What do you think?
Rate this book
The Contract #5
Curveball
In the fifth book in the New York Times bestselling middle grade series inspired by the life of iconic New York Yankee Derek Jeter, Derek spends the summer with his grandparents in Pequannock Township, New Jersey.
Sometimes, you were looking for role models. And sometimes, you were being one yourself.
Derek is having the best summer yet! Fun on the lake with his cousins, baseball, and a visit from his best friend, what more could he ask for? It gets even better when Derek gets to go to a Yankees game and meets a bunch of kids who play ball near the stadium, and they’re good. Awesome, actually, especially Jumbo and Tiny. Derek can’t wait to introduce them to Dave, but Grandma says if he wants to go to another Yankees game, he’ll have to earn some of the money for tickets himself. This means spending quality time with Grandpa mowing lawns and learning the meaning of hard work.
Derek brings Dave to meet Tiny and Jumbo, whom Derek admires. But when Jumbo tries to convince Derek to do something he’s sure will get him in trouble, Derek has to rethink who his role models are.
Inspired by Derek Jeter’s childhood, Curveball is the fifth book in Jeter Publishing’s New York Times bestselling middle grade baseball series that focuses on key life lessons from Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation.
Sometimes, you were looking for role models. And sometimes, you were being one yourself.
Derek is having the best summer yet! Fun on the lake with his cousins, baseball, and a visit from his best friend, what more could he ask for? It gets even better when Derek gets to go to a Yankees game and meets a bunch of kids who play ball near the stadium, and they’re good. Awesome, actually, especially Jumbo and Tiny. Derek can’t wait to introduce them to Dave, but Grandma says if he wants to go to another Yankees game, he’ll have to earn some of the money for tickets himself. This means spending quality time with Grandpa mowing lawns and learning the meaning of hard work.
Derek brings Dave to meet Tiny and Jumbo, whom Derek admires. But when Jumbo tries to convince Derek to do something he’s sure will get him in trouble, Derek has to rethink who his role models are.
Inspired by Derek Jeter’s childhood, Curveball is the fifth book in Jeter Publishing’s New York Times bestselling middle grade baseball series that focuses on key life lessons from Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation.
176 pages, Hardcover
Published April 17, 2018
34 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 20, 2018
I am 9 years old and I play travel baseball. I play catcher, shortstop and pitcher. I love to read but while I was reading this book I wanted to go out and play baseball. I have read all of 5 Jeter books about him when he was young and I think this one is my favorite so far. Things I learned in this book:
Build off better players
Play with older and better players
Work hard for things that are important to you
Keep your promises.
I finished this book in one day and when I was finished I played baseball with my dad.
I hope he writes a lot more books.
Build off better players
Play with older and better players
Work hard for things that are important to you
Keep your promises.
I finished this book in one day and when I was finished I played baseball with my dad.
I hope he writes a lot more books.
October 19, 2018
148 pages. I read 14 pages. It is a well-written story about a kid staying at his grandparents’ house during the summer. It is really geared for Middle School kids. Recommended for Grades 6-8.
May 3, 2020
"Remember, thought, if you want something badly enough, you've got to be willing to work hard for it."
Derek is spending the summer in New Jersey with his grandparents and plenty of extended family. He is especially excited because they always get to go to a New York Yankees baseball game while they are all together. He's planning on them going the week that his friend, Dave, is coming out to visit him. But when he arrives, he finds out that Grandma has purchased tickets for a game earlier in the summer. What can he do? He's already promised Dave they will go to the game while Dave is in New Jersey. So Derek asks his grandmother if they can get tickets for a second game. Grandma is more than willing to do this, if Derek is willing to work to pay for the price of the tickets. Derek quickly agrees. How hard can it be? He soon finds out just how hard his family works, but Derek is determined to hold up his end of the bargain.
But things could ruin his plans. While in New York for the first Yankee game, Derek encounters a little league game (kind of) with kids from the Bronx who are much better than any players he has encountered in Kalamazoo. And through an amazing catch of a foul ball, Derek is asked to join the game the following week. He is thrilled to be accepted by these ball players. It takes some finagling by his family, but they get Derek to that game. But how far will Derek go to feel like he belongs? "In the end the courage to do the right things has to come fro you/i>."
A solid sports novel for kids 3rd grade and up.
Derek is spending the summer in New Jersey with his grandparents and plenty of extended family. He is especially excited because they always get to go to a New York Yankees baseball game while they are all together. He's planning on them going the week that his friend, Dave, is coming out to visit him. But when he arrives, he finds out that Grandma has purchased tickets for a game earlier in the summer. What can he do? He's already promised Dave they will go to the game while Dave is in New Jersey. So Derek asks his grandmother if they can get tickets for a second game. Grandma is more than willing to do this, if Derek is willing to work to pay for the price of the tickets. Derek quickly agrees. How hard can it be? He soon finds out just how hard his family works, but Derek is determined to hold up his end of the bargain.
But things could ruin his plans. While in New York for the first Yankee game, Derek encounters a little league game (kind of) with kids from the Bronx who are much better than any players he has encountered in Kalamazoo. And through an amazing catch of a foul ball, Derek is asked to join the game the following week. He is thrilled to be accepted by these ball players. It takes some finagling by his family, but they get Derek to that game. But how far will Derek go to feel like he belongs? "In the end the courage to do the right things has to come fro you/i>."
A solid sports novel for kids 3rd grade and up.
June 15, 2018
In this autobiographical fiction story about Derek Jeter’s youth, we are introduced to a childhood memory with his grandparents one summer. While he has many important, trustworthy role models to look up to, he is nonetheless confused and stumped when a talented peer asks him to do a disrespectful act. His emotions are torn, but in the end, he is guided by the rules and values that have been instilled in him his entire life. And, even though one teammate is bullying him to tag a building for his initiation into the team, others stand up for him, and he gets great advice from his family members.
Curveball revolves around the dreams all baseball enthusiasts have, that is to play in the major leagues. And, references to great Yankee players of the past are infused into the story, yet the writing is poor and the tone and plot are formula-like. Kudos to Jeter, however, for trying to drive home the point that it really does matter what kind of a human being you are, no matter what you do for a living. Kindness, goodness, and morals are important for all of us.
Curveball revolves around the dreams all baseball enthusiasts have, that is to play in the major leagues. And, references to great Yankee players of the past are infused into the story, yet the writing is poor and the tone and plot are formula-like. Kudos to Jeter, however, for trying to drive home the point that it really does matter what kind of a human being you are, no matter what you do for a living. Kindness, goodness, and morals are important for all of us.
July 27, 2018
There is a dreadful risk that your kid could turn into a Yankees fan upon reading this series, but in all other ways, I thoroughly recommend them. My nine year old is entranced by the baseball action, and the books are shamelessly didactic, each one teaching a strong moral lesson, in a way that my son just eats up. They spark great conversations, too. Right now, my kid is finishing this one in the other room, but if he does, it’s written well-enough that I’ll have to finish it myself tomorrow to see how young Derek resolves his dilemma. Nicely played, sir.
May 17, 2018
Derek Jeter is both an incredible athlete AND a surprisingly talented author!
November 7, 2018
This one was really good
November 25, 2018
My son and I have enjoyed reading through this series.
May 15, 2019
I would have rated it 3.49999999999999999998
March 2, 2020
I think it was a great book about how Derek had to make the right decision in life
April 24, 2020
It was a great book it really showed great character from Derek Jeter when he was younger i would recommend this book to someone who likes baseball.
October 6, 2020
it is a very good book it show if you if you never give up you can do any thing you can acomplish any thing you want like go to the mlb and play baseball
July 8, 2022
The book describes many things about baseball but the main theme of this book is to give you the lesson that you should make good choices and have good role models.
Read
March 27, 2023it ws good
November 28, 2023
Great book, good lessons for kids.
February 11, 2024
These are great conversation starter books for parents and kids while inspiring a passion for reading.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews