about the author peachtree publishers • 1700...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fred Bowen is the author of Peachtree’s popular Fred Bowen Sports Story and All-Star Sport Story series. A lifelong sports fanatic, he has coached youth league baseball, basketball, and soccer. His kids’ sports column “The Score” appears each week in the KidsPost section of the Washington Post. Bowen lives in Maryland.

http://www.fredbowen.com

1700 Chattahoochee Avenue • Atlanta, GA 30318 www.peachtree-online.com

www.peachtree-online.com 800-241-0113

DISCUSSION GUIDE

THE FRED BOWEN SPORTS STORIES SERIES

Fred Bowen’s fast-paced middle-grade stories offer readers themes of competition, cooperation, facing change, gender roles, overcoming challenges, and new experiences in addition to play-by-play action, snappy

dialogue, and engaging plots. Bowen’s books are not the usual sports-fiction fare; each book loops in a little sports history and includes back matter with fascinating glimpses into that history and the heroes who made it happen.

Peachtree Publishers • 1700 Chattahoochee Avenue • Atlanta, GA 30318

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BASEBALL: Dugout Rivals The Golden Glove The Kid Coach Perfect Game Playoff Dreams Throwing Heat T.J.’s Secret Pitch Winners Take All FOOTBALL: Double Reverse Quarterback Season Touchdown Trouble

REVIEWS “The books in the Fred Bowen Sports Story series are fast-paced, and at just over

100 pages, they’re perfect for reluctant readers…. Young readers will devour these stories, along with their painless lessons, and still have time to join their

friends for games.” —School Library Journal

“Bowen does fantastic sports books.... He is definitely the new Matt Christopher.” —YA Books Central

Hardcourt Comeback: “This entry in the Fred Bowen Sports Story series is flush with

life lessons about perseverance, dedication, and picking oneself up after a hard knock, not to mention loads of on-court action. It reads like a successful drive to

the hoop—quick, purposeful, and effective.” —Booklist

“Excellent reading for sports-oriented students ages 7–12. The exciting narrative

and page-turning action keep junior reader interest peaked.” —Midwest Book Review

“Bowen shares a wonderful trait with that other great sports writer for kids, Mike Lupica; they are both sports journalists. Bowen writes a sports column for kids in

The Washington Post, and the spare, action-orientated writing of the sports journalist draws boys. It also helps that he knows his stuff. Bowen writes sports

stories, not novels with a little sports.” —www.talestoldtall.com

“Fred Bowen never disappoints. His many action-packed novels speak to the hearts and minds of young sports lovers, and he demonstrates know-how and

grace in writing about baseball, basketball, soccer and football.” —Washington Parent Magazine

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BASKETBALL: The Final Cut Full Court Fever Hardcourt Comeback Off the Rim On the Line Real Hoops SOCCER: Go for the Goal! Out of Bounds Soccer Team Upset

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Copyright ©2015 by Peachtree Publishers. All rights reserved.

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ABOUT THE BOOK Jake is pumped about the upcoming season. There’s a new kid on the team who is amazing. His name is Adam and he can do it all—pitch, hit, and field. But then Adam’s talents start to dominate every game and Jake resents all the attention he’s getting. Everything changes, however, when Jake learns something about Adam and something about himself. THEMES Friendship | Jealousy | Empathy | Divorce | Teamwork | Sports | Baseball

Learning that everyone cannot be the “star”

WRITING PROMPTS / DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ALIGNED with COMMON CORE READING STANDARDS

DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTERS 1–3: Chapter 1 ends with Jake thinking this is going to be his year. What does he mean by that? At the end of Chapter 3, Jake is worried and thinks, “Maybe this isn’t going to be my year after all.” What happened? Why did Jake’s mood change? CHAPTERS 4–6: Adam seems like a nice guy. He’s helpful and encourages his teammates.

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But describe Adam from Jake’s point of view. How has Jake’s point of view changed since the beginning of the story? CHAPTERS 7–9: At the end of Chapter 9, Adam’s mom invites Jake to spend the night. Reread that scene. Explain the sentence: “Jake stood in the middle of everyone, feeling as if he were invisible.” CHAPTERS 10–12: How does the setting in Chapter 10—the sleepover at Adam’s house— show a different side of Adam? How does the sleepover affect the way Jake thinks about Adam? CHAPTERS 13–16: At the beginning of the story, Jake wants to be the star of the team and he is frustrated that Adam is getting so much attention. By the end of the story, Jake feels very differently. He doesn’t need to be the star; he is happy to be an important teammate. Why did he change? OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?

Dugout Rivals Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-515-7 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL Q; Gr 4

Discussion Guide prepared by Peggy Jackson

404-876-8761 • 800-241-0113 | fax 404-875-2578 • 800-875-8909 www.peachtree-online.com

Discussion Guide: Dugout Rivals

DISCUSSION GUIDE



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ABOUT THE BOOK When Jamie loses his lucky glove, his parents refuse to buy him a new one. He thinks two guys in the neighborhood—the Porter brothers—stole it and he sets out to get it back. After a tense few minutes secretly rummaging through the boys' garage, Jamie gives up looking for it. He ends up borrowing a glove, but it's not the same as his old one and his self-confidence sinks. He begins to believe in himself when he discovers some interesting items in the back room of a local sports shop. THEMES

Hard work | practice | determination | baseball history | mystery responsibility | personal growth

WRITING PROMPTS / DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

ALIGNED with COMMON CORE READING STANDARDS DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTERS 1–3: How does the author let you know that Jamie cares a lot about his glove? Describe the baseball game in chapter 2. What are the Porter brothers like? How do Jamie and Alex feel about them? CHAPTERS 4–6: How does Jamie feel about going into the park at night to look for his glove?

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How can you tell? Why does Alex think that the Porters stole Jamie’s glove? Could there be other reasons he thinks the Porters stole the glove? How does the author create tension in the scene in chapter 6 when the boys sneak into the Porters’ garage to look for Jamie’s glove? CHAPTERS 7–9: How can you tell that Jamie’s younger brother Brad wants to leave the table in chapter 7? Why do you think he wants to leave? Describe the relationship between Jamie and Brad. Compare Jamie’s borrowed glove (described in chapter 8) to the one he lost (described in chapter 1). Compare how Jamie played with his “golden glove” in chapter 2 with the way he plays with the borrowed glove in chapter 9. CHAPTERS 10–12: What is Pete Bikakis like? What details does the author include about him? How do Pete’s stories about early baseball gloves help Jamie? What does the Honus Wagner quote, “There ain’t much to being a ballplayer if you’re a ballplayer” mean? Why is the word “if” italicized? List some of Pete’s instructions about fielding. CHAPTERS 13–15: Describe the game between the Giants and Braves in three or four words. Compare how Jamie fields the ball in the Braves game with Pete’s fielding instructions. What does this comparison tell you? Describe how Jamie’s feelings toward the Porters have changed over the course of the book. How did Jamie’s glove get lost? How do you know? OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?

The Golden Glove Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-505-8 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL O; Gr 3


DISCUSSION GUIDE

Discussion Guide: The Golden Glove



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ABOUT THE BOOK When the Tigers lose their coach, they decide to coach themselves. It is a fantasy that a lot of kids have, but these kids pull it off. They keep their own stats and come up with their own game plans. In a daring move, they try using the “Williams shift” to stop a home-run hitter on a rival team. The shift worked against Red Sox slugger Ted Williams in the 1940s. But can it work for the Tigers? THEMES

Friendship | cooperation | diversity | secrets | bullying | peer pressure baseball history | personal responsibility | leadership


ALIGNED with COMMON CORE READING STANDARDS DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTERS 1–3: Describe each of these following characters in two or three words: Scott, Drew, Fran, Benny, and Mr. Skelly. Coach Skelly misses a scrimmage and has to leave another scrimmage early. How do the Tigers deal with this problem? CHAPTERS 4–6: How does Benny’s knowledge of baseball history help Scott? How does Scott

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feel about coaching his first official game? How can you tell? What big decision does Scott have to make near the end of the game against the Expos? What is his decision? How does it affect the outcome of the game? CHAPTERS 7–9: What device does the author use in chapter 7 to tell the reader how the Tigers are doing? What solutions do the kids suggest to help the team? Compare and contrast Scott and Drew’s reactions to the suggestions. What are some things Benny’s statistics tell Scott about the Tigers? What secret does Scott learn about Benny? Why does Benny want Scott to keep it a secret? CHAPTERS 10–12: Looking at the statistics in chapter 10…

• Who has the highest batting average on the Tigers? • Who has the highest on-base percentage? • Who is the team’s worst hitter?

Why do you think Scott tells Drew about Benny’s secret? Compare and contrast Scott’s get-together with Benny in chapter 12 to Scott’s get-together with Benny in chapter 8. What is the Williams shift? What are the reasons Benny thinks it will work against Eddie Wilson? CHAPTERS 13–15: Why does Scott toss the ball to Benny during the team meeting in Chapter 13? How does this show how Scott’s attitude has changed toward Benny and the statistics he has been keeping for the team? Describe how Drew’s attitude toward Benny has changed. Compare and contrast Scott’s coaching in the last game against the Red Sox to his coaching in earlier games. OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?

The Kid Coach Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-506-5 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL P; Gr 3


DISCUSSION GUIDE

Discussion Guide: The Kid Coach

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ABOUT THE BOOK Isaac is a serious pitcher and he’s determined to pitch a perfect game: no hits, no runs, no walks, and no errors. He gets close a couple of times, but then a batter gets on base and Isaac totally loses his cool on the mound. He gets so mad that his pitches start missing their mark and he can’t get his head back in the game. Then Isaac learns about a Special Olympics Unified Sports team and meets an interesting athlete who shows him a new way to think about being perfect. THEMES

Inclusion | Diversity (intellectual abilities) | Friendship | Sports | Baseball Basketball | Special Olympics Unified Sports | Problems with perfectionism

Hurtfulness of the word “retarded”


ALIGNED with COMMON CORE READING STANDARDS DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTER 1: Describe Isaac. What does the author tell you about him just by showing you how he puts on his baseball uniform? What is a perfect game in baseball?

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CHAPTER 2: Look at your description of Isaac. What more can you say about him? What scene in this chapter supports your description? Note: Some baseball terms may be unfamiliar, but don’t worry. Almost all these words can be defined through the use of context clues. Examples: • Error: missing a catch during a game • Patter: talking done by players on the field to keep themselves

pumped up • Dugout: area where the team sits CHAPTER 3: What does the scene with Isaac and his dad in the backyard tell you about the dad and their relationship? CHAPTER 4: Isaac thinks he pitched a strike, but the umpire calls out, “Ball one.” Later Coach Park says to Isaac, “I thought you were going to lose it when the umpire made that call.” What does Coach Park mean by “going to lose it?” Note: More baseball terms that can be defined with context clues: • Bullpen: area near the field where pitchers warm up by throwing

practice pitches • Infielders: the players who play close in, near the bases • Foul ball: a ball hit by a batter into foul territory, off the playing field. CHAPTER 5: Coach Park’s basketball team is part of Special Olympics Unified Sports. Why is this kind of team called Unified Sports? Why do you think Coach Park wants Isaac to be part of the team? What is Isaac’s first impression? CHAPTER 6: Why is Isaac glancing around the field while he is talking with Kevin? Why does he just want the conversation to end? CHAPTER 7: How is Kevin changing? How is Isaac changing? How are they similar to each other?

Discussion Guide: Perfect Game

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Perfect Game Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-625-3 HC: 978-1-56145-701-4 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • GRL O; Gr 3

Discussion Guide prepared by Cindy Wrenn

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CHAPTER 8: Isaac says that the way he plays sports is a lot different from the way Special Olympics athletes play sports. What reasons does he give? Maya completely disagrees. What reasons does she give? CHAPTER 9: Why does Coach Park tell Isaac about pro baseball players who pitched perfect games? What does Maya mean when she tells Isaac to “just be perfect enough”? CHAPTER 10: What scenes in this chapter show that Kevin is changing in important ways? CHAPTER 11: Compare Chapter 3 with this chapter. They are both about Isaac and his dad practicing pitching. What gives you clues that things are different for Isaac in this chapter? CHAPTER 12: Mrs. Canavan tells Isaac a lot of details about Kevin that he didn’t know. How do you think that changes the way Isaac thinks about Kevin? CHAPTER 13: In Chapter 5, Isaac used the word “retarded” to describe the Special Olympic athletes. But in this chapter, he gets mad when Jackson uses the word. Why does Isaac feel so differently about the use of that word now? CHAPTER 14: When Kevin makes a basket at the end of the chapter, Isaac is so thrilled that he feels like he pitched the last out in a perfect game. Why is Isaac so excited? CHAPTER 15: Do you think Isaac would have made the Thunderbolts if he had tried out before he joined the Unified Sports team? Why or why not? CHAPTER 16: Reread the last two paragraphs. Earlier Isaac told Coach Park that he really didn’t bowl much, but when Kevin says, “I’m a bowler,” Isaac says, “Then I am too.” Why does he say that?


Discussion Guide: Perfect Game

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OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS: What did you learn about Special Olympics Unified Sports that you did not know before? What did you learn about pro baseball players who pitched perfect games? How did the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or plot of the book?



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ABOUT THE BOOK Brendan is a crackerjack center fielder on a team going nowhere. He’s frustrated and he’s mad. His parents are no help. His father is a jazz musician and his mother is a doctor. When it comes to sports, they are clueless. But then Brendan’s sports-crazy uncle takes him to a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. He tells Brendan some interesting stuff about the hard-luck Cubs and suddenly Brendan starts to see his situation from a different angle. THEMES

Dealing with disappointment | grit | persistence | effort | friendship being a good teammate | baseball history | family connections | music


ALIGNED with COMMON CORE READING STANDARDS DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTERS 1–3: How does the author show the reader that Brendan is a very good baseball player? How does author show that Brendan is not a very good teammate? What does Brendan want to happen this baseball season? Why does he think it will be difficult to accomplish this? Describe Brendan’s mother and father. Do they seem interested in Brendan’s baseball team at the beginning of the book?

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CHAPTERS 4–6: What mistake does Brendan make at the end of the game against the Marlins? Why does he make the mistake? Brendan’s father compares playing music to being on a team. What are some of the similarities? Can you think of some more? Compare and contrast Uncle Jack and Brendan’s dad. How are their personalities different? How are they similar? CHAPTERS 7–9: List the details the author includes about Wrigley Field. Why do you think he included them? Why does Uncle Jack throw back the home-run ball that Brendan caught? How does this make Brendan feel? Compare and contrast the advice Uncle Jack gives Brendan in chapter 8 to the advice his father gave Brendan in chapter 6. Who would always say, “Let’s play two?” What does the phrase mean? CHAPTERS 10–12: What Cub players get hits in the last inning of the game against the Yankees? Who does not get a hit during that inning? What lesson does that teach Brendan? Compare and contrast how Brendan plays with his teammates in the game against the Reds in chapters 12 and 13 to how Brendan played with his teammates in the game against the Reds in chapter 1. CHAPTERS 13–15: The ending of the game in chapter 13 is a surprise. What does the author do to create this surprise? The sentence “The ball was gone” is used at the end of chapters 7 and 13. Compare and contrast what the sentence means in each chapter. Compare what Brendan says about what “Let’s play two” means to the advice he received from his father and Uncle Jack. OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?

Playoff Dreams Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-507-2 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL P; Gr 3


DISCUSSION GUIDE

Discussion Guide: Playoff Dreams

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ABOUT THE BOOK Jack throws the fastest pitches in the league, but his blazing fastballs are all over the place. He’s racking up a lot of walks instead of strikeouts. A coach tries to show him some new pitches, but Jack loves bringing the heat. Will his fastball be his downfall, or can he change his game and start winning?

THEMES Friendship | Sports | Baseball | Pitching | Professional baseball pitchers

Working hard to get better | Being open to change Not being so quick to judge others


ALIGNED with COMMON CORE READING STANDARDS DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTER 1: Describe the setting and what is happening. What does the first chapter already tell you about the main character Jack? CHAPTER 2: What do you learn about Jack in this chapter? How is that different from what you learned in Chapter 1?

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CHAPTER 3: Why is Jack suddenly interested in his sister’s new boyfriend Finn? What do they have in common? How can Finn help Jack? CHAPTER 4: At the end of the first pitching lesson, Finn tells Mr. Lerner that Jack “could be a real good pitcher if he works at it.” But when Jack hears this, he “rolls his eyes.” What does that expression mean? Why does Jack roll his eyes? CHAPTER 5: What does Jack find out about Finn? How will that affect whether he wants Finn to help him anymore? CHAPTER 6: What do the statistics tell Jack about his pitching in this game? Compare his first inning statistics with the statistics in his next two innings. What might have helped him pitch better? CHAPTER 7: Think about the way Jack pitches. How does that compare with the way he plays Ping-Pong? How does his style compare with Andy Wong’s, the new guy who is also an excellent Ping-Pong player? CHAPTER 8: Why does Finn tell Jack about Steve Dalkowski and Sandy Koufax? What is the biggest difference between Finn’s idea about pitching and Jack’s? Who do you think is right? CHAPTER 9: Jack’s teammates congratulate him after he is taken out of the game. What is Jack’s reaction to their congratulations? CHAPTER 10: Andy Wong beat Jack in the Ping-Pong tournament. How did the way Andy played help Jack understand what Finn has been trying to tell him all along? How does Jack’s e-mail to Finn show that he is starting to change his opinion about Finn?

Throwing Heat Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-540-9 HC: 978-1-56145-573-7 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL R; Gr 4


Discussion Guide: Throwing Heat

DISCUSSION GUIDE

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CHAPTER 11: Compare Jack’s reaction to Finn’s coaching now with his reaction to Finn’s coaching in Chapter 8. What has changed? CHAPTER 12: Examine the statistics for Jack’s fastballs and change-ups. How do the statistics show that he is getting better? Look at his stats for May 8. Nine fastballs out of 40 pitches were strikes, and eight change-ups out of 20 pitches were strikes. Was he more successful with his fastballs or his change-ups? Explain your answer. CHAPTERS 13–14: The last line in Chapter 14 is “Jack couldn’t wait to tell Finn.” Why is he excited to tell Finn about the game? What does that last line show about Jack and his relationship with Finn? CHAPTER 15: What is the big, overall lesson Jack learns from his pitching sessions and talks with Finn? OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?


Discussion Guide: Throwing Heat



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ABOUT THE BOOK T. J. desperately wants to be a pitcher, but he’s small and his pitches don't pack any power. Then he discovers a crazy pitch used by a real-life major leaguer in the 1940s. When he tries it out, his teammates laugh—until they try to hit it! But will T. J. get the chance to use it in a real game? THEMES

Perseverance | grit | friendship | baseball history | flexibility innovative thinking | learning


DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTERS 1–3: What is T. J.’s problem? Why is he so frustrated? How do his teammates treat T. J. at practice? Compare and contrast how T. J. pitches at baseball practice and how his father pitches at the softball game. CHAPTERS 4–6: Compare and contrast how T. J. pitches in chapter 1 and how he pitches in chapter 4. Why does T. J. get a chance to pitch in a real game? Describe Mr. Upton’s reaction to T. J.’s pitching in chapter 6.

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CHAPTERS 7–9: Look at the statistics on page 48. What do the statistics tell you about Rip Sewall? Did Sewall win more games than he lost? Did he strike out more batters than he walked? Describe the Pirates reaction when T. J. wants to pitch against the Cardinals. Compare that reaction with how they feel after T. J. pitches at the Pirates practice. CHAPTERS 10–12: Describe the game between the Pirates and Cardinals. Compare the two pitchers: T. J and Chris Elmer. What does Kevin Vincent say when the Pirates carry T. J. off the field after the game? Compare this to what Kevin has said about T. J.’s pitching in chapters 1 and 8. OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?

T. J.’s Secret Pitch Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-504-1 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL O; Gr 3


DISCUSSION GUIDE

Discussion Guide: T.J.’s Secret Pitch

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NOTE: This version of Brooks Spencer’s Guided Novel Study is abridged and includes additions from the author where noted. ABOUT THE BOOK Kyle, a good kid, makes a bad decision to cheat in a big game. He fakes a catch to clinch the win against a long-time archrival. His teammates go wild with victory. But suddenly Kyle doesn’t feel so good. His conscience is bugging him. And he feels like he’s keeping a secret from his teammates, especially Claire. Kyle and Claire are good friends and her praise makes him very uncomfortable. But Kyle doesn’t want to come clean and give up his hero reputation. Eventually he concocts a scheme to secretly throw a game to balance the false win and make his team even in the standings with their archrival. Meanwhile a subplot has been building. Another kid actually saw the fake catch and is threatening to report Kyle to the Youth Baseball Commission. He says that he will keep Kyle’s secret on one condition: that Kyle’s team doesn’t win the championship! Kyle feels trapped. He desperately wants his team to win the trophy, but if he plays hard and they win, the other kid will blab and Kyle’s secret will be out—everyone will know he cheated. He wishes he could put his life on rewind—he wouldn’t fake that catch again. But there’s no rewind button in life, so what can he do now? THEMES

Baseball | Realistic fiction | Sports history | Friendship | Honesty Responsibility | Personal integrity | Personal character

Problems with secrets and the long-term benefits of doing the right thing Great and honest baseball pitcher Christy Mathewson

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PRE-READING STRATEGIES • Build interest around the book with which you are about to spend a few

weeks. • Read aloud one of the great picture books about baseball (see list in this

guide). My favorite for this is Teammates by Peter Golenbock. The story is based on actual events.

• Have students take this quiz silently on a scrap sheet of paper. The final answer will be what sport you are describing. o What sport has Angels, Giants and Pirates? o In what sport are diamonds needed? o In what sport is stealing encouraged? o When is “going home” okay when you are in the middle of playing

game? After going over the answers, work with students to brainstorm and make a list on the board of other facts they know about baseball.

• Ask how many students have played T-Ball. How many students have gone on to play in other leagues? How many girls switched to softball? What are three differences in baseball and softball? (size of ball, number of players, the way the ball is pitched) What’s your favorite professional team? Who’s your favorite professional player, past or present?

• Bring in an old transistor radio if you have one. Baseball games were broadcast live way before they were ever on TV. On YouTube, you can listen to famous announcers like Vince Scully and Phil Rizzuto, or famous songs like “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” You can watch/listen to Lou Gehrig’s moving speech about retiring because of illness but feeling lucky to have lived such a great life.

• If your students understand puns, play the classic WHO’S ON FIRST routine by Abbott and Costello. Listen to it, then draw a baseball diamond on the board and label the players. Listen to it again and discuss.

• Kyle’s grandmother is called “Honsey” in Winners Take All. Ask your students what they call their grandmothers and why. Traditional in the family? What the oldest grandchild called her? Accidental mispronunciation? Note from the author Fred Bowen: When writing Winners Take All, I was scheduled to do an online chat with students as part of a program called The Read In. I had to practice for it by “chatting” online with the director’s grandmother, who turned out to be a huge baseball fan. Her online screen name was Honsey. The character in the book was going to be a grandfather but after my “chat,” I changed it to a grandmother and called her...Honsey.

Winners Take All Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-512-6 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL Q; Gr 4

Discussion Guide prepared by Brooks Spencer

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Discussion Guide: Winners Take All

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The following writing prompts give students a chance to pause and think about the story and the important issues it raises. Their written responses provide a great opportunity to practice their writing. After you have read aloud to your students and they have finished answering the prompts, gather them together for a whole-class discussion. They have already thought about the story and will have a lot of opinions. Use the Wrap-Up Questions at the end to jumpstart the conversation. CHAPTERS 1 & 2: Choose A or B and write your response:

A. Kyle’s favorite place in the world is the town baseball field, especially when his team is playing the Cubs. Describe your favorite place in the world.

B. The Cubs players, coaches, and fans yell at the umpire when he rules against them and they lose the game. What do you think the umpire is thinking when everyone is yelling at him? (Think about how you feel when someone is yelling at you.)

CHAPTERS 3 & 4: Choose A or B and write your response:

A. Teamwork is an important part of sports. Describe the kind of person who would make a good teammate. Now describe the kind of person whose behavior would hurt the team.

B. Let’s say that Kyle decides to tell his teammates right away that he faked the catch. Think about what he would say. Think about how Nate or Claire would react. Write a short scene starting with this line: Kyle’s teammates gathered around and tried to lift him up on their shoulders, but he twisted free and said:


A. Think about the setting of this chapter. What kind of mood does the author set? What words or phrases does he use to set that mood?

B. Kyle says, “I’m not a cheater. I made a mistake, that’s all.” What do you think about that statement?


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A. How important is attitude in sports and in school? Write about a time when you had a bad attitude and things turned out badly, or when you had a good attitude and did better than expected.

B. Nate and Kyle play in a playground basketball game against Bryan Ford. There are no referees. Do you think that kids' games can be fair without grown-ups enforcing the rules? Why or why not?


A. Kyle is hoping that the caller didn’t really see him drop the ball. Kyle wants to keep his cheating a secret. Can you think of a time that you were keeping a secret from somebody? How do you think Kyle will feel if he keeps his cheating a secret?

B. Honsey loves baseball. If you could see into her brain, you would see a lot of baseball facts. Write about what someone would see if he or she could look into your brain.


A. It looks as if the Cubs coach is going to publicly accuse Kyle of faking the catch. Write a short letter to Kyle and tell him what he should do.

B. Kyle’s team has won the championship. He didn’t cheat this time, but he doesn’t feel like celebrating. Why not?


A. How would you feel if you were one of the Reds or one of the Cubs standing in the room when Kyle admits that he really didn’t make the catch?

B. Do you think the commissioners made the right decision? Should they have benched Kyle (not let him play) in the final game? Why or why not?


A. Circle two words from the list here and explain why you think they best describe Kyle. honest sneaky happy sad good bad kind mean

B. Kyle spots Jason right after the game, but he doesn’t care. Why doesn’t seeing Jason bother Kyle anymore?


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1. b 2. c 3. c 4. a 5. b 6. a 7. c 8. b 9. c 10. a 11. a 12. c 13. b 14. a 15. c 16. b 17. c 18. b 19. c 20. b 21. b 22. c 23. c 24. c 25. c 26. a 27. a 28. a 29. c 30. b 31. b 32. b 33. c 34. b 35. c 36. b 37. c

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THE REAL STORY BONUS SECTION: Choose A or B and write your response:

A. Honsey admires Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson. Write about a ball player or other grown-up whom you admire.

B. Christy Mathewson would tell the truth even if the truth helped the other team. What do you think his teammates thought about him?

WRAP-UP QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION: • What do you think is the worst part of Kyle faking the catch? • Kyle almost told Claire that he had faked the catch. How do you think

Claire would have reacted if he had? How would you have reacted? • Would Kyle have ever told the truth if Jason had never discovered the

cheating and told Coach Rolfe about it? • How does this famous expression apply to Kyle: “Oh, what a tangled

web we weave, when first we practice to deceive”? • Playing to win is exciting and fun. And winning a tight game is especially

thrilling. But Kyle wants to win so much that he makes a bad decision. Why does he feel so much pressure to win?

AFTER YOU READ • Have fun with baseball idioms and get parents involved too! The English

language is full of idioms that come directly from the game of baseball— “Give me a ballpark figure,” “I’ll take a rain check,” “Touch base with me later.” (See the idiom activity sheet at the end of this guide.) Have your students ask their parents (and other grown-ups they know) for examples and then keep a running list in the classroom.

• Give each student a copy of the Winners Take All Multiple Choice Review Worksheets at the end of this guide. You can give it to them after finishing the book or, give it to them in sections after each group of chapters. (Answer key is provided at the end of this page.)

• Give each student a copy of the Winners Take All Fact or Opinion Worksheet at the end of this guide. Answer key is provided at the end of this page.



ANSWER KEYS Multiple Choice Review Fact or Opinion?

1. F 2. F 3. O 4. F 5. F 6. O 7. F 8. O 9. O 10. O

Figu

ring

Out

Idio

ms

Win

ners

Tak

e A

ll N

ame:

___

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

D

ate:

___

____

____

____

_ Id

iom

s ar

e w

ords

or

phra

ses

that

don

’t m

ean,

lite

rally

, wha

t the

y sa

y. “

Hol

d yo

ur to

ngue

” do

es n

ot m

ean

stic

k yo

ur to

ngue

out

and

hol

d it

with

you

r fin

gers

! It m

eans

“B

e qu

iet!”

We

use

base

ball

idio

ms

all t

he ti

me.

See

if

you

can

“tra

nsla

te”

wha

t the

idio

ms

in th

e fo

llow

ing

sent

ence

s m

ean.

1.

We

have

to “

touc

h ba

se”

with

our

mot

hers

whe

n w

e le

ave

the

mov

ies.

2.M

r. L

ee “

wen

t to

bat f

or m

e” w

hen

I th

ough

t I h

ad lo

st m

y ho

mew

ork.

3.D

anny

and

Geo

rge

are

read

y to

“gi

ve th

eir

pitc

h” fo

r ex

tra

rece

ss.

4.W

e ne

ed to

get

“a

ballp

ark

figur

e” fo

r th

e co

st o

f the

pic

nic

supp

lies.

5.I

have

to b

abys

it to

nigh

t so

I’ll

have

to “

take

a r

ain

chec

k” o

n ha

ving

piz

za w

ith y

ou.

6.Ja

mie

“hi

t a h

omer

un”

with

his

sci

ence

pre

sent

atio

n!

7.T

he s

ixth

gra

de “

drop

ped

the

ball”

in th

e K

eepi

ng Y

our

Hal

l Cle

an c

ompe

titio

n.

8.T

he b

oys

wer

e “o

ut in

left

field

” w

hen

it ca

me

to le

arni

ng n

ew d

ance

ste

ps.

9.M

rs. J

ones

is o

ut to

day

so M

r. M

onac

o is

our

“pi

nch

hitt

er.”

10.M

r. P

arke

r’s

got a

new

job.

He’

s “i

n th

e bi

g le

ague

s” n

ow.

Ext

ra C

red

it: W

rite

the

mea

ning

of t

hese

oth

er b

aseb

all i

diom

s on

the

back

of t

his

pape

r:

“off

base

,” “

two

stri

kes

agai

nst h

im/h

er,”

“st

ruck

out

,” “

step

ped

up to

the

plat

e,”

“kno

cked

it o

ut o

f the

par

k,”

“on

the

ball,

” “t

hrew

a c

urve

bal

l,” “

play

ing

hard

ball,

” “t

he b

ases

are

load

ed,”

“it’

s th

e bo

ttom

of t

he n

inth

in

ning

”

Perm

issi

on to

rep

rodu

ce a

nd d

istr

ibut

e th

is pa

ge h

as b

een

gran

ted

by th

e co

pyri

ght h

olde

r, P

each

tree

Pub

lishe

rs. ©

2015

. All

righ

ts r

eser

ved.

Fact

or O

pini

on?

Win

ners

Tak

e A

ll N

ame:

___

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

D

ate:

___

____

____

____

_ Pl

ace

an “

F” b

esid

e th

e st

atem

ent i

f it i

s a

FAC

T (c

an b

e pr

oven

or

veri

fied)

. Pl

ace

an “

O”

besi

de th

e st

atem

ent i

f it i

s an

OPI

NIO

N (r

epre

sent

s ho

w s

omeo

ne fe

els

abou

t som

ethi

ng).

___

1. C

hris

ty M

athe

wso

n w

as a

maj

or le

ague

bal

l pla

yer

in 1

910.

___

2. M

athe

wso

n w

as o

ne o

f fiv

e pl

ayer

s in

the

first

gro

up a

dmitt

ed to

the

Bas

ebal

l Hal

l of F

ame.

___3

. T

y C

obb

was

one

of t

he d

irtie

st p

laye

rs e

ver

to p

lay

the

gam

e.

___4

. M

athe

wso

n at

tend

ed B

uckn

ell U

nive

rsity

whe

re h

e pl

ayed

foot

ball,

bas

ketb

all,

and

base

ball.

___5

. In

his

car

eer,

Mat

hew

son

pitc

hed

eigh

ty s

huto

uts.

___

6. M

athe

wso

n w

as th

e be

st p

itche

r of

his

tim

e.

___

7. M

athe

wso

n’s

grea

t mem

ory

help

ed h

im a

s a

pitc

her.

___

8. T

om K

ite w

as n

ot a

s gr

eat a

n at

hlet

e as

Mat

hew

son.

___

9. J

ustin

Leo

nard

mad

e a

very

bad

dec

isio

n to

cou

nt th

e ex

tra

stro

ke if

no

one

saw

it.

___

10. P

laye

rs s

houl

dn’t

have

to c

all p

enal

ties

on th

emse

lves

in g

olf.

BO

NU

S: P

ract

ice

your

fact

and

opi

nion

ski

lls b

y w

ritin

g tw

o fa

cts

and

two

opin

ions

bas

ed o

n W

inne

rs T

ake A

ll.

Perm

issi

on to

rep

rodu

ce a

nd d

istr

ibut

e th

is pa

ge h

as b

een

gran

ted

by th

e co

pyri

ght h

olde

r, P

each

tree

Pub

lishe

rs. ©

2015

. All

righ

ts r

eser

ved.

Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, Peachtree Publishers. ©2015. All rights reserved.

3

Multiple Choice Review Winners Take All Name: ___________________________________________ 1. Chapter 1: “Rally caps” is a term used to encourage teammates

and fans to do what with their hats or caps? a. throw them in the air b. turn them around backwards c. exchange them with the person next to them

2. Kyle didn’t seem to like Bryan Ford, but a. he was his cousin b. they had always been on the same team c. he respected Bryan’s ability as a hitter

3. Chapter 2: Kyle almost immediately regretted faking the catch

when a. Bryan wanted to pick a fight b. his dad left the ballpark in disgust c. the teams’ parents were arguing with each other over the call

4. The umpires were clearly having a problem with Kyle’s catch

because they a. had to get out the rule book b. had to call the supervisor of umpires to make the call c. decided to flip a coin

5. Chapter 3: Why did Kyle not want to be carried on his

teammate’s shoulders? a. he was afraid of heights b. he was feeling guilty about the fake catch c. he was afraid they would drop him

6. Kyle’s grandmother, Honsey, seemed to be an expert on a. baseball facts b. knitting and crocheting c. knowing when someone was hiding their feelings

4

7. Chapter 4: What really spoiled celebrating the victory with Claire? a. The ice cream shop was closed b. Claire had invited Bryan to come c. The anonymous phone call to Kyle’s house

8. The anonymous caller claimed to have a. seen Kyle make the catch b. seen Kyle not make the catch c. seen Claire make the catch instead of Kyle

9. Chapter 5: What did the caller threaten to do? a. go to the police b. write a letter to Kyle’s grandmother c. tell the whole league Kyle was a cheater

10. What was Claire’s reaction to Jason’s threat? a. she believed Kyle had caught the ball b. she laughed because she thought it was ridiculous c. she didn’t care because everyone knew that Jason was a liar

11. Chapter 6: Kyle’s favorite bat was a a. Ken Griffey Jr. model b. Babe Ruth slugger model c. Mickey Mantle autographed model

12. During the Reds vs. Giants game, Kyle intentionally a. hit a homerun b. let the pitcher hit him c. struck out

13. Chapter 7: “The score was knotted at 6-6.” Means a. the score was confused b. the score was tied c. the score was over

5

14. If the runners are “at the corners,” where are they on the field? a. 1st and 3rd b. 2nd and 3rd c. 1st and 2nd

15. Nate and Kyle played ____ with Bryan at the park. a. Frisbee b. bike relays c. basketball

16. What caused Bryan to get so angry during the game? a. Nate called a foul against him b. Kyle called a foul against him c. Claire said he shot like a wimp

17. Chapter 9: What had Honsey been watching on TV when Kyle

thought she was asleep? a. her favorite soap opera story b. a movie c. a golf tournament

18. In which sport do the players call penalties on themselves? a. tennis b. golf c. basketball

19. What player, who was so honest the umpire sometimes asked him

to make the call, did Honsey tell Kyle about? a. Tiger Woods b. Tom Kite c. Christy Mathewson

6

20. Honsey believed a. “what goes around, comes around” b. “a gentleman is expected to tell the truth” c. “golfers are more honest than baseball players”

21. Chapter 10: “Kyle’s problem clung to him like the grass stains on

his uniform.” This sentence is an example of a. alliteration b. simile c. personification

22. What was Kyle’s excuse for not playing well in the last regular

game against the Cubs? a. he was sick b. he was trying to throw the game c. he couldn’t get his head into the game

23. When the ball meets the bat, it makes a crack sound. What example

of figurative language does that represent? a. simile b. alliteration c. onomatopoeia

24. Chapter 11: How many innings does the Rising Stars League

play? a. nine b. seven c. six

25. “The Reds bench was bedlam.” What does bedlam mean? a. quiet b. calm c. excited

26. What position did Cubs player Bryan Ford hold? a. catcher b. pitcher c. shortstop

Multiple Choice Review (continued) Winners Take All Name: ___________________________________________


7

27. Chapter 12: What was Claire calling Kyle about after they beat

the Cubs? a. to tell him about the protest by the Cubs b. to tell him to pick up his trophy from the coach c. to take him for ice cream again

28. Who did Honsey think was as good as Willie Mays? a. Ken Griffey Jr. b. Kyle c. Enos Slaughter

29. Chapter 13: What finally made Kyle decide to tell the truth

about the catch? a. everyone was shouting at him b. he thought they would believe Jason over him c. he would always feel guilty about it

30. How would you describe the atmosphere in the league meeting

room? a. friendly b. tense c. quiet

31. Chapter 14: When Coach Daye turned away from Kyle when

Kyle confessed at the meeting, we can infer a. Coach Daye was supportive of Kyle’s decision to tell the truth b. Coach Daye was disappointed in Kyle’s decision to tell the

truth c. Coach Daye wanted to console the other players

8

32. A unanimous decision means all parties a. disagree b. agree c. are divided

33. Chapter 15: The way the Reds players were acting toward

Kyle at the championship game, we can infer a. they didn’t want him on the team b. they were still upset with him c. things were back to normal

34. Kyle’s secret about not catching the ball had a. made him dislike baseball b. taken all the fun out of the end of the season c. caused him to lose all his friends

35. Chapter 16: What is a “full count” in baseball terms? a. 3 strikes b. 3 strikes/2 balls c. 3 balls/2 strikes

36. How many balls have to be called before a batter can walk to

first base? a. 3 b. 4 c. 2 balls and 2 fouls

37. What is a “bunt” in baseball terms? a. a foul ball b. when a hitter strikes at the ball while running to first c. an intentional hit that only goes a very short distance

Multiple Choice Review (continued) Winners Take All Name: ___________________________________________


1

ABOUT THE BOOK Jesse’s freshman football team is in big trouble. The Panthers don’t have anybody who can pass the ball! Jesse is not big and strong like his brother Jay, who was the star quarterback on Panthers varsity last year. Jesse is short and he definitely can’t throw the ball like his brother. Nobody on his team can. Maybe it’s time for a brand new plan? Something even a little crazy…like Jesse playing quarterback? At least he’s fast and knows all the plays. What have the Panthers got to lose? THEMES

Friendship | Sports | Football Problems with judging people by their appearances

Being open to change | Working hard to achieve goals


DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTERS 1–3: How does the author show that Henry, the new team quarterback, is not very good? Why is Jesse surprised that Henry is having trouble playing quarterback? Jesse’s friend Savannah plays soccer. Why did her coach make her the goalkeeper?

2

CHAPTERS 4–6: Why does Jay think Jesse could be a good quarterback? Why does Jesse doubt his ability to be a good quarterback? Jesse senses something has changed between him and his brother Jay. What do you think has changed? CHAPTERS 7–9: Why does Coach Vittone mention pro football player Fran Tarkenton? Name two of Jesse’s skills that would make him a good quarterback. Why does Jesse suggest Savannah should be the team’s kicker? Why do Quinn and Langston think that’s a bad idea? CHAPTERS 10–12: What makes the coaches change their minds about using Savannah as a kicker? Compare and contrast how the Franklin team plays now and the way the team played in Chapter 4. What has improved? What else has changed? CHAPTERS 13–15: Jesse is drawing football plays in study hall. What does that tell you about Jesse? At the end of Chapter 14 Jesse creates a play that Quinn, Langston, and Savannah think is great. Why do you think the author keeps that play a secret from the reader? CHAPTERS 16–17: The secret play that Jesse planned (in Chapter 14) works! Who made the winning touchdown? Why do you think Jesse planned for that player to run for the touchdown? Now think about the whole story: How did things turn out differently than expected for Jesse? for his brother Jay? OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS: What more did you learn about Fran Tarkenton? How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?

Double Reverse Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-807-3 HC: 978-1-56145-814-1 Also available in e-book AR • Lexile • F&P / GRL R; Gr 4




Discussion Guide: Double Reverse

DISCUSSION GUIDE

1

ABOUT THE BOOK Matt wants to be the starting quarterback on his team, but he’s got some serious competition from the annoying but talented Devro Beech. To make matters worse, his English teacher is on his case about a new class assignment: he has to keep a journal. He doesn’t know what to write about. Then his teacher says, “Keep a diary about playing on the football team.” So he does. And as he writes, he starts paying closer attention to what’s happening on and off the field. And he discovers that not everything is what it seems to be…not even Devro. THEMES

Jealousy | Determination | Friendship | Sports | Football Instant Replay by Jerry Kramer | Pleasures of writing

How writing helps you to focus for deeper understanding


DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. Note: The story is told in diary form and is organized by week rather than by chapter.

2

WEEK 1: Write down how many grammar and spelling errors you can find in Matt’s first week of journal entries. What is Ms. Ignacio’s reaction to Matt’s entries? WEEK 2: Matt is confident that he will be picked to be the starting quarterback and he says he’s not worried about Devro. Why does Ms. Ignacio think that Matt probably isn’t being completely honest about his feelings? WEEK 3: Compare Matt’s journal entries in Week 1 with this week. What makes this week’s entries so much better? WEEK 4: Matt only has to write three entries a week for homework. Why does he write an extra entry this week? WEEK 5: Matt’s teacher always includes a quote at the end of her e-mails and the quotes usually relate to Matt’s journal entries. This week the quote is: “Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail better.” Why does Ms. Ig choose that quote? What does it mean to “Fail better”? WEEK 6: Why is Matt so upset that he lost his playbook? WEEK 7: When Colby says that he saw Devro with Matt’s playbook, Matt assumes that Devro stole it. Why is Matt so quick to think something bad about Devro? WEEK 8: Do you think Matt would rather win a big game with Devro as quarterback or lose a big game with Devro as quarterback? Remember to back up your opinion with details from the text. WEEK 9: Matt is tricked twice by Ms. Roberts and then remembers that Ms. Ig says, “You’ve got to keep your eyes open. Things aren’t always what they seem.” How does that thought apply to the way Matt thinks about Devro?

Quarterback Season Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-594-2 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • GRL R; Gr 4

Discussion Guide prepared Peggy Jackson


Discussion Guide: Quarterback Season

DISCUSSION GUIDE

3

WEEK 10: This story is told from Matt’s point of view. How would it be different if it were told from Devro’s point of view? What would Devro think about Matt? WEEK 11: Compare Matt’s feelings about Devro at the beginning of the story with the way he feels about Devro now? Did Devro change or did Matt just change the way he felt about him? Explain. WEEK 12: Once Matt started reading Instant Replay, he couldn’t stop. What made it so interesting to Matt? WEEK 13: How did writing a journal help Matt better understand his feelings and thoughts about his football season? OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?

4



Discussion Guide: Quarterback Season

1

ABOUT THE BOOK Sam is twelve years old and a star player on an awesome team: the Cowboys. His teammates always pull together and play to win. Their effort pays off big time when they beat their archrival in a hard-fought game. But their celebration doesn’t last long. Sam makes a discovery that threatens their victory and their team spirit. Can Sam keep the Cowboys together or will his discovery destroy the team? THEMES: Personal character | Group integrity | Leadership | Peer pressure | Honesty

Friendship | Fairness | Football 1940 Cornell vs. Dartmouth football game


ALIGNED with COMMON CORE READING STANDARDS DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTER 1: What can you tell about Sam from the first chapter? How do the play diagrams help the reader (you)?

2

CHAPTER 2: How would you describe the Cowboys as a team? Is Sam’s father interested in Sam’s football team? How can you tell? CHAPTER 3: What does the touch football game tell you about the feelings between the Cowboys and the Giants? CHAPTER 4: What does Sam find at the end of this chapter? What does he decide to do with it? How does Sam justify his decision? Could he have made another decision? CHAPTER 5: How does Brady act in the meeting with Mr. Hanley? Why do you think he acts this way? Describe Mr. Hanley. Do you think he believes Brady and Sam? CHAPTER 6: Trey says to Sam, “Now that you found that scooter…” The word found is in italics in the book. What does that tell you about how Trey said the word and how he feels about Sam keeping the scooter? CHAPTER 7: How would you describe the game between the Cowboys and Giants? Why does the author keep mentioning the time left in the game? CHAPTER 8: Describe how the Giants treat each other during the traditional Friday evening pizza party. Describe some of the personalities on the team. Sam’s happy at first but then his mood changes dramatically. What happened? CHAPTER 9: Sam says the team did not win the Giants game fairly. Why does Sam think that? Why does Trey say the team should keep the win? Trey compares the Cowboys keeping the win in the Giants game to Sam’s keeping the scooter. Are they the same thing?

Touchdown Trouble Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-497-6 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL R; Gr 4



Discussion Guide: Touchdown Trouble

DISCUSSION GUIDE

3

CHAPTER 10: Why does Sam return the scooter? How does Sam act around Sergeant Jones? How does Sergeant Jones act? Do you think she believes Sam’s story? Sam is offered a reward. Why does he refuse it? CHAPTER 11: The setting is a rainy game. How does the author use the rain to help the reader understand the way Sam is feeling? Use exact words or sentences from the text to show what you mean. CHAPTER 12: Why do you think Sam’s dad shows the film of the end of the Giants game first? What is the team’s reaction? Why does Sam’s dad tell the story of the 1940 Cornell vs. Dartmouth game? CHAPTER 13: Compare the arguments that Sam and Trey make about whether the Cowboys should keep the victory over the Giants. How does the fact that Sam brought back the scooter help his argument against Trey about the game? How does the way the vote is taken increase the drama and tension of the chapter? CHAPTER 14: Why do the Cowboys play poorly in the first half against the Lions? Why are the Giants cheering for the Cowboys? What is the Cowboys’ reaction? CHAPTER 15: Compare how Sam and Trey treat each other in Chapter 15 with how they treat each other in Chapter 13. What has happened? Why did Trey change? OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?



Discussion Guide: Touchdown Trouble



1

ABOUT THE BOOK Ryan, Zeke, Eli, and Miles want to make their eighth grade basketball team. They’re not great, but they’re not slouches either. Basketball is their life. They spend hours playing hoop together and hold their own against good teams in a 3-on-3 street tournament in the city. When they are not playing basketball, they are hanging out in Ryan’s basement trying to figure out their chances of making the school team. The tryouts become not only a test of their athletic ability but also of their friendship too. THEMES

Friendship | competition | dealing with disappointment | effort practice | personal development |ambition |resilience


ALIGNED with COMMON CORE READING STANDARDS DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTERS 1–3: Describe in a few words the different personalities of Ryan, Zeke, Eli, and Miles. Who cares the most about basketball? Who is the least enthusiastic? Do you think all four boys will make the team? Why or why not?

The Final Cut Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-510-2 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL Q; Gr 4


DISCUSSION GUIDE

2

CHAPTERS 4–6: How does the author remind the reader that Ryan is always thinking about whether he will make the team? Why are Eddie Wilson’s problems with his math class so important to the four friends? How does Ryan react to the news about Eddie Wilson? Compare his reaction to Zeke’s reaction. CHAPTERS 7–9: Describe the four Cellar Dwellers as basketball players. Study the statistics in chapter 9. What do the statistics tell the reader about the four friends’ chances of making the Sligo team? If you had to rank them as players – best to worst – how would you rank the four boys and why? CHAPTERS 10–12: Study the chart and the team that Zeke picks in chapter 11. Do you agree with his choices? Why or why not? The four friends play Ping-Pong throughout the book. What do the games tell you about each of their personalities? CHAPTERS 13–15: How does Ryan’s stepfather’s story about being cut from his high school basketball and baseball teams fit into the story about Ryan and his friends? How do the stories about Michael Jordan and Bill Russell fit into the story? Describe Ryan’s feelings about not making the team. Do you think Ryan will keep playing basketball? Why or why not? OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?

Discussion Guide: The Final Cut



1

ABOUT THE BOOK The Falcons have lost the first two games of the season. They have the skill to win, but they have one big disadvantage—they’re short! One of the kids discovers a 1965 Sports Illustrated article about the UCLA Bruins. The Bruins won two NCAA (college players) championships without any big guys. They outfoxed taller teams with something they called “the full-court zone press.” Could that be the secret weapon to turn the Falcons around? THEMES

Teamwork | practice | flexibility | friendship | determination | research basketball history | family | loyalty | brothers


DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTERS 1–3: What does the basketball game between the seventh and eighth graders in chapter 1 tell the reader about Michael and his team’s problem? Describe the relationship between Michael and his brother Daniel. What is meant by the basketball term “box out?” How does boxing out relate to the theme of the story? CHAPTERS 4–6: How does the score sheet in chapter 4 emphasize the Falcons’ problem?

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Who is the team’s top scorer? Top rebounder? What do the terms “center” and “forward” mean in basketball? What does the word “press” mean in basketball? How do the Falcons hope the UCLA full-court press will help their team? CHAPTERS 7–9: What does the author do to help the reader understand the UCLA full-court press? Compare and contrast the way Michael, Kelvin, and Conor each feel about the press? Who is the most enthusiastic? How can you tell? Describe how Coach Cummings reacts to the press. Why do you think Coach Cummings lets the team play the press? List the reasons. CHAPTERS 10–12: Compare how the Falcons play during the game in chapter 10 to how the Falcons played during the game in chapter 4. Chapters 10 and 11 end with the phrase “too big, too good, too old.” What does this phrase mean in each chapter? And how does it fit with the overall story so far? What is the rule concerning who can play in the seventh and eighth grade game? Why is this rule important to the Falcons? CHAPTERS 13–15: How does the fact that Michael and his teammates know about the 1965 game between UCLA and Michigan help them in the game against the eighth grade? How did Dikembe’s name get into the scorebook? How do you know? What happened earlier in the book that helped Dikembe’s name appear in the scorebook? Compare and contrast how the boys feel about their team in chapter 15 and how the boys felt about their team in chapter 1. OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?

Full Court Fever Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-508-9 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL Q; Gr 4

Teacher’s Guide prepared by Peggy Jackson

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Discussion Guide: Full Court Fever



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ABOUT THE BOOK Chris needs help with his basketball game. He’s spending too much time on the bench. He turns to his friend Greta—the star forward on the girls’ team—for some shooting lessons. But even her expert tips can't make Chris's shots go in. Then he gets some interesting advice from a very unlikely source. But can that advice work for Chris? THEMES

Practice | hard work | basketball history | teaching | learning new skills helping the group | sacrifice


ALIGNED with COMMON CORE READING STANDARDS DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTERS 1–3: Who is a better basketball player, Greta or Chris? How do you know? What does the chart in chapter 3 tell you about Chris as a shooter? Who is the best shooter on the team according to the chart? Who is the second best shooter? Compare Jason’s attitude about basketball to Chris’s attitude about basketball.

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CHAPTERS 4–6: How does Chris feel about being stuck on the Eagles’ bench? How does Jason feel? How are their feelings different? How does the author make sure you understand that Greta is a great player? List some of her basketball skills. How does Greta feel about teaching Chris to shoot? How can you tell? CHAPTERS 7–9: Compare and contrast Greta’s mom (Mimi) in chapter 7 to Chris’s mom in chapter 2. What are some of the differences between girls 6-on-6 basketball as played in Iowa and the game boys play? How can you tell what Greta thinks about her mom’s basketball career? What are Mimi’s instructions about playing defense? List them. CHAPTERS 10–12: What does the race in chapter 10 tell you about Chris and Greta’s personalities? How is Chris changing? How can you tell that Coach Anderson is beginning to notice Chris? Why is he beginning to notice him? How does the game in chapter 12 emphasize the importance of defense? CHAPTERS 13–15: Compare Chris’s sister Anna’s role on her volleyball team to Chris’s role on his basketball team. Do you think Chris and Anna like each other? What makes you think they do or don’t? How does Chris feel after the game against the Wildcats? How has the relationship between Chris and Greta changed since the beginning of the book? OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?

Off the Rim Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-509-6 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL Q; Gr 4


DISCUSSION GUIDE

Discussion Guide: Off the Rim



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ABOUT THE BOOK Marcus is a turbo-charged, high-scoring forward. He lights up the court with his star power—except when he has to make a free throw. His foul shots are embarrassing air balls or off-the-rim disasters. He’s got to get better at the foul line—his team needs those extra points in close games. The custodian at his school shows him how to shoot underhand. Marcus doesn’t want to try it. What if everybody laughs at him? THEMES

Overcoming adversity | fear of failure | practice | hard work teammates | family | friendships

looking at accomplishments as opposed to appearances


DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTERS 1–3: Marcus is an awesome basketball player, but he is terrible at free throws from the foul line. Why are free throws important to Marcus? How does the author show that Marcus is really upset that he is so bad at them?

On the Line Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-511-9 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL Q; Gr 4

Teacher’s Guide prepared by Peggy Jackson

DISCUSSION GUIDE

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CHAPTERS 4–6: Describe how Marcus feels about playing the basketball game “21.” Why does he feel that way? CHAPTERS 7–9: What is Marcus’s first impression of Mr. Dunn? What are some indications in chapter 7 that Mr. Dunn may know a lot about basketball? How is the way Mr. Dunn shoots free throws different from the regular way? Why is Marcus reluctant to try Mr. Dunn’s way? CHAPTERS 10–12: What does Marcus discover during his research for his history project? How does this discovery change the way Marcus thinks about Mr. Dunn? How does Marcus’s discovery change the way he feels about trying underhand free throws? What are the reactions of Marcus’s teammates to Marcus taking underhand free throws? CHAPTERS 13–15: How does Marcus’s new way of shooting free throws also change the way he plays during the game in chapters 13 and 14? Compare and contrast the way Marcus feels about Mr. Dunn in chapter 15 to the way Marcus felt about Mr. Dunn in chapter 7. OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?

Discussion Guide: On the Line

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ABOUT THE BOOK Brett is a star player on his basketball team…or at least he thought he was. Then he misses an easy layup at the buzzer that costs his team the game. And things get worse. At a friend’s party at a rock climbing center, Brett freezes on the wall. He’s losing his confidence fast, both on and off the court, and the championship game is coming. Can Brett overcome his fears and play like a winner again? THEMES: Overcoming fear | Determination | Physical courage | Phobias | Friendship

Sports | Basketball | Pro players who came back after public failures


DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTER 1: How would you describe the Wildcats basketball practice? What does it tell you about the players and the relationship between Brett and Will? CHAPTER 2: How does the author use the History Bee to show the relationship between Brett and Brooke? Describe that relationship.

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CHAPTER 3: What is a layup in basketball? Brett scores a key basket with a layup to make the score 43–38. Why all the emphasis on layups? CHAPTER 4: You have read about Brett for four chapters. How would you describe him in three or four adjectives? Why did you choose those adjectives? CHAPTER 5: How is the setting in Chapter 5 important to the action? How does the author show that Brett is getting more and more nervous? How is the word “beaten” used at the end of the chapter? CHAPTER 6: The author uses two chapters to describe the game with the Huskies. Why does he do this? How does it create more tension in the story? CHAPTER 7: This chapter describes only 45 seconds of the game. What does the author do to “slow down” the action? CHAPTER 8: How has Brett changed since the beginning of the story? How is he different? Why is he different? CHAPTER 9: How has Brett’s relationship with Will changed? How has it changed with Brooke? CHAPTER 10: Compare and contrast how Brett acts and plays during the game in this chapter and how he acts and plays during the game in Chapter 3. What are some of the specific differences? CHAPTER 11: After the Wildcats practice, Brett sits on the gym floor to watch the start of his sister’s practice, but he barely notices what her team is doing. Why is that? CHAPTER 12: Coach Giminski tells the Wildcats two stories. Why is it important that these stories are about real games and real players?

Hardcourt Comeback Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-516-4 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL R; Gr 4



Discussion Guide: Hardcourt Comeback

DISCUSSION GUIDE

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CHAPTER 13: What does Mike at Earth Treks do to help Brett overcome his fears? Compare Brett’s feelings at the end of this chapter with his feelings at the end of Chapter 5. CHAPTER 14: What does Coach Giminski mean when he says to Brett, “Take it to the hoop”? Brett seems to be gaining confidence and playing better. How did Brett’s experience at Earth Treks help him as a basketball player? CHAPTER 15: Describe the rules for the game “21.” What are the two shots in the game? Why is that important to the story? CHAPTER 16: What does the game tell you about Brett? How has he changed? CHAPTER 17: Think about the whole story. Why do you think the book is called “Hardcourt Comeback”? OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?



Discussion Guide: Hardcourt Comeback

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ABOUT THE BOOK Ben is the captain of his basketball team and he’s got a problem with Hud, the most talented player on the team. Hud knows he’s the best and tries to win games by hogging the ball and showing off. Can Ben convince Hud to forget his hot-shot ways and help the whole team win some games? THEMES:

Integrity | Teamwork | Responsibility | Friendship | Conflict | Sports Basketball | The Ruckers League


ALIGNED with COMMON CORE READING STANDARDS DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTER 1: Compare the scene at the first park with the scene at the Westwood Recreation Center (WRC). Why are Ben and Logan so excited to meet Hud? CHAPTER 2: This is a book about a basketball team. How does a jazz orchestra compare to a basketball team? What is a solo in a jazz orchestra?

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CHAPTER 3: Why does Mr. Sims say that playing on a summer team is not “real hoops”? CHAPTER 4: Think about the coach, Mr. George. Compare the way Ben feels about Mr. George and his tryouts with the way that Hud feels about them. Do you think Mr. George and Hud will get along? Why or why not? CHAPTER 5: Describe Donut’s personality. What does Mr. Sims think of Donut? Explain. CHAPTER 6: Look at the list of Coach George’s “Team Rules.” After the coach reads Rule #8, Ben says to Hud, “Guess we can’t play at Westwood anymore.” Why does he say that? Why doesn’t Hud respond? CHAPTER 7: What does the game tell you about the relationship between Coach George and Hud? What does the coach mean when he yells out to Hud, “Simple pass. No French Pastry.” CHAPTER 8: Looking back to Chapter 6, what does Coach George expect from his captain? Ben is the team captain. What is his problem now that he has seen Hud playing basketball at the WRC? CHAPTER 9: Ben and Logan compare the basketball team to a jazz orchestra. How does that relate to Ben’s problem concerning Hud? In other words, how is a jazz orchestra a metaphor for Ben’s problems with Hud? CHAPTER 10: Why does Hud continue to break Coach George’s rule about not playing pick-up basketball? Why does Ben confront Hud in the locker room? At the end of the chapter, why does Ben feel like he just lost the biggest game of the season? CHAPTER 11: What do the last 25 seconds of the game against the Robinson Panthers tell you about Mr. George? What do they tell you about Hud?

Real Hoops Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-566-9 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL Q; Gr 4



Discussion Guide: Real Hoops

DISCUSSION GUIDE

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CHAPTER 12: After Coach George puts Levon in the starting lineup, Ben notices Hud’s “jaw was clenched and his eyes were blazing.” Why does Hud react that way? CHAPTER 13: How do Mr. Sims’s stories about Donut, Hi-Tops, Earl “The Goat” Manigault, and The Rucker League relate to Hud’s situation? CHAPTER 14: Compare how Hud ran the play in this chapter with how he ran the play in Chapter 11. What does that tell you about Hud? CHAPTER 15: How has Ben’s relationship with Donut changed from the first time he and Logan went to the WRC? How does Donut feel about his decision not to play basketball in high school? OVERALL QUESTION: In a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the book?



Discussion Guide: Real Hoops

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ABOUT THE BOOK Josh just joined the United, a travel soccer team with awesome players. But the United’s season is going down in a string of defeats. Then Josh discovers something about the 1999 United States Women’s World Cup Champions. That group of all-stars worked at being teammates. Maybe their secret strategy will work for the United? THEMES:

Collaboration | Team-building exercises | Teamwork | Friendship Thinking out of the box | Sports | Soccer | 1999 Women’s World Cup


ALIGNED with COMMON CORE READING STANDARDS DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTERS 1–3: Josh and Aidan are excited that they have made the United, a select soccer team. But it’s very different from their old team, the Flames. How does Josh think it’s different? How does his mom think it’s different? CHAPTERS 4–6: List two reasons why the United don’t “click” (play well together) in their first

Go for the Goal! Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-632-1 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile / GRL N; Gr 3


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tournament. Now think about the cafeteria setting in Chapter 6. Even though the characters aren’t playing soccer, how does the author show that Josh and Aidan’s experience with the Flames was probably a lot different than it is with the United? CHAPTERS 7–9: How does Josh come up with the idea of doing team-building exercises? Why does he think these will help the United in a real game? CHAPTERS 10–12: In Chapter 10, how do the United teammates play differently than before? How has the exercise with the purple blanket helped them become better soccer players? CHAPTERS 13–15: How has Josh’s experience on the United changed since the beginning of the story? Choose at least two scenes that show how it has changed. CHAPTERS 16–17: How do Josh and Aidan feel about Evan at the beginning of the book? How do they feel about him at the end? Why have their feelings changed about him? OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS: What did you learn about the 1999 U.S. Women’s Soccer Team that you didn’t know? How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the whole story?


Discussion Guide: Go for the Goal!

DISCUSSION GUIDE


Out of Bounds Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-894-3 HC: 978-1-56145-845-5 Also available in e-book Discussion Guide prepared by Peggy Jackson


DISCUSSION GUIDE

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ABOUT THE BOOK Nate, an eighth grader, and the rest of his teammates are competitive, especially when it comes to playing against their rivals, the Monarchs. They want to win so badly that they’re willing to root against the Monarchs when they play other teams. Something happens though, and Nate starts feeling uncomfortable about their win-at-any-cost attitude. But what can he do about it? He’s just one guy on the team. THEMES

Sportsmanship | Attitudes about winning | Friendship | Leadership Peer pressure | Sports | Soccer


DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTERS 1–3: How is Aunt Lizzie different from Nate’s parents? How does Nate act around Aunt Lizzie? How does Nate react to Aunt Lizzie’s play when she purposely kicks the ball out of bounds? CHAPTERS 4–6: Describe the Strikers as a team. Compare Nate and Sergio’s attitudes toward

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winning and competition. Describe Hunter and the other Monarchs. Compare them with Nate and his teammates. CHAPTERS 7–9: Compare Nate and Aunt Lizzie’s attitudes toward winning and competition. Lizzie tells Nate, “You want to win, but you want to win the right way.” What does she mean by that? What is Nate’s reaction to her advice? How does Nate feel about rooting against the Monarchs? CHAPTERS 10–12: Why do you think Nate kicks the ball out of bounds? What is Sergio’s reaction to the play? What is the Monarchs’ reaction? How does Nate feel about the play after the game? How is his feeling about the play changing? How does Aunt Lizzie’s soccer video affect Nate’s feeling about the play? CHAPTERS 13–15: Sergio does not think that the Monarchs will try to win their game against the Devils. Why not? Hunter tells Nate, “We want to beat you not cheat you.” What does Hunter mean by that? How does Hunter feel about Nate’s decision to kick the ball out of bounds? CHAPTERS 16–17: Nate says at the end of the book, “Things turned out all right.” What does he mean by that? What are the “things” he is talking about? OVERALL QUESTION: In just a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the whole story?

Discussion Guide: Out of Bounds

Soccer Team Upset Written by Fred Bowen PB: 978-1-56145-495-2 Also available in e-book AR • RC • Lexile • F&P / GRL R; Gr 4



DISCUSSION GUIDE

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ABOUT THE BOOK It is the beginning of the soccer season and Tyler is pumped. His team is stacked with awesome players and they have a real shot at being league champions. But then a couple of the stars consider leaving to play on a travel team and Tyler is furious. Then he finds out that star power isn’t the only way to win games. THEMES

Seeing change as opportunity | Staying positive/optimistic | Friendship Perseverance | Sports | Soccer | World Cup


DIRECTIONS: Use details from the text to support ALL of your responses. CHAPTER 1: Describe what kind of team the Cougars are. Tyler says Zack will not leave the Cougars because the Cougars have a “perfect team.” What could be another reason why Tyler thinks Zack will not leave the Cougars? CHAPTER 2: Describe how the boys at the park act together. Do you think they are all friends?

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CHAPTER 3: List the reasons why Zack wants to play for the Panthers. How does Tyler feel about Zack wanting to play for the Panthers? CHAPTER 4: Compare and contrast how Tyler feels about his team now with how he felt about his team in Chapter 1. What are some good things that happen to Tyler because Zack and the two other players left to join the Panthers? CHAPTER 5: How does Tyler feel about Zack showing up at the Cougars first game and giving Tyler advice? CHAPTER 6: Compare the Panthers games with the Cougars games. What is different? What is the same? CHAPTER 7: What is Tyler’s reaction when Zack tries to practice with the Cougars? Compare how Tyler and Mario feel about Zack. CHAPTER 8: There is an expression that goes like this: “It is better to be lucky than good.” How does that expression apply to the game? CHAPTER 9: What is Tyler’s initial reaction to Zack’s invitation to play with the Panthers? Why do you think he reacts that way? How does he feel when he actually plays with the Panthers? Why does Tyler turn down Coach Wexler’s invitation to play with the Panthers? CHAPTER 10: The Cougars seem to be getting better as a team. What are some reasons for their improvement? CHAPTER 11: Compare how Mario feels about the season with how Tyler feels about the season.

Discussion Guide: Soccer Team Upset


Discussion Guide: Soccer Team Upset


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CHAPTER 12: How would you describe how Tyler feels about Zack? How would you describe how Zack feels about Tyler? Refer to scenes or actions in the story to support your answer. CHAPTER 13: Tyler says, “I thought teammates were important.” What does he mean by that? Mario says, “Being friends is important too.” What does he mean by that? CHAPTER 14: How does the setting in this chapter contribute to the humor in the chapter? CHAPTER 15: How is Mr. Robertson’s message about “one play” and any team being able to beat another an encouraging message in this story? CHAPTER 16: Mikey, a substitute defender, scores the winning goal. How does Mikey’s scoring that goal fit in with what the whole story is about? CHAPTER 17: Compare Tyler’s reaction to Zack’s wanting to play touch football now with his reaction to Zack’s wanting to play in Chapter 13. How is it different and why do you think it has changed? OVERALL QUESTION: In a few words, write down what this whole story is about (the overall theme or big idea). Explain your response. “THE REAL STORY” FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: How does the information in “The Real Story” relate to the theme or the plot of the whole story?

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