Michael Jordan: Legends in Sports

by Matt Christopher, Glenn Stout, Stephanie True Peters

Don't miss this action-packed and informative look at the life and achievements of a basketball legend!

Matt Christopher, the number one sports writer for kids, profiles basketball superstar Michael Jordan, covering his childhood, college career, rookie years, professional career highlights, and even his short stint in minor league baseball. Written in Matt Christopher's easy-to-read style and complete with incredible photos and Michael Jordan's key stats, this comprehensive biography will entertain and educate.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Biography

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

Matt Christopher is the writer young readers turn to when they're looking for fast-paced, action-packed sports novels. He is the best-selling author of more than one hundred sports books for young readers.

Matt Christopher is America's bestselling sports writer for children, with more than 100 books and sales approaching six million copies. In 1992, Matt Christopher talked about being a children's book author.

"I became interested in writing when I was 14, a freshman in high school. I was selling magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post, Country Gentleman, and Liberty, and I would read the stories, particularly the adventure and mystery stories, and think how wonderful it would be to be able to write stories and make a living at it. I also read detective, horror, aviation, and sports stories and decided I would try writing them myself.

Determined to sell, I wrote a detective story a week for 40 weeks, finding the time to marry, work, and play baseball and basketball before I sold my first story in 1941, "The Missing Finger Points," for $50 to Detective Story magazine.

After writing and selling children's sports stories to magazines, I decided to write a baseball book for children. I was living in Syracuse, New York at the time, working at General Electric. I spoke about my idea to the branch librarian. She was immediately interested and told me that they needed sports stories badly. So I came up with my first children's book, The Lucky Baseball Bat. I submitted it to Little, Brown, and the book was published in 1954.

I'm sure that playing sandlot baseball and then semiprofessional baseball with a Class C club in the Canadian-American League influenced my writing. I had my own personal experiences, and I saw how other players reacted to plays, to teammates' and fans' remarks and innuendoes, to managers' orders, etc. All these had a great influence on my writing. My love of the game helped a lot, too, of course.

Out of all the books I've written, my favorite is The Kid Who Only Hit Homers. It's a fantasy, but the main character in it could be real. There are a lot of boys who would love to play baseball but, for some reason, cannot. The only difference between a real-life boy and Sylvester Coddmyer III is the appearance of a character named George Baruth, whom only Sylvester can see and who helps Sylvester become a good ballplayer.

I've written many short stories and books for both children and adults, and find that writing for children is really my niche. Being the eldest of nine children (seven boys and two girls), I've lived through a lot of problems many children live through, and I find these problems excellent examples to include in my books.

Sports have made it possible for me to meet many people with all sorts of life stories, on and off the field, and these are grist for this writer's mill. I'm far beyond playing age now, but I manage to go to both kids' and adult games just to keep up with them, and keep them fresh in my mind.Very few things make me happier than receiving fan letters from boys and girls who write that they had never cared for reading until they started to read my books. That is just about the ultimate in writing for children. I would never trade it for another profession."

Matt Christopher died on September 27, 1997. His legacy is now being carried on by his sons, Duane and Dale Christopher.

Reviews

[Caden Bernardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. It was very detailed and I learned a lot about Michael Jordan, who is one of the greatest NBA Basketball players of all time. It was cool because when he was in high school, he tried out for his school team, and was cut. He didn't stop there though. He began to work harder every day and was then drafted into the NBA. Throughout his whole career, he had high success and became an NBA great. The theme of this story is telling any athlete or anyone that if you have a goal, don't stop working for out, because once you spend time and put in the work, the results will pay off when you make it and achieve your goal. Never give up!

[Noah Marker]

Personal Response:
Michael Jordan by Matt Christopher was a great book. I would read this book again and it would never get old. This book talks a lot about Jordan’s life before and after his basketball career. I believe this book was a great choice for me because I love the sport of basketball. I can relate to Jordan. Michael Jordan is still a very well known basketball player. Jordan was one of the best who has ever played the game.

Plot:
Jordan grew up on the small side of town. His parents really didn’t have the money for such things as a basketball or a basketball hoop. Jordan shot the ball when he could. In high school, he was sitting the bench for variety but not playing. He was worried that he was never going to get to see the court. He worked even harder and by next year Jordan was starting variety and making himself known. Then after high school, Jordan went to college at the University of North Carolina where he really made a name for himself. Jordan then got drafted in the NBA by the Chicago Bulls. The Chicago Bulls weren’t the best team in the NBA, but the rookie Michael Jordan made it work. After his 16 years in the NBA, he retired and now is living the dream.

Characterization:
Michael Jordan at a young age never thought he would be where he is today. Jordan at a young age loved basketball and that never really changed from today. He loves the sport and watches it when he can. Jordan worked his butt off to get where he is today. Jordan put in the work and now look at him. Jordan is rich and he still is very famous not just for basketball also for the companies that he owns. He fought through a lot of hardships like his bad knees, or the color of his skin, yet he still fought and never gave up. I would compare Jordan to a school teacher. They both taught things and both put in the work to make other people better at whatever it was they are doing.
Jordan's father, James Jordan, helped Jordan get through his up and downs. James was a big influence on him throughout his life. James dead when Jordan was in the NBA. It was so hard on Jordan that he took a year off the NBA. James was the one who introduced Jordan to basketball. James bought Jordan his very first basketball hoop and hung it up in their back yard. James was always there for Jordan until he was gone for good.

Setting:
This book took place more in the NBA were Jordan proved himself to many people. That’s where Jordan played for 16 years. The book tells the reader that Jordan was off and on in the NBA. One moment he is in the NBA the next, he is retired. People thought Jordan just needed the money, but he just loved the sport too much to let it go. Jordan also went to the University of North Carolina where he learned the most valuable lesson on the sport of basketball.

I think Jordan changed throughout this book more than any other person. Jordan went from being a kid who just wanted to play in a basketball game, and he turned in a man with the love and skill to be in the NBA. After he retired, Jordan tried to become an owner of a team that he never even played on. After all of Jordan's hardships, basketball was always there for him.

Recommendation:
I would recommend the book Michael Jordan to any basketball player. The reader will connect with this book more if the reader is knowledgeable about the sport. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to know more about Jordan's life. I also think this book would be a very good book for a biography essay on one of the greats. Almost everyone is a fan of basketball, so this book Michael Jordan would be a great read.

[Reese Richter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a long biography of MJ. But the theme is to never give up because mj was never super rich or smart but he took his basketball skills to the next level and was succsesful. He is now very rich and a basketball legend.

[Jaime]

Personal Response: I liked Michael Jordan: Legends in Sports by Matt Christopher. It kept me interested and made me guess what the outcome was going to be. When I read the book, I thought people would always enjoy watching Michael play basketball but not all the time. Michael always tried to do his best, even though he had to overcome some obstacles.

Plot : The book began with Michael Jordan's birth in Brooklyn, NY. He and his parents then moved to North Carolina, where he spent his childhood. After Michael Jordan finished high school, he went to the University of Carolina. He was drafted and played for the Washington Wizards. He then went to the Bulls and became successful. One day when he had a game his father, James Jordan, did not show up to support him. This was unusual because he always came to support him. He was found dead in a ditch. He had been murdered. Michael Jordan was devastated and retired from basketball to try to find a different passion. He tried to play in MLB and he played for a while. He then returned back to the Bulls, but was not able to get his old jersey number, 23. It was in the hall of fame, so he chose 45 as his new number. He played until his official retirement in 2003.


Characterization:
Michael Jordan was the main character. He devoted most of his time to his studies and playing basketball. He was enrolled in the University of North Carolina and after his two years was signed over to the Orlando Wizards. He ended his basketball career with the Chicago Bulls. He was hard working and did not allow difficult events in hi life to stop him from success.

James Jordan, his dad, was killed by Daniel Green. He was charged for the homicide. Green and Larry Demery were sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing James Jordan. James was a hardworking, dark skinned man. He was not poor, but he was a middle class man who made due check by check to support his family.

Setting:
The setting of the story began on a sunny morning, late in June. A small family occupied a small home in Brooklyn. They moved from North Carolina when Michael Jordan was born, because of the violence. They tried to make their family live in a safe environment. As Michael grew up, the setting moved to University of North Carolina, Washington, and finally Chicago. The book started in 1963 and ended in 2003, when he retired for good.

Recommend:
I recommended this short story to high school students and adults, both males and females, because of the violent content. It was fascinating because it had a good description of how people live through life and how they kept on with their daily lives. People cannot stop violence, but can have a better understanding of it by reading this book. The people can then try to direct kids into the right path in life, so they do not make bad decisions. Knowing right from wrong and occupying their time wisely, will keep them out of trouble.

[Josh Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response
Michael Jordan is my favorite basketball player, as I think he is the best basketball player ever. I know to play basketball as well as he did must have been hard to do. He grew up in poverty but always had his family’s support. Michael Jordan was not born a great athlete, but he made himself a great athlete through hard work and determination. In the beginning, Michael Jordan, could not dribble the ball, without bouncing it off his foot. His shots did not even make it to the basket and dunking a basketball was a dream. It was nice to see that Michael Jordan was selected at North Carolina and then set records there. He led the Olympics team to a gold medal and then he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls.

Plot
This book detailed Jordan’s life from childhood, through his college and professional basketball days. It concluded with his retirement spent golfing and motorcycling. He authored a book, titled Driven from Within which explained his desire to succeed. Whether he scored 30, 40, 50, or even 60 points in a game, he remained humble and determined to break all basketball records.
The first time Michael Jordan retired, he played baseball for the Chicago White Sox. When he failed to make the team, he returned to basketball in 1995. In retirement Jordan bought part of the Washington Wizards, but later sold his share because he wanted to play for them. After disappointing performances Jordan retired for the final time at the age of 38.

Characterization
Jordan’s determination to achieve started early as he competed in a variety of sports with his older brothers. This developed his desire to be his best in whatever he did. He became famous as a basketball player but will be remembered as a caring, compassionate man. The biggest influences on his character were his supportive family members, Coach Smith, and several Chicago Bulls’ coaches.

Impacts of setting
The setting was all of the NBA basketball courts, especially the field houses of the Chicago Bulls and North Carolina Tar Heels. Millions of people watched Jordan play and this motivated him to work harder as the crowds cheered. This book began with his birth in 1963 and concluded in 2007 with his retirement. He played basketball almost 20 years.

Recommend
I gave this book five stars because I really enjoyed reading about Michael Jordan and his life growing up. I would recommend this book to any male or female ages 14 and above, because this book was easy to understand. The book moved quickly and told Michael Jordan’s life story.

[Chris T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is about Micheal Jordan in when he played basketball and in his time aside from basketball. It talks about how great he was in high school and in the NBA. The book says he was basketballs greatest legend. He won many things in the NBA and was amazing at golf.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy the sport basketball and enjoy learning new things. This book to me was slightly boring and sometimes it would interest me when I found something new out about Micheal Jordan.

[Collin Jorgensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal Response:
I read the book Legends in Sports: Michael Jordan by Matt Christopher. I thought this was an okay book and could have been better. The author talked an extreme amount about the individual games that were played, and it seemed to take over the book. I think the book was alright and it was an okay read.

Plot:
In this book the author talked about Michael Jordan's life. Michael was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 17, 1963. After he was born they moved back to North Carolina where Michael's parents met. James Jordan, Michael’s father, worked hard to provide for his family. James loved the game of basketball, and he wanted his children to enjoy it. He decided to get a basketball hoop for his kids. Michael spent a majority of his time playing basketball with his father, and his father usually beat him. Michael got quicker, faster, and stronger and spent all his time practicing. In his freshman year, he decided to tryout for the basketball team. At tryouts he did okay, and he was the smallest on the court. He did not make the team that year. He worked over the summer to get better and increase his skills. Next year when he tried out again, he made the team and started at point guard. He excelled at the position and even had some colleges noticing him. He played two more years at D.C. Virgo High School, and then had to make a decision at what college he was going to attend. Michael grew up a North Carolina Tar Heel fan which was a reason he chose to go there Michael, and plenty of people watching him in college, said he should go into the NBA after his first year. His parents were against the idea and told him not to. He stayed three years in college, and then decided to turn pro and got drafted by the Chicago Bulls. The first few years were rough, because he had to learn new things and meet new people. He then got comfortable, and the Bulls began winning. The Bulls won three championships in a row and then some drastic happened. Michael Jordan's dad passed away. Michael was devastated, and decided to retire from basketball in 1993 and play baseball for his father. He played for the Chicago White Sox, and he did well. He played for two years in the Minor League and never made it to the majors. When he was done with baseball he came back to the NBA. He got signed by the Bulls, and he was great. He led the Bulls to three more championships! He then decided to retire again in 1998 and spend time with his family. A few years passed, and he decided he just could not stay away from the game. He came back into the NBA again and played for the Washington Wizards. He did well there too, but after some years went by his body caught up with him. He was in pain and could not play to the best of his ability anymore. Jordan retired for good in 2004. He now owns a multi-million dollar shoe company and plays in charity games around the world.

Characterization:
Michael Jordan was a person who loved the game of basketball. Ever since he was a kid growing up he just had a feel for the game. Around 10 years old, his father put him and a baseball team. Michael enjoyed playing, but not as much as basketball. When he got to high school, he actually got cut from his Junior Varsity team. Michael was devastated and he was actually depressed for a period of time. Michael worked hard and made the team the next year. He became an All-American his Junior and Senior years. When Michael went to college, he majoyed in Geography and wanted to be a teacher. He left college early to go to the NBA, and his mom was not happy. He promised his mother he would go back and get his degree, which he did. Michael was roughly 6’6 when he was in the NBA. He was a kid, he went to the doctors, and they said he would not be taller than 6’2. He was a caring guy who enjoyed seeing the happiness of others. He now helps kids with their basketball skills and owns a very large shoe line.

Impact of Setting:
Michael Jordan grew up in the city of Wilmington, North Carolina. He was born in Brooklyn, but his parents thought the streets were to unsafe for the family. Wilmington was a safe city and a safe neighborhood. Michael could go to a park and shoot around, or play catch with friends and not have to worry about much. He grew up in the 1970's and 1980's which was a pretty relaxing time. At this time, the Cold War was going on. Michael and his family weren't worried about it, but were aware of it. Michael didn't want a big war to happen, because he didn't want to be drafted to the army. That would then take away from his dreams of being a professional basketball player.

Recommendation:
I recommend this book to anyone who likes and knows the game of basketball. In my opinion, both boys and girls would enjoy reading this book. Children who are in middle school and up should not have problems reading this book. There are some challenging words, but there is not anything too difficult. I think readers who are basketball fans would enjoy reading this book and find it interesting.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it’s based on a real person and their challenges. It was easy to understand the order. It started when he was born and ended when his career was over. I liked how every family member was described in chapter 2. I also liked how the book stuck with one theme and it was about Michael and his whole basketball career. I also enjoyed in chapter 2 when Michael was determined to beat his older brother but he couldn’t because he was smaller then him.

[Isaac]

This book is about Michael Jordan and how he was one of the best players ever if not the best.For example during when Michael Jordan was playing he won 6 championships. Another reason why people think of him as the goat is how clutch he is.However Michael Jordan did not play sometimes he would get into it with players and coaches because he liked effort.Michael Jordan went to even play a different sport and still when he came back was one of the best players

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The GOAT

[Bryce]

I loved how the book explained all types of achievements and goals accomplished by Michael Jordan.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 10yo and I both enjoyed it

[Cameron Frame · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Jordan book review
Im not sure if its in my book readers thing but this book is great.
Part 1
- The book that I read was about Michael Jordan's life. He grew up in a small town in North Carolina. He didn't have a good life style but he made it to the NBA. Before he made it to the NBA he was cut from his high school basketball team, I'm pretty sure twice. When he was in the NBA he reached the NBA finals 6 times and won 6 rings. He became MVP 6 times. The audience is teenagers and people who love basketball.
Author- Matt Christopher
Title- Michael Jordan

Part 2
He got cut twice from his high school basketball team and still reached the NBA and ended up with 6 championship rings. His brother, Larry Johnson pushed him everyday until he couldn't walk. The next year he made the team and started. He went on to play college basketball and UNC and won a national championship title with them. After college basketball he went on to the NBA. He was drafted in 1984- 1985 season and I'm pretty sure by the Chicago Bulls. He played most of his career with them. After about 12 years he retired and play MLB baseball for his dad. His dad wasn't the manager but he played for him because that was his dads dream for him. He played 2 years with the white sox. Then he came back and played 4 more season with the Chicago bulls until get traded to the Washington wizards. He finally retired in 2003 for the final time. He was put into the hall of fame in 2009 or 2010.

Part 3
One highlight of this book is getting cut from the ball team
- It was a long day of school and afterwards there was basketball tryouts. You had freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors at the tryouts and it was crowed. Anyways when tryouts started Michael Jordan was standing there waiting on the sidelines for his name to be called for him to go out on the court and scrimmage against the other players. His name finally got called and he was nervous about playing as a sophomore on the varsity squad. They scrimmaged for about and hour and they tryouts were over, Michael played very well but it wasn't up to him, it was up to the coaches. They were naming people of left and right but Michaels name wasn't called. After the coaches were naming people who made the team, they told everyone else they can go home. But Michael stayed in the gym and practice everyday until next years tryouts. He was so dedicated that he would skip class and go to the gym and practice his game. And the next year he made the team and stated over a senior as a junior.

The death of his father
- His was a nice afternoon and Michael father decided that he was going to have a few drinks at the local bar. He had left and night time about 11 o'clock and he was then being followed by a group of people. He made a turn and came to a stop. He got out of a car and was shot. Michael didn't know until a few days later after his basketball game he had that day before. They sent out a search warrant and that is when they found him in the woods. Michael and his family were devastated.

College basketball and NBA
- When Michael was playing ball at the university of North Carolina on a full scholarship he was playing great. If I'm not mistaking I'm pretty sure he won the national title for his team as a FRESHMAN. I think he played all 4 years of college basketball before he got drafted by the Chicago bulls in the 1984-85 NBA draft. While he was in the NBA he became the greatest rookie of all time. If I'm not mistaking he played almost 13 years with the Chicago bulls. And about 3 or 4 years with the Washington wizards. In his career he averaged about 30 points a game. People compare Kobe Bryant to him, and I just don't see how, Kobe is garbage in my mind. But people have there own opinions.

Part 4
Why you should read this book
- the reason you should read this book is because its about the greatest player of all time, my homie Michael Jordan. The cat did everything, he was great. Cut 2 years of high school ball team and still made it to the NBA. I mean who really does that? No one but him. I recommend this book to all people who like any kind of sports. It a great and it describes his whole life until he retired from the NBA in 2003. Don't let me forget the number 6 neither. That's why LeBron James wears it. 6 stands for the number of rings Michael Jordan wore. LeBron wears 6 because that's how many rings he wants. He wants to be like or even better then Michael Jordan ever was.

[Sam Schoenick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response: Michael Jordan is one of my all time favorite basketball players. It was very cool to read about him and what he went through during his career. I enjoyed this book a lot and really liked how Michael handled things in his life. Jordan is very inspirational to many people around the world. The best thing about this book is how passionate he is towards basketball.

Plot: Michael Jordan was born in North Carolina. He lived with his parents, Deloris and James along with his brother Larry and younger sister Roslyn. Jordan as a kid loved playing sports and it kept him out of trouble. When Michael got a little older his father created "The Rack". Which is a outdoor court behind the Jordan household which is dirt ground and one hoop. Michael would play out there for hours working on his ball handling and shooting. Michael's sophomore year in high school he did not make the varsity team and that drove him to be even better. At the end of his high school career he had offers from many different colleges but he wanted to stay in his home state. He declared to go play basketball at North Carolina. Dean Smith the head coach at North Carolina loved the way Michael played and his competitive spirit. Jordan won a National Championship at North Carolina against the Georgetown Hoyas, a very good team. Michael hit the game winning shot to beat the Hoyas. Michael declared for the NBA draft and was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. As a rookie Michael average 28 points per game. A remarkable stat for a rookie but the Bulls were knocked out of the first round by the Celtics. Jordan was considered the best to ever play the game. Michael was not about just being the best in the world, he wanted to win championships. Finally in 1991 Jordan won the NBA Finals and cherished the moment. It was something he wanted his whole life. Michael retired three times in his career. He thought he accomplished everything he needed to accomplish but still had a competitive edge to win championships. Jordan finished his career with six rings and is undefeated in the Finals. Jordan is the greatest player to ever play basketball in a lot of peoples opinion.

Characterization: The main character of this biography is obviously Michael Jordan. Jordan never changes the way he acts as he starts making money. A very strong characteristic by not changing as the fame and money come into Michael's life. On the court he was a totally different person. His peers and family say Michael is the nicest person they have ever met. Opponents playing against Michael hated him for his trash talk and aggressiveness. Some other important characters in this book are Scottie Pippen, Dean Smith, Phil Jackson, James Jordan, and Magic Johnson. All of these characters made a great influence on Michael. Scottie is Michael's counter partner on the court and made him a better player.

Setting: There is no set setting that is consistent. The time table is from 1963 to 2008. The setting changes so much because in the NBA there is a lot of traveling. The most common setting is in Chicago at the United Center. At the beginning of the book the setting is mostly in North Carolina where Michael grew up and played college basketball. The setting affects the story sometimes when the Bulls had to play on the road in a tough environment.

Theme: There really is not a main theme in this biography. A theme you could pick up out of this book would be to never give up. Michael was not favored to be as good as everyone thought he was. This did not cause Jordan to give up. He worked harder and got better during the off season. Jordan is a great leader for all of his teams and you could pick up a lot of traits while reading this book.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to anyone who plays basketball. Male or female it does not matter. This book teaches a lot on how to never give up and to keep fighting. Being the best is not easy and comes with a lot of hard work. I would recommend this book to anyone in middle school and high school. I will give this book five stars because it kept my attention the whole time and never got boring.

[Tyler Vennard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Jordan is the best basketball player of all time in my opinion. this book lets me read more about his life like the time when his father got murdered.

[Neel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Jordan
by Matt Christopher
Non-Fiction Biography
176 pages

This book is about one of the greatest player in the history of sports. Michael Jordan, who was amazing at basketball. He is considered the greatest player ever to play basketball. Michael Jeffery Jordan was born on Febuary 17th,1963. His parents, James and Deloris were kind of poor. Michael used to love to play basketball with the hoop that his dad made. He used to practice a lot and loved to compete with his older brother.Later,Michael went to North Carolina Univarsity and played basketball there. He played to the varsity team and NBA team were already noticing him. After college, he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls.They had a lot of good players,but they didn't play together as a team.After Michael came, their record kept going up. He was everywhere on the court,from shooting 3-pointers to doing a 360 dunk.Michael was know for his ability to do anything and soon he started to become famous. He soon met then married a woman named Juanita. They had 3 kids,Marcus,Jasmine and Jeffery. After a few seasons playing with the Bulls, he retired and started to play minor league baseball. After 2 seasons playing baseball,he came back to basketball. He played for the Bulls, then played to the Washington Wizard.Michael has his own brand now named Air Jordan.

I really liked this book for several reasons. First, it was because I like basketball. My favorite player is Lebron James. Actually, Michael Jordan was Lebron's role model when he was a kid. I thought this was really cool. Now, Lebron is playing really good, just like Jordan. Second, the book was amazing! The author, Matt Christopher made the book so interesting that I couldn't stop reading. For instance, while was summarizing a playoff NBA game, he made everything sound so awesome. He is like of his team mate passes the ball with 4 seconds left on the clock. Michael fakes forward and jumps up and takes the 3. SWISH! The crowd goes wild, sort of thing. Third, it was really descriptive. He explain everything. He had everything about his career, family and childhood. It tells real quotes from his coaches and players. Even really good players like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird told the media that Michael Jordan was an amazing player. It also tells the score for the playoff games he was in. I learned a lot of information about Michael that a lot of people wouldn't know like he divorced hi wife Juanita so she could take care of their kids without having to much attention and having a normal life. I think anyone who loves basketball and MJ will love this book.

[BRANDON SCHEER · Rating 3 out of 5]

PERSONAL RESPONSE:
This book was a well written book. The way the author wrote while Michael was in a game just kept you amazed by Jordan’s talent. Even when he wasn’t doing anything special, it was still awesome. He did a great job of informing you how his life was all the way back from when he first learned the sport of basketball.

PLOT:
This book was about the famous basketball legend, Michael Jordan. It told you where he started as a young boy to where progressed. When he started, his skills were below average. His older brother, on the other hand, was one of the best in the school. Jordan was determined to beat his brother, and that is what drove him to be as great as he is now. As he went through high school, he was above average. By his senior year, he recieved a lot of contracts from big colleges. He then was offered a full ride to North Carolina University. Jordan was injured for a few weeks, and he only got a few weeks of practice before the first game, but his coach still started him. Jordan did not do as great as everyone thought he would. He was adapting to the college game. He soon became one of the best college basketball players in the country. He kept getting better and better. He was drafted into to the NBA to the Chicago Bulls. He was a starter from day 1. He was getting better, and he became one of the best players of all time. He led his team to win six NBA championships. He retired three times, because he kept coming out of retirement.

CHARACTERIZATION:
Michael Jordan was a great basketball player, and he was an even better man. He was nice and generous, especially to young kids. He was a family man, and he was very humble for being the most iconic basketball player in the world. James Jordan was Michael’s father. He was one of Michael’s best friends. He taught him the love for basketball and how to play the game. Even when Michael was a professional basketball player, he still went to his father for help about the game when he struggled. One day when he went to go visit his friends on the other side of the state, he was murdered. He took a nap on the side of the highway after he drove halfway. Two teenagers wanted the car so they killed him, and they left him in the river.

SETTING: The setting was 1969 until 2008. The whole story took place in North Carolina, until 1984, when he was drafted to the Chicago Bulls. Once he was drafted to the Chicago bulls, he moved there.

RECOMMENDATION:
I would recommend this book to middle school boys, because it was a very simple read. I thought boys typically enjoyed hearing about Michael Jordan more than girls.

[Timmy]

December 9, 2013
Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York. He also liked to play basketball. He went to a camp called Five Score camp in Pennsylvania. He grew faster and Michael became better at basketball. Then Michael met a white man named Buzz, who was one of his teammates.

December 15, 2013
Pages 22/42
Micheal Jordan had entered The Pan American Games. His coaches name was Bobby Knight. Coach Knight was from The University of Indiana. Micheal met his new teammates. The USA team won the Tournament. After that his at the University of North Carolina was over.

January 9, 2014
Pages 54/65
Michael Jordan now plays for the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls were playing against the Golden State Warriors. Michael hurt his leg in the 2nd period. It took a few months for Michael's leg to heel. After that Michael was back on the court. The Bulls were now playing against the Boston Celtics in the playoffs. The Bulls won the series.

January 10, 2014
Pages 65/85
The Chicago Bulls were in champion chips. They were playing against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Bulls were a lot more better with Michael Jordan. The Lakers were no match for the Bulls. The Bulls were champions thanks to Michael Jordan.

January 11, 2014
Pages 85/106
The Bulls had won the 1991 championships. But Michael heard that his father was missing. So Michael rushed back to his family. They had a call from the police, James Jordan was dead. Michael told all of his fans he was retiring from basketball because his father was dead.

January 11, 2014
Pages 106/123
Michael now plays baseball. However, he wasn't doing well at baseball. So, he decided to play basketball again. The fans were happy to see Michael again. He has also gotten bigger and stronger.

January 13, 2014
Pages 123/142
Michael had retired from the Bulls. He then played for the Washington Wizards. But Michael wasn't in good shape. The Wizards lost many games. Michael told the fans he was not playing basketball again. He waved and went off the court.

January 15, 2014
Pages 142/162
Michael now does motorcycling after retiring from basketball. After that Michael now has a family. The oldest is Jeffery Jordan. Michael knew that his son will be great at basketball. Jeffery will make his father very proud.

[ALEX!!!! Hulbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response: Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player of all time. This book was great to be able to read about his life. His struggles in high school really intrigued me. I was surprised to find out that Michael was cut from the basketball team as a freshman. So many people idolized Jordan. He was a great person on and off the court.

Plot: Michael Jordan was born in North Carolina. He lived with his parents Deloris and James. His family did not have much money when he was younger. Jordan really loved playing sports. Sports kept him out of trouble. Michael’s dad made a makeshift basketball court behind their house. The court was called, "the rack". Michael would play against his brother Larry. Michael had a sensational high school career and received many offers from Division I colleges. Michael chose to attend the University of North Carolina. Michael won a NCAA Championship with North Carolina. After his junior year he declared for the NBA draft. Michael was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. Throughout Michaels NBA career, he was considered the best player ever. He won six Championships and won three in a row.

Characterization: Michael Jordan was the main character. Michael was a great leader on and off the court. Though some opponents said Michael was aggressive and mean on the court. Deloris, Michael's mom, did not really care about Michael's skill on the court. She was more concerned about his education. She wanted Michael to finish college and get his degree in geography. Deloris was very loving and hardworking. She was able to give Michael anything he asked for even though they didn't have much money.

Setting: The book began in North Carolina as Michael lived there. After he got drafted the setting switched to Chicago. Time period is from 1963 when he was born to 2003 when he retired. The setting switched from time to time, because Michael played at different stadiums as a me ever if the Bulls.

Theme: The theme to this book was never give up. Michael was told he would never be good at basketball. He took that to heart and never gave up. He spent countless hours at "the rack" practicing all areas of his game. As a result, he became the greatest player of all time.

Recommendation: I recommend this book to any basketball player. This book suits male or female. This book is great for students in middle and high school.

[Kenneth Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Jordan: Legends in Sports


The book “Michael Jordan: Legends in Sports” by Matt Christopher is a biography about Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan is a former basketball player who is in the National Basketball Association (NBA) hall of fame. Matt Christopher goes from Michael Jordan's childhood to his life after basketball. The book starts off when he wins his first NBA championship and then the next chapter talks about his childhood. Throughout the book, the author tells the reader the best and worst moments that Michael Jordan had experienced.


This book is one of my favorite books I have read because before I read the book, I didn't know much about Michael Jordan. After reading it, I feel like I know him as a friend. Michael Jordan’s experience is very exciting and will probably want you to go out and play a pickup game of basketball. The book is also a life lesson because when Michael Jordan didn't make the Varsity basketball team his sophomore year, he took that as motivation and worked harder. Just like in life when you don't like what you have, the harder you work to get something better.


The book “Michael Jordan: Legends in Sports” reminds me of the book “ If these Walls Could Talk” because both of the stories are sports related and biographies. They also both have a similar meaning. In the story “If These Walls Could Talk” Jon Falk tells us stories and memories that affected his decision later on and how he handled his situation. This is similar to “Michael Jordan: Legends in Sports” because after all of Michael Jordan's mistakes and bad moments he learned from them. On a scale from 1-10 I would rate this book at a 9 because not only did I read about one of the greatest basketball players of all time but I learned to never give up on your dreams and that anything is possible. I finished this book very satisfied.


Submitted 2/27
By Kenny Mills
Age 15

[Mekhi J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest players in the NBA of all time. Michael Jordan so many buzzer beaters to win the game. So many nice moves to get to the basket. The most famous dunk of them all was the leap from the free throw line. Nobody ever loved the game of basketball like Michael Jordan.
Michael Jordan was born In Broklyn, New York and raised in North Carolina the neighborhood that Michael grew up end was a challenge, simply of mostly white kids so nobody wanted to be his friend. But when evrybody got a chance to see Michael's basketball skills he started to make friends. Michael's basketball skills started to develope in a very talented way. The first basketball team that he had ever tried out for was his High School team known as the Laney Buccaneers. He then made success for his High School team.
North Carolina Tarheels was Michael Jordan's first college basketball team thats when Michael became the real deal as a superstar. All the time Michael Jordan was doing nothing but attracting scouts people loved to watch him put on a show every game. In the year of 1984 Michael Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. He got the award winning rockie of the year, There was many nicknames known for Michael for instance unstoppable, showstopper, supernatural.
Before you knew it, it was time for Michael to retire because of age. Most basketball players retired in the NBA at 38 or 39. Michael's career ended with the Washington Wizards. I recomend this book to you if you like to learn about the history of basketball and one of the greatest ledgens of all time.
Michael Jordan
By, Matt Christopher

[Abdirahman Osman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Jordan: Legends in Sports is a biography about Michael Jordan. It was written by Matt Christopher. This book talks about Michael Jordan’s basketball career. It also includes the time where he joined minor league baseball. This taught me about Michael Jordan and I recommend it to others. It shows how much hard work is needed to succeed in life. The achievements and awards he won are a testament to all the hard work he put in.
After reading this book, you will likely believe that Jordan is the greatest basketball player to ever play in the NBA. Not only did he have in court issues but he had off court issues as well. His father died and Jordan was very distressed. But Jordan overcame this time of grief and sadness. Jordan won 6 titles. Twice did he win 3 titles in a row, known as a “three-peat”.
One thing I like about this book is that it is very informative. It tells me everything Michael Jordan did in his sports career. It even tells me all the stats he had in his 15 year stint in the NBA.
I recommend this book to every basketball fan. It’s very inspiring for those who want to be an NBA player or anything big in life. This book met my expectations. It would’ve been cool if Matt Christopher talked about whether he believes Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.
One of my favorite parts of this book is when the author talks about the big playoff games Jordan has played in. This book offers an easy-to-read style. Anybody can enjoy this book. This book is a 4 out of 5 stars and I think it’s awesome!

[James]

In the book Michael Jordan it explains his childhood through his pro career. Michael had a really tough childhood. He had a struggling family that lived in a dangerous neighborhood. Even though his family was struggling he still worked on us game everyday and he had a strong work ethic that obviously led him far in his career. The toughest part in his childhood was when his father was murdered. Michael is still dreadfully sad today about it but why he became great was because through all of that he stayed strong and kept practicing to become the best he could be. Michael got cut from his high school team but he wasn't sad he used it as motivation to keep practicing and he kept letting better to become great. Them Michael got so good he got to go to university of North Carolina and excelled winning awards and getting his team in the ncaa tournament. Michael didn't get scarred first overall though but he was drafted by the Bulls and excelled rigt away winning many MVP awards and even lading his team to the best record in a regular season. In the bed Michael Jordan is considered the best basketball players to ever play. I would consider this book to a person who knows a lot about sports and basketball

[Jero.R · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Michael Jordan so all about his life. He is a basketball legend. His life starts out as a young child that loves baseball. He eventually grows out of baseball. He went to Leney high school and then went to North Carolina. He then went on to getting drafted in the 1984 draft by the Bulls with the third pick. After a couple years in the nba and winning multiple championships. A tragic hong happened, his father was murdered by two eighteen year olds while he was sleeping in his car. Michael decided to retire because he wanted his last game to be watched by his father. . He came out of retirement after two years. After coming out of retirement he won more championships with Bulls. He retired after winning six titles. He came out of retirement for the last time. He played with the Wizards and was not as successful as he was with Bulls. He retired and was inducted in to the Hall of Fame in 2009.

[Niko]

This book talks about the legend player Michael Jordan who was a player on the Chicago Bulls lived his life and developed a love for the game of basketball. Michael Jordan was very competitive and never gave up in anything he did. I think this book would be good for readers who love the game of basketball and love players that never quit. This book to me had no flaws or boring moments. Michael Jordan is my favorite player in the NBA and he always will be because of his attitude and his amazing skill.

[Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book was nice. It told a lot about his life. Like I finally found out why he played baseball, his dad dreamed of him playing baseball but his father passed so he left NBA and looked back. So he played baseball for a minute but came back to the NBA and got them too the Championship again. He was like the best and came up over a lot of people, came over some of the older basketball players to which made him come up top.

[Erica J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read if you like Michael Jordan and you want to learn about him. The book gives you tons of information you may not have known about the sports hero. It goes beyond his professional basketball career and details his life as well. I would use it in the classroom to compare current basketball players and how their life might be different. Great read for 6th grade students.

[Nyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very fun and interesting to read. I have been a basketball fan and a Michael Jordan fan for so long. I found it really cool learning more about his life. This book really taught me a lot about Michael and how he spent his time on and off the basketball court. I really enjoyed reading this book and I think a lot of sports lovers would love it too.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

this tell about the great m.j

[D'varee]

ok ok ok ok ok ok