials. As usual, the exciting play-by-play narrative and behind-the-scenes sports action will keep Stevie and Susan Carol's fans turning pages.
Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz
(3)
4-6
Teen journalists Stevie and Susan Carol return in this fourth installment of Feinstein's sports mystery series. They're covering the story of a journeyman pitcher (whose past is more complicated than it first appears) making an unlikely start in the World Series. A mix of baseball action and in-jokes, sports writing, and journalistic ethics enrich the narrative.
Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin
(2)
4-6
"Kid-Sports" co-anchors Stevie and Susan Carol (Last Shot) are planning to cover the Super Bowl when Stevie is unceremoniously dumped from the program. The two stumble on some shady dealings (such as a scheme to hide steroid use), meeting any situation with competency. Fast-paced action propels the plot, and Feinstein's ease with the sports milieu creates a glamorous background.
Reviewer: Betty Carter
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2007
(3)
4-6
Thirteen-year-old aspiring journalists Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson find themselves entangled in another sports mystery, this time at the U.S. Open. This fast-paced novel follows the teens as they help uncover the truth behind a Russian tennis star's disappearance. Tennis fans and mystery lovers alike will be engaged by the behind-the-scenes details and the interesting characters the teens encounter.
Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan
(3)
4-6
As winners of a writing contest, eighth-graders Steven Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson travel to the NCAA Final Four as journalists. In addition to meeting college basketball celebrities, the two also uncover a plot to fix the championship game. As the fast-moving mystery takes off, the book becomes the reader's own press pass to a behind-the-scenes look at the Final Four.
Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck
12 reviews
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