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The Last Man's Reward
When a chance yard-sale purchase nets five boys a Willie Mays rookie card worth $4,000, their lives seem to narrow and intensify. The boys devise a "last man" contest--the winner gets the Mays card, and the losers get zip.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
5 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
David Patneaude
18 books84 followersDavid Patneaude began writing seriously (more or less) in the 1980s. His first novel, SOMEONE WAS WATCHING, was published in 1993. His books have been named to dozens of state young readers' lists and honored by the New York Public Library, the Society of School Librarians International, the Winnetka (Illinois) Public Library's "One Book, Two Villages" program, and the Washington State Public Library. His latest was EPITAPH ROAD, a recent nominee for the Nebraska Golden Sower Book Award. But on June 1, 2018, his newest YA novel, FAST BACKWARD, launches. Check it out! When he's not in a coffee shop writing, or at a school or library or conference discussing writing, or out on the trail thinking about writing, he's home in Woodinville, Washington, with his wife Judy, a middle school librarian.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 16, 2014
the last man's reward is a decent read the main character is Albert a book smart kind of guy and his friends who all have different nicknames so one day they find find a baseball card worth a fortune but didn't know how to split it up so they decide the last person who stays in the apartments will be the victor as this means once they leave there apartment to a new home they lose. this book is a decent read and would recommend it to those looking for something to read.
March 17, 2017
These five boys enter into a "temporary" friendship as their parents, who have been transferred to the area by Soft Edge, look for houses. Nick, the self-proclaimed leader and baseball card fanatic, has anointed each member with their unflattering nicknames. When the boys discover a Willie Mays rookie card at a garage sale, they set up the Last Man's Reward. The last boy left after everyone else moves, gets the card. Just to make sure the card stays safe, they hide it in a cave, making it difficult to retrieve alone. Meanwhile, Albert has run afoul of the PE teacher, Mr. Rockman, and has to show up early to school to work as Rockman's assistant. When Albert dares to ask Mr. Rockman to teach him how to long jump (so he can get to the card's secret hiding place), he begins to see another side of the teacher - a side that includes a wife with cancer. Now he really needs to win that cared - so he can help Mr. Rockman.
Good adventure for middle grade readers. True friendship, sacrifice and priorities.
Good adventure for middle grade readers. True friendship, sacrifice and priorities.
January 12, 2024
Was a quick read, would recommend if you like reading about kids and childish things
May 11, 2016
Have you ever wanted to be in a competition with your friends and the prize is a very valuable baseall card that's worth $4000. I know I would due to that card having the ability to make me rich, the genre of my book is realistic fiction I know this because of the events the settings and the characters all are things that would exist and happen in real life. In my opinion the book is that it was alright I didn't really enjoy most of the parts in the story so of the parts seemed boring and unfastiating due to the lack of suspense in the scene. ***WARNING THIS HERE BOOK REVIEW MANY CONTAIN SPOILERS YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED SO DON'T COMPLAIN IF YOU SEE SPOILERS***
First of all my book takes place in a small town in Washington town inside a company owned apartment complex where Albert and his friends Nick, small dog, princess, and Yono have formed the last mans club to help them decide who should get a very rare base ball card that sells for $4,000. Albert wants to use the money to help save his gym teachers wife's life due to her having cancer and needing of a operation, but he still has to win the last mans competition. later in the book ***Spoiler Alert*** Albert wins the card and gives the money to his gym teacher to pay for the medical bills. The theme of the story is to work your butt off and you get rewarded I know this because of Albert working his butt of to make his parents stay at the apartment a little longer then he won.
Secondly the tittle relates to the book because in the story Albert and his friends form the last mans club which is some of the tittle. The author builds suspense when Albert faces his fear and attempts to jump over the hole in the mine where his friends put the card, ***Spoiler Alert*** he falls in the hole but the suspense happens before he tries to jump the way the author described how Albert was feeling before he jumped made it suspenseful like when he said how his sweat dripped down his back like a spider. The setting adds to the conflict when Albert enters the mine to get his reward because Albert fears the hole in the mine and he goes to face his fear and that's one problem in the story that is how the setting adds to the conflict.
Finally I was angry about the lack of suspense and action these things made me angry because due to this lacking it made the book less enjoyable than I expected it to be and those are things I like to look for in books. The character I identify with is Albert because me and him are very hard workers and will do anything to help someone in need even if it means facing our fears these are traits that me and him both share like when he wanted to help his gym teacher's wife's life that sounds like something I would do. My favorite part was when Albert was about to jump over the hole because that was the most suspenseful part in this book which I really enjoyed.
In summary I rated this book 2 stars due to the book not really having that much action nor suppence also most parts were just plain boring. I would like to recommend this book to anybody that likes realistic fiction and anyone that likes baseball cards and competitions. I hope after reading this book reveiw will want to make you spend your money on baseball cards who knows you might get lucky.
First of all my book takes place in a small town in Washington town inside a company owned apartment complex where Albert and his friends Nick, small dog, princess, and Yono have formed the last mans club to help them decide who should get a very rare base ball card that sells for $4,000. Albert wants to use the money to help save his gym teachers wife's life due to her having cancer and needing of a operation, but he still has to win the last mans competition. later in the book ***Spoiler Alert*** Albert wins the card and gives the money to his gym teacher to pay for the medical bills. The theme of the story is to work your butt off and you get rewarded I know this because of Albert working his butt of to make his parents stay at the apartment a little longer then he won.
Secondly the tittle relates to the book because in the story Albert and his friends form the last mans club which is some of the tittle. The author builds suspense when Albert faces his fear and attempts to jump over the hole in the mine where his friends put the card, ***Spoiler Alert*** he falls in the hole but the suspense happens before he tries to jump the way the author described how Albert was feeling before he jumped made it suspenseful like when he said how his sweat dripped down his back like a spider. The setting adds to the conflict when Albert enters the mine to get his reward because Albert fears the hole in the mine and he goes to face his fear and that's one problem in the story that is how the setting adds to the conflict.
Finally I was angry about the lack of suspense and action these things made me angry because due to this lacking it made the book less enjoyable than I expected it to be and those are things I like to look for in books. The character I identify with is Albert because me and him are very hard workers and will do anything to help someone in need even if it means facing our fears these are traits that me and him both share like when he wanted to help his gym teacher's wife's life that sounds like something I would do. My favorite part was when Albert was about to jump over the hole because that was the most suspenseful part in this book which I really enjoyed.
In summary I rated this book 2 stars due to the book not really having that much action nor suppence also most parts were just plain boring. I would like to recommend this book to anybody that likes realistic fiction and anyone that likes baseball cards and competitions. I hope after reading this book reveiw will want to make you spend your money on baseball cards who knows you might get lucky.
August 8, 2011
Albert and his new friends live in a company-run housing complex. They stumble upon some valuable baseball cards including a Willie Mays rookie card. Deeming this card too valuable to sell they decide on a contest to determine its ownership – the last man still living in the company projects wins the card. When Albert learns that one of his teachers needs money for medical expenses his motivation to win increases. This is an excellent story of developing friendship and overcoming obstacles.
December 17, 2012
I liked reading this book. I think everyone should read this book you would really like it. its about these kids go to a garage sale and theres a box full of baseball cards and there gonna sell them and theres on3e card thats worth alot of money. they decide to hide it realy far in the cave so nether of them get the card.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews