In the Paint

by Jeff Rud

For as long as he can remember, Matt has wanted to play basketball. Now, as he tries out for the team at his new middle school, he realizes that the easy days of elementary ball are over and that this is a much more serious game. Dealing with a hard-driving coach, competitive teammates and his own insecurities in a new school, Matt needs to call on all his skills, both on and off the court, to make the team and keep his head above water. When he is involved, albeit unwittingly, in tagging a store with racist graffiti, Matt finds himself in more trouble than he bargained for. And when he fights back against an aggressive teammate and is threatened with suspension from the team, he learns that it is not only game-time decisions that count, but also the choices made after the crowd has gone home and the gym is silent.

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Jeff Rud has authored eight books, including three young adult fiction titles for Orca in the South Side Sports series. A sportswriter, columnist, and sports editor for newspapers in Western Canada over a 20-year period, he is now a reporter for the Victoria Times Colonist, covering provincial politics in the British Columbia legislature.

His non-fiction works include Canucks Legends: Vancouver's Hockey Heroes (Raincoast, 2006) and Steve Nash: The Making of an MVP (Penguin, 2007.) Born in Red Deer, Alberta, Jeff now lives in Victoria, B.C., with his wife, Lana, a middle school teacher, and their two children.

Reviews

[Jack Zhu]

Book Review
This book is a inspiration book of a kid who loves playing basketball and how he achieves his dream. “In the Paint” by author Jeff Rud is a book about schooling basketball. It includes how a kid dealing with the dark side of the school community, and how does that kid started from elementary kid who loves playing basketball, to a teenager who had brought his middle school basketball team to the basketball tournament finals. The thematic statement about the book is perseverance, keep on working on your goal even when there is roadblock on the way, then you will achieve your goal. At page 15, ‘He and his friends had spent almost every day of the summer working out.’ and ‘That schedule had included, among other things, two hundred jump shots and one hundred free throws to be practiced each day of the summer’. This shows that how much Matt want to join the South Side basketball team. He kept on practicing on basketball everyday during the holiday to show his perseverance in order to join the team. Another evidence about the claim is that at page 63-64, the book mentioned about the main character Matt had felt physically ill because of Grant Jackson and his crew bullying his best friend Phil’s shop, but he is too weak to do anything. This evidence connects to the theme because this is one of the roadblocks that Matt had while he wanted to become one of the five starting lineup players in South Side. Matt could not bully his best friend, and he will be suspended from school if he got caught hanging out with Grant Jackson.. In conclusion, these two evidences including both paraphrasing and textual evidence had proved my claim (thematic statement) is true about the book.

Songs
Hall of Fame
-The Script
For the first song I chose to represent my theme is “ Hall of Fame”. The whole song is about perseverance if you search it up. Every lyric in the song is very inspirational and filled with perseverance. For example “you can be the greatest you can be the best”. “Standing on the hall of fame”, “Don't wait for luck, dedicate yourself and you gonna find you self”. “Delicate yourself and you’re going to find your self standing in the hall of fame” shows that as long as you work hard, you will achieve something. These lyrics are really inspiring people, and they are really telling you to perseverance to become the greatest. The instrumental in the music is very encouraging. The tempo is fast and filled with enthusiasm.


Stronger
-Kelly Clarkson
For the second song I chose to represent my theme is “Stronger”. The song is about an abandoned lover who refuses to wallow herself in self-pity. The lyric “What doesn’t make you stronger, What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter”, tells you that the things or enemy that is trying to kill you are just the roadblocks on the way. It connects to my theme because “what doesn’t kill you” means the roadblocks. As in the story, Matt’s roadblock is Grant Jackson, he’s disturbing Matt in every situations. This is kind of similar to the song lyrics, Matt’s roadblock can be said as What doesn’t kill you”.


I’m on the Top of the World
-Imagine Dragons
For the third song I chose to represent my theme is “I’m on the Top of the World”. In the song, “I kept on falling short of something” is the road block that is on the way that is stopping him, then there’s “Get up now, get up now” that encourages you to stand up. “I’m on top of the world” portrays that you are finally achieved the goal that you set before, even when there’s roadblocks on the way. This relates to my theme because “Get up now” is similar to how Matt is practicing basketball all summer and every holiday time he has. Shows how much he wants the team to win. “I kept on falling short of something” relates to Matt, all the roadblocks he has. His hands feeling bad on the court, Jackson being harsh on Matt.

Roar
-Katy Perry
For the Fourth song I chose to represent my theme is “Roar”. One of the lyric in the song “You held me down, but I got up” represents that even someone is dragging her down, but she can still gets up and fight. It relates to Matt, Grant Jackson had held Matt down, but Matt still got back up at the end of the story. “I went from zero, to my own hero” shows that she started out from nothing until she become a hero. In the book, Matt started out to be “zero” as a elementary kid just graduated trying to join in to the south side squad. Then after all these hard works that he did, he is becoming better and better, and finally became a “hero” which made the last second free-throw and brought the team into the basketball tournament finals.

Stronger
-Kanye West
For the fifth song I chose to represent my theme is “Stronger”. In the beginning, “Work it, make it, do it, make us harder, better, faster, stronger”. It portrays that you work, do it, you will eventually be better, faster, and stronger. It relates to the book by Matt kept on practicing basketball, more practice you get, you will get better, stronger at basketball. “And I don't give a f*** what they all say right?” It shows that Kanye does not care about all these judgements from his boss, just like in the book Matt does not care about what Grant Jackson making fun of him telling him he could not be the South Side starting lineup as long as he is here.

Fight Song
-Rachel Platten
For the sixth song I chose to represent my theme is “Fight Song”. “My powers turned on, starting right now i’ll be strong, I’ll play my fight song” relates to the theme perseverance because she said that she will start being strong. “And I don't really care if no body else believes” in the song relates to the theme about the roadblocks because no one believes in her that she can get out of the shadow of losing her friends. In the book, Grant Jackson does not believe that Matt can make into the South Side starting lineup. But after all the hard works that Matt had paid off, he finally made into the starting lineup, brought the team to finals, like in the song she had got out of the shadow by her own power.

Eye of the Tiger
-Survivor
For the seventh song I chose to represent my theme is “Eye of the Tiger”. This song is a theme song for Rocky III. The lyric is the song “You trade for passion for glory” relates to the book about Matt is passioning about basketball, he made his dream for being starter of South Side and made into the basketball finals. “Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past”, in the story, Matt did not give up his dream, he held on to his dream and kept on working on the dream, finally he achieved it. In the book, the guy did not give up the dream, and became the best fighter.

Never Surrender
-Corey Hart
For the eighth song I chose to represent my theme is “Never Surrender”. In the song, “You can never surrender” had proved that no one will surrender because of any reasons. It relates to the theme because it is one of the roadblock that Matt has, he will not surrender on the injures that he had. He is still capable to play hard core games. “With some perseverance you can get things down” means that you just need to keep working and do not give up then you will get things down which connects to the theme by Matt hard working all the time, and he got things down which is go o the basketball tournament finals.

I won’t Back Down
-Tom Petty
For the ninth song I chose to represent my theme is “I won’t Back Down”. This song is a song that became really poplar after the 911 attack. In the song, “I won’t back down, no I won’t back down you could stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won’t back down” shows that the people will not be surrender to the tourists, they will keep fighting against the evil side. It relates to the theme by how Matt is bothered by Grant Jackson in the story trying to drag him down, but Matt fought for himself, and did not surrender towards Grant Jackson, therefore he had brought the team into the basketball tournament finals.

Fighter
-Christina Aguilera
For the last song I chose to represent my theme is “Fighter”. In the song,Christina has faced a jealous, malicious person in her life. But after all she is endured, it had not make her bitter, in fact made her stronger. In the song” After all of the stealing and cheating you probably think that I hold resentment for you, 'Cause if it wasn't for all that you tried to do, I wouldn't know”, “Just how capable I am to pull through”, “Makes me that much stronger” this had showed that the resentment that she had made she had made him better. That person is the roadblock on her way. As in the story, Grant Jackson is like that person, but it did not let Matt down, but it had made Matt stronger.

Conclusion:
Matt had successfully became the starter of South Side and had made the team into the finals because of his passion for basketball, even when there is roadblocks on the way. Overall, The playlist I created includes perseverance, roadblocks on the way that relates to the theme.

Playlist-
http://y.qq.com/#type=mymusic&p=a...

[Ronit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ronit Parmar
Book Theme Song Project

The book that I read for the reading partnership was “In The Paint” by Jeff Rudd. The main theme is to achieve your goals and to not stop trying no matter what. Another theme in this book is to always tell the truth, if you don’t, there will be greater consequences. There were many scenes where the main character Matthew showed that he was determined to reach out for his goals and achieved them. There was one main part where Matthew showed that telling the truth was important. That was when he was confused if he should have told Phil about the incident that happened with Grant Jackson and his friends.

Never Say Never- Justin Bieber
This song “Never Say Never” by Justin Bieber is relevant to my theme because it is about never giving up and reaching your full potential. Matthew from the book never gave up in the game and always picked himself up when he was down on the ground. In the song, they sing “whenever you knock me down, I will not stay on the ground”. That part connects to the part when Grant Jackson was pushed him on the ground even when his hands were swollen. Matt fought through the pain and got up anyways, he did not physically fight Grant and just walked away. Thats what his mother was most proud of, the fact that he handled Grant without violence.

Drag Me Down- One Direction
I feel like this song “Drag Me Down” by One Direction relates to the theme of my book lyrically. This song gives the listeners confidence and makes them more assertive of themselves. They sing “Nobody can drag me down” most of the song. That line shows confidence in the band that nobody can drag them down. One of the lines in the chorus is “All these lights, they cant blind me”. The lights can represent Grant Jackson, who was his main roadblock in the book. He did not let Grant push him around in the end like before.

All I Do Is Win- DJ Khaled
I feel like the song “All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled connects to the theme of the book with the music. I feel like the music energizes people, gets them exited, and gives them confidence. The tone of the music makes it sound very energetic. It sounds like a song that would be playing in a movie when the character is working hard on something. In this book it could represent when Matthew was playing the basketball game when he scored 19 points.



Lose Yourself- Eminem
This song “Lose Yourself” by Eminem connects to the theme of the book with the lyrics and the music. One of the lines was “You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime”. This connects to the part when Matthew had to shoot the two free throws at the end of the semi-finals game. His knuckles were all bruised and stolen after he got fouled, the game was tied. He had two shots at the free throw line which meant he had two chances to win the game. He had to overcome the pain he felt in his knuckles to shoot the free throws. Some of his main goals were to win the game and play well. He taught through the pain, missed the first free throw. All the pressure was on him, he shot the second, made it and they won.

Sorry- Justin Bieber
This song “Sorry” by Justin Bieber relates to my theme because it is about rebuilding a relationship after many mistakes. The part leading up to the chorus is “I know you know that I made those mistakes maybe once or twice, By once or twice I mean maybe a couple of hundred times. So let me, oh let me redeem, oh redeem myself tonight. Cause I just need one more shot at second chances”. Matthew had to rebuild his relationship with his best friend Phil after the tagging that happened at his family grocery store. Grant Jackson invited Matthew to hangout with him and his friends, he thought hanging out with the older kids would make him look cool. When he went, he realized that Grant and his friends were spray painting on Phil’s family store. The fact that he did not do anything to stop them haunted him for days, until he confronted Phil himself. After that Phil forgave him and their friendship was once again the same.

White Iverson- Post Malone
This “White Iverson” by Post Malone connects to the theme of the book because I believe the music relates to one of the scenes. The music sounds like it would be playing at a part when someone is confused about life and is not sure what to do. The way the artist sings the song is not very lively and would rather be playing during a sad scene. I think this song relates to the part when Matt does not know what to do after he witnessed the crime that Grant and his friends committed. They wrote racist insults at the back Phil’s family shop. Matt did not know what to do for a couple days and that made it very hard on him.

Firework- Katy Perry
I feel like this the song “Firework” by Katy Perry relates to the theme of my book. It gives the listener confidence. The part leading up to the chorus is “You just got to ignite the light, and let it shine. Just own the night, like the fourth of July”. This is what Matthew needed during the basketball games. He gained confidence overtime, when Grant was kicked out of the team, there was more pressure on him to preform. That time, he needed a lot of confidence to be the starting point guard.

Stressed Out- 21 Pilots
Part of the song “Stressed Out” by 21 Pilots is about trying to erase the mistakes. The chorus of this song is “Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days. When our momma sang us to sleep but now were stressed out”. This also has to do with the part when Matt witnessed the boys tagging Phil’s family grocery shop. He was stressed out for many days until he explained the whole situation to Phil. He was very understanding and forgave him very quickly so their relationship was fine. The reason he was stressed for those days was because he did not tell Phil the truth, and he just couldn’t live like that.

Stronger- Kanye West
I think this song “Stronger” by Kanye West really to the theme with some of the lyrics. One if the lines in this song is “Take this, haters”. He also talked about how he didn’t care about what other people said. Grant Jackson was one of Matthew’s “haters”. Grant tried to bully him and treated Matthew with no respect. Matthew had to fight past him to make it to the basketball team and become the starting point guard. Even though Grant verbally and physically abused him. Another one of the lines is “Work it harder, make it better, do it faster, make us us stronger”. This is what helped Matthew improve his game. He had to work harder, improve his game, and make is movements faster. Thats how he got stronger and was able to take on the starting position.

Don’t Stop Believin’
This song “Don’t Stop Believin’” relates to my theme lyrically. The main line “Don’t stop believin’” is what the whole book is about. He could not stop believing in himself when he was shooting the two free throws to win the semi-finals game. If he did not believe in himself and lost his confidence, he would not have made the last shot. Because he believed in himself and gave himself confidence.

As you can see, I used a small variety of ways to connect the themes to he songs. It included using the lyrics and the music style. The character had to overcome his roadblock Grant Jackson in order to achieve the starting position and have the extra playing time. He also learned to tell the truth no matter how much it would hurt to do it. There would be greater consequences if the truth wasn’t told. Matthew Hill learned a variety of different lessons over the course of this book but these two are the most meaningful and stand out the most.

[Hannah Frey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good. It was entertaining, but it did lack in originality. Sometimes it was a little to faced pace.