Free Throw

Jake Maddox en Español

by Jake Maddox, Anastasia Suen

Since Derek is the tallest kid on his basketball team, his coach decides to have him play center instead of Jason. Derek thinks this is a lucky break, until Jason stops passing the ball to him.

Genres: Sports, Childrens, Basketball

72 pages, Library Binding

First published August 1, 2006

About the author

Who is Jake Maddox? Athlete, author, world-traveler–or all three? He has surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived in Australia, and climbed the mountains of Peru and Alaska. His books range from the most popular team sports to outdoor activities to survival adventures and even to auto racing. His exploits have inspired numerous writers to walk in his footsteps–literally! Each of his stories is stamped with teamwork, fair play, and a strong sense of self-worth and discipline. Always a team-player, Maddox realizes it takes more than one man (or woman) to create a book good enough for a young reader. He hopes the lessons learned on the court, field, or arena and the champion sprinter pace of his books can motivate kids to become better athletes and lifelong readers.

Reviews

[Mark Sexton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a good book for someone who likes and enjoys the sport of basketball because in this story this kid ended up growing huge and had to be a center instead of a point or shooting guard. He was always confused because he never played center before and he only knew the game from a point guard standpoint. So his coach decided to start another center instead of him until he gets his free throw down. Then he got some playing time and coach liked what he saw in him just he needed to work more on his shooting. So in practice Jason worked in his shot and in the next game he hit 3 jumpers and all of him free throws and I felt like what he did last game would for sure get him starting. Then the next day in practice coach called him over and told him he thinks that he will be starting by the next game. Then the next game coached ended up starting him and coach was very proud that he started him because that game they won by 25.

[Physic.Drxppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing and the setting is at the gym it said it on pg: 5 if u did know Check my YT ay Physic.Drxppy

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for lower level readers.

[Jaquan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were on the free-throw line and you were losing by 1 you would have a lot of pressure on you right? This kid name Jason was the center of the basketball team. Then his coach moved him up to the power ford and this other kid name Derek got mad because that was his position. Derek did not want to play power ford. The championship game Jason was being a jerk to him because he took his position. when he got back but the coach was getting mad because Jason was letting his man score in the paint every time but Derek had stopped him and ran the ball back and got fouled in went to the free-throw line. Did he make it or not? If you were on the free-throw line and you were losing by 1 you would have a lot of pressure on you right? This kid name Jason was the center of the basketball team. Then his coach moved him up to the power ford and this other kid name Derek got mad because that was his position. Derek did not want to play power ford. The championship game Jason was being a jerk to him because he took his position. when he got back but the coach was getting mad because Jason was letting his man score in the paint every time but Derek had stopped him and ran the ball back and got fouled in went to the free-throw line. Did he make it or not?

[Sara Bland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story of perseverance! The setting is at a high school during some basketball games. The main character is a young man who desperately wants to be the great player his coach thinks he is, but he keeps messing up. A mean teammate keeps saying nasty, hurtful things to him but he never gives up. The coach switches them in positions because the main character is not doing as well as the other player. This just motivates him more to pursue his goals of being the starting center. Through trials and tribulations during the season, the main character pulls it all together in a great finish during the last game. Would recommend this for 4-6th depending on the reading ability. The end even has a glossary, discussion questions, and writing prompts.

[Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I think about this book is that sometimes it never made any good ideas about this story and he never wanted to give the ball up sometimes and he had a hard time give it up, but since he had only made a 3 point on the last shot he had to fight his way back and HE FINALLY GAVE THE BALL TO THE PEOPLE. these games would get so insane that he have to be taken out. this book was a lot of fun and I enjoyed reading it. i really enjoy this book and i think you should read this book to, its only 1-61 pages-es and it just the book you should read at night. I recommend this book to basketball people or anyone with the love of sports because this book tells us some good things about basketball.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

science derek is the tallest on his basketball team his coach decides to change him to center field. Derek thinks this is his big break a chance to prove to everyone he is good. Until Jason stops passing the ball to him out on the court. He's not sure he can make a successful free throw with Jason leaning over him like a hound dog.

[Kaidyn]

This book was ok! Its about a boy who was short but the next year he was tall enough to be center in basketet ball. It was his first time being center and they always lost cause of him. So the coach said that the next tallest person could be center until the other center bot learned his freetrhows.?!?!

[Payton Keezer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very entertaining book, The book was also exciting too. The book was not the greatest at the start of the book it got good when it was down to the final points. The other team almost took the 1st place medal home. They got position of the ball and Jason was being ball hog. I loved this book because it is a sport book. I like basketball it is my favorite sport.

[Berkeley Poder]

Derek can't do his free throws because he is not practicing or bending his knees. Jason keeps bullying Derek because coach has made him center and he's not making the shots. To me this shows me that he doesn't believe in himself because in the dialogue it says that Derek is not pushing himself to be more successful.I am starting to love these books

"Princess CAPRILES"/Abony

[BDMS IMC]

7th grade top pick by Chad:
"Why this is a GREAT book:" Because I love Basketball. I could read that book 8 times in a row. It was a dilemma and the boy had to overcome it. the Dilemma was He could not shoot a free throw.

[Robbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

[Ben Schmoker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Free Throw because I like the way he sucks at the beggining and then does good at the end.

[Kendall Martino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book cause it is a sport book.

[Kelsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was about like when life brings you down you get back up

[Kylie · Rating 2 out of 5]

i thought this book was fine

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent series for elementary school boys. Simply written. There's one for just about every sport.

[Alexis Hagert]

it was a cool book

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad for a sports story

[Cinnamon · Rating 3 out of 5]

good action and descriptions

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

[Daniel Saucedo]

The story I read was "Free Throws". It is about a boy named Derek. Derek is in the basketball team. He can not make a free throw shot. He is bad at it. The genre of this story is realistic fiction. I think is book is easy and fast to read.
The main characters of the story is Derek, Taylor, and Jason. The story takes place on the basketball quart. Derek is playing basketball with his team. Derek's team need to points to win the game. He was at the free throw line and shot the ball. He missed and his team got mad at him. Jason keep saying that he is better than Derek. Derek keeps practicing.

[Jessica]

Derek is taller this year and his coach gives him the position of center, but his teammate Jason is not happy to be moved from his position. So he gets in Derek's head and is not a team player. Coach moves them back to their original positions until Derek can start making his free throws. After much practice, Derek gets better at his shots and scores the winning basket for his team.

[Bowen]

verry good book alot of deatals addeded