Last Shot

Last Shot by John Feinstein

Published by: Yearling

Summary: This story is set at the NCAA Final Four men's basketball tournament. Eighth-graders Steven Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson are aspiring journalists and winners of the U.S. Basketball Writer's Association 14-and-under writing contest. Their prize is a trip, with press credentials and reporting responsibilities, to the Final Four in New Orleans. While exploring the Superdome, they overhear a blackmail threat leveled at Minnesota State University's star player. Threatened with a falsified transcript that would disqualify him and his team, Chip Graber is pressured to deliberately lose the final game against Duke. Stevie and Susan Carol become resourceful sleuths determined to save Chip and to expose the scandal.

Personal Review: This is a story that any young basketball fan will enjoy. There is enough about basketball to keep them interested, but it is also a mystery. I enjoyed the fact that the kids aren't at the game just as fans, but as writers, and the book shows how writing can be enjoyable and very diverse, and even get you into some pretty good seats at the game. :)