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One Last Shot
A story of family, friendship, and miniature golf.
For as long as he can remember, Malcolm has never felt like he was good enough. Not for his parents, who have always seemed at odds with each other, with Malcolm caught in between. And especially not for his dad, whose competitive drive and love for sports Malcolm has never shared.
That is, until Malcolm discovers miniature golf, the one sport he actually enjoys. Maybe it’s the way in which every hole is a puzzle to be solved. Or the whimsy of the windmills and waterfalls that decorate the course. Or maybe it’s the slushies at the snack bar. But whatever the reason, something about mini golf just clicks for Malcolm. And best of all, it’s a sport his dad can’t possibly obsess over.
Or so Malcolm thinks.
Soon he is signed up for lessons and entered in tournaments. And yet, even as he becomes a better golfer and finds unexpected friends at the local course, be wonders if he might not always be a disappointment. But as the final match of the year draws closer, the tension between Malcolm’s parents reaches a breaking point, and it’s up to him to put the puzzle of his family back together again.
For as long as he can remember, Malcolm has never felt like he was good enough. Not for his parents, who have always seemed at odds with each other, with Malcolm caught in between. And especially not for his dad, whose competitive drive and love for sports Malcolm has never shared.
That is, until Malcolm discovers miniature golf, the one sport he actually enjoys. Maybe it’s the way in which every hole is a puzzle to be solved. Or the whimsy of the windmills and waterfalls that decorate the course. Or maybe it’s the slushies at the snack bar. But whatever the reason, something about mini golf just clicks for Malcolm. And best of all, it’s a sport his dad can’t possibly obsess over.
Or so Malcolm thinks.
Soon he is signed up for lessons and entered in tournaments. And yet, even as he becomes a better golfer and finds unexpected friends at the local course, be wonders if he might not always be a disappointment. But as the final match of the year draws closer, the tension between Malcolm’s parents reaches a breaking point, and it’s up to him to put the puzzle of his family back together again.
321 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2020
88 people are currently reading
4265 people want to read
About the author
John David Anderson
21 books619 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John David Anderson once hit himself so hard on a dare by his sister that he literally knocked himself out of a chair and nearly blacked out. He has since translated this passion and singularity of purpose to the related arts of novel writing and pizza eating. The author of STANDARD HERO BEHAVIOR, SIDEKICKED, MINION, THE DUNGEONEERS and the soon-to-land MS. BIXBY's LAST DAY, Anderson is a firm believer in wearing the same pair of jeans for three days in a row (four in the winter) and the power of writing to solve 73% of the world's problems. He lives with his beautiful wife and twins in Indianapolis, Indiana.
John David Anderson once hit himself so hard on a dare by his sister that he literally knocked himself out of a chair and nearly blacked out. He has since translated this passion and singularity of purpose to the related arts of novel writing and pizza eating. The author of STANDARD HERO BEHAVIOR, SIDEKICKED, MINION, THE DUNGEONEERS and the soon-to-land MS. BIXBY's LAST DAY, Anderson is a firm believer in wearing the same pair of jeans for three days in a row (four in the winter) and the power of writing to solve 73% of the world's problems. He lives with his beautiful wife and twins in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
July 6, 2020
I loved this. But then again, I love everything by Anderson. The mini golf structure was fun and the bickering parents were very relatable. It amazes me how I can read a character and know it's Anderson's character and voice, but they all feel unique and fresh story after story. Malcolm is no exception. The pressure he feels is well described and kids will easily relate. And as over the top as Frank (Malcolm's "coach") was, I thought he was a great character. This one has a perfect blend of humor and heart, but that's come to be expected from Anderson.
February 17, 2020
John David Anderson has me chuckling, hurting, hoping, and anticipating throughout this truly excellent work. Malcolm Greeley is just like so many tweens and teens—trying to find his niche, striving to make his parents proud but sure he isn’t, hurting and blaming himself when his parents fight, and so much more. Anderson reveals Malcolm’s heavy load but keeps it from being to oppressive by sprinkling humor, cultural references and quirky Lex into the mix. Strong characters, relatable plot and satisfying but not too neatly resolved conclusion makes this a 5+ book for me and will be for my library patrons, as well. Readers from 4th through 8th grade could enjoy it, but the reading level and length may put it out of reach for many at the low end of that spectrum and some at the other end may object to reading a book with a 12 year old main character. Lovers of Jordan Sonnenblick, Joan Bauer, Lisa Graff, and Barbara O’Connor are sure to approve. Content is free of profanity or sex and the violence is limited to an intense food fight. However, there are two places when golf jokes about balls and shafts could raise some eyebrows, but they are fairly benign. Younger readers will miss them entirely and those that do understand will smile at the adolescent play on words and move on. Thank you, thank you for this dARC, Edelweiss!
Note: I do hope that in the final published work that someone figures out how to spell “exclamation mark.” Every time it is used in this ARC, which is fairly often and for good reason, it is spelled “exclimation.”
Note: I do hope that in the final published work that someone figures out how to spell “exclamation mark.” Every time it is used in this ARC, which is fairly often and for good reason, it is spelled “exclimation.”
July 17, 2020
Thanks to Edelweiss for an ARC of this book.
John David Anderson hits another home run, or more like a hole-in-one, with this book. I absolutely loved this one. Great characters which many students will be able to relate to. The author has a way, in all his books, to add humor while keeping the seriousness of the situations. This is one of my favorites of his books and is sure to be loved by the students in my school. Can't wait to get my hands on the hard copy of this.
John David Anderson hits another home run, or more like a hole-in-one, with this book. I absolutely loved this one. Great characters which many students will be able to relate to. The author has a way, in all his books, to add humor while keeping the seriousness of the situations. This is one of my favorites of his books and is sure to be loved by the students in my school. Can't wait to get my hands on the hard copy of this.
May 2, 2020
"Sometimes conversations are full of blank spaces. Like Mad Libs. Somebody will say something and the pause, waiting for you to think what they were too frightened or embarrassed or polite to say. My parents ended a lot of their sentences this way when they talked to each other. They had whole conversations that seemed to be filled with unspoken words, little pits of quicksand for the other person to walk into. This blank was easy to fill. He wouldn't be mad, but he might never look at me the same way for a while."
ONE LAST SHOT is another hole-in-one for John David Anderson! Malcolm is an authentic, nerdy twelve year old boy who never feels good enough. When he finally finds something that he likes to do--something that his athletic dad approves of--he has tough choices to make. Malcolm's mini golf skills help him learn compassion, how to trust himself, and how to relax into challenging experiences. This book has themes of family, loyalty, divorce, honesty, friendship, self esteem, competition, and love.
ONE LAST SHOT is another hole-in-one for John David Anderson! Malcolm is an authentic, nerdy twelve year old boy who never feels good enough. When he finally finds something that he likes to do--something that his athletic dad approves of--he has tough choices to make. Malcolm's mini golf skills help him learn compassion, how to trust himself, and how to relax into challenging experiences. This book has themes of family, loyalty, divorce, honesty, friendship, self esteem, competition, and love.
December 29, 2020
Who would've thought that miniature golf could be so engaging and deep?! Anderson's signature style of humor, excellent characterization, quick pacing, well-developed relationships, and a lovely message about self-acceptance all come together beautifully in this story. Malcolm is a very endearing character struggling with the not uncommon reality of unhappily married parents that have problems he is completely unable to fix. He is also having difficulty making connections with his own peers until he meets Lex. I thought the way his friendship with Lex and Coach Frank progress through the story was believable and authentic and his feelings of inadequacy to meet his competitive and driven father's unrealistic expectations will resonate with many kids. Finally, I love that the structure of the story is similar to a game of golf with 18 holes as chapters. Fantastic book and I think my students will enjoy it as well.
March 3, 2021
One Last Shot by John David Anderson is a moving story of learning to listen to one’s inner voice. Like most of Anderson’s work, this book is a beautiful celebration of friendship and mentoring. It also highlights the impact of parental strife and separation on children as well as the effects pushy, overbearing parents can have on their kids, especially when they disregard their own emotions. I would definitely recommend this one to fans of sports books and those looking for books about divorce and separation.
Read my full review on my blog.
Read my full review on my blog.
April 26, 2020
Really sweet and fun story
May 22, 2020
Who knew there were miniature golf competitions? Who knew that a book about them could be so fun? .
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ONE LAST SHOT by @thejohndavid is a wonderful MG book about learning to let go of the idea that you can fix your family and focusing on your next step (or shot). 4.5⭐️ .
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Malcolm is shy and quirky with imagined voices in his head serving as his primary “conversations.” He isn’t mentally ill; he’s just highly imaginative. His competitive father discovers Malcolm’s innate talent for mini golf after they finally give up on Malcolm playing baseball and soon Malcolm is signed up for lessons with a putting coach. Malcolm’s home life is filled with tension; his parents fight all the time and divorce appears to be possible. Malcolm’s putting coach, Frank, provides advice and comic relief. Very entertaining!
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#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
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ONE LAST SHOT by @thejohndavid is a wonderful MG book about learning to let go of the idea that you can fix your family and focusing on your next step (or shot). 4.5⭐️ .
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Malcolm is shy and quirky with imagined voices in his head serving as his primary “conversations.” He isn’t mentally ill; he’s just highly imaginative. His competitive father discovers Malcolm’s innate talent for mini golf after they finally give up on Malcolm playing baseball and soon Malcolm is signed up for lessons with a putting coach. Malcolm’s home life is filled with tension; his parents fight all the time and divorce appears to be possible. Malcolm’s putting coach, Frank, provides advice and comic relief. Very entertaining!
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#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
April 13, 2020
I really liked this book. I was a bit hesitant at first with the mini-golf theme. I liked how each chapter was one hole of the golf course while within the chapter Malcolm visits events in the past. The characters all have flaws, Mom, Dad, Frank, (especially Frank), Malcolm. All except Lex- she’s a breath is fresh air for Malcom. Malcolm struggles with his parents fighting and especially with trying to live up to his father’s expectations. This is how Malcolm ends up in. Putt putt golf tournament. As Malcolm is coached by dad’s old high school classmate and continues to play golf, he slowly comes to learn to tune put those voices on his head. A very satisfying novel for anyone who has ever felt they did not measure up.
January 17, 2023
3.5 stars. This is a sweet and funny story about 12 year old Malcolm and finding his place in the world. His dad is an ex-athlete and loves sports and he wants Malcolm to love sports too. Malcolm has some anxieties and doesn’t feel good enough for a lot of things like making friends and not being weird. Miniature golf becomes a way for him to relate to others and to grow. I loved Frank as a coach. Loved some of the nerd humor. There are some sad parts with parents fighting and bit getting along, which many kids can relate to. No swears, and a few golf ball jokes. 6th grade and up.
May 10, 2020
Truly enjoyed this story. John David Anderson has an amazing talent for weaving a story with humor and heart, while also adding a tiny piece of heartache to make you think. Love these characters and the mini-golf setting. Can’t wait to recommend this story to my students.
March 11, 2022
Anxiety is epidemic among kids, so it kind of makes sense that it is now epidemic among characters in children’s literature. But while the mirroring goals of authors might be pure, the fact remains that kids, like adults, often read stories to escape reality, and don’t want their face mashed right in the midst of the mess they are trying to forget. That is why it is such a pleasure to find a character who is anxious, who has realistic problems but who is surrounded by enough entertaining props, has enough deadpan humor and experiences, and who is lucky enough in his unlikely mentor that he, (and we the reader), experience the sweet relief of growing (at least a bit) out of problems.
Malcolm is an only kid who really tries not to disappoint his parents. Partly it’s just because he is a good kid but also because it is excruciating to watch in slow motion as his parents weaponize him as means of expressing their discontent with each other. Which is why, even though Malcolm hates baseball and is truly terrible at it, he is still stuck in little league where he reliably disappoints his baseball star dad and lets down his team - week after week after week. Until through some star-driven series of events Malcolm manages to quit, and in a quirk of fate winds up with his dad at a dinky mini-golf course one weekend. There is something about mini-golf that makes it hard to stress about; problems naturally shrink when the field of play is tiny and includes windmills, tunnels and giant dinosaurs.
But when his dad seizes on his prowess and hires an old high-school acquaintance as a coach in order to compete in minigolf-tournaments both Malcolm and the reader think they know where this is all heading. Luckily no one could expect Frank. Frank and Malcolm’s delightful relationship shows just how important the right role-model can be and how important it is to value those who are far from perfect. As Frank so aptly puts it when Malcolm worries they aren’t practicing the right way - “We are practicing,” Frank said over his shoulder. “We are practicing how not to be a total goober.”
Malcolm is an only kid who really tries not to disappoint his parents. Partly it’s just because he is a good kid but also because it is excruciating to watch in slow motion as his parents weaponize him as means of expressing their discontent with each other. Which is why, even though Malcolm hates baseball and is truly terrible at it, he is still stuck in little league where he reliably disappoints his baseball star dad and lets down his team - week after week after week. Until through some star-driven series of events Malcolm manages to quit, and in a quirk of fate winds up with his dad at a dinky mini-golf course one weekend. There is something about mini-golf that makes it hard to stress about; problems naturally shrink when the field of play is tiny and includes windmills, tunnels and giant dinosaurs.
But when his dad seizes on his prowess and hires an old high-school acquaintance as a coach in order to compete in minigolf-tournaments both Malcolm and the reader think they know where this is all heading. Luckily no one could expect Frank. Frank and Malcolm’s delightful relationship shows just how important the right role-model can be and how important it is to value those who are far from perfect. As Frank so aptly puts it when Malcolm worries they aren’t practicing the right way - “We are practicing,” Frank said over his shoulder. “We are practicing how not to be a total goober.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2023
My kids (age 11 and 13) and I loved this book as a read aloud. It’s laugh out loud funny, but also manages to have a lot of talking points. We liked the dual timeline structure and hole descriptions at each chapter start. Malcom’s eccentric coach, Frank, is fantastic, funny, and helps him gain confidence. So is Malcolm’s new, and only, friend Lex. We loved all of the miniature golf talk. The kids requested putt-putt when staying with their grandparents and I took them with friends when we finished the book. I liked how the author used golf as a metaphor for life; making choices, finding a path, and focusing on one hole at a time.
The main issue in the book is that Malcolm’s parents argue a lot and he tries to make them happy. It gets a bit old, but it was refreshing to see this parent dynamic in a middle grade book. I think there are a lot of kids out there who’s parents act like Malcolm’s (mine did - together and with both of my stepparents), not divorced or abusive, but constant bickering and passive aggressive jabs. There are kids who will identify with Malcom’s walking on eggshells in his own home and benefit from seeing him gain confidence and realize that it’s not his fault. This book was fantastic. We laughed, I cried, and we all enjoyed the ride.
The main issue in the book is that Malcolm’s parents argue a lot and he tries to make them happy. It gets a bit old, but it was refreshing to see this parent dynamic in a middle grade book. I think there are a lot of kids out there who’s parents act like Malcolm’s (mine did - together and with both of my stepparents), not divorced or abusive, but constant bickering and passive aggressive jabs. There are kids who will identify with Malcom’s walking on eggshells in his own home and benefit from seeing him gain confidence and realize that it’s not his fault. This book was fantastic. We laughed, I cried, and we all enjoyed the ride.
July 25, 2020
It's a marvelous and terrifying time being on the verge of your teen years. Friends, hobbies/sports, parents, life itself is all starting to look different than it did yesterday. This great story of Malcolm Greeley not only shows one boy's experience for a few months of this clear as mud time of life, but really gets to the heart of many of these matters realistically.
July 14, 2021
I really enjoyed this middle school realistic sports read. The reader will be pulling for Malcom to go under par in miniature golf and to win in life. The story brought back many memories of my own junior high years playing basketball and wanting to please my father. The audiobook, with all of the different voices, was very engaging and comical at times. Great read!
August 11, 2020
4 stars as I think John David Anderson hits it out of he ballpark [or mini golf course here] on how kids and especially boys deal with their world... ok.. maybe more than I want to know about the holes and design on these golf courses but still a family story with a good ending...
May 19, 2023
I love this author. He really knows how to tug heartstrings and make me care about the characters.
July 3, 2023
I read this before I let my 1st grader read it since it is middle school level. It is pretty tame. My son started to play golf this year so he is excited to read it. Cute book!
March 7, 2021
This story is about a 12 year old boy named Malcolm Greeley who never really loved the sport that his father loved in baseball and never really was passionate about any sport. Then one day, his father and him go to Fritz’s arcade where they go and play on the mini golf course where they find out how skilled Malcolm actually is at the game. This leads to his father signing him up for lessons with one of his old high school friends Frank. As Frank and Malcolm train at Fritz’s, Malcolm meets a girl named Lex, who he ends up becoming best friends with. His father is confident in Malcolm’s skill at mini golf so he signs him up for a big national tournament. Throughout the story his parents haven’t been getting along so after Malcolm’s last lesson his parents decide to take a break from each other for awhile. As Malcolm grows older, voices come to him more often and talk to him through his daily life. Will Malcolm win the tournament, will his parents come back together, will the voices stop?
I really loved this book, it gave all the characters very good depth and great personalities. I didn’t like the story going from the past to the present because I could never really remember if Malcolm was in the past or present. I also really liked how deeply Malcolm thinks and how hard he works when he is interested in something. Another thing I did not really like are the voices Malcolm heard in his head and how constantly they spoke.
I would definitely recommend this book to a lot of people. I would recommend this book to kids from grades 5th grade and up. Also kids who are interested in sports novels with a lot of emotion in them.
I really loved this book, it gave all the characters very good depth and great personalities. I didn’t like the story going from the past to the present because I could never really remember if Malcolm was in the past or present. I also really liked how deeply Malcolm thinks and how hard he works when he is interested in something. Another thing I did not really like are the voices Malcolm heard in his head and how constantly they spoke.
I would definitely recommend this book to a lot of people. I would recommend this book to kids from grades 5th grade and up. Also kids who are interested in sports novels with a lot of emotion in them.
May 11, 2021
Malcolm is having a rough summer. When cornered by his dad, he finally admits he doesn't like baseball which obviously disappoints the former baseball all-star. Actually, Malcolm feels like he spends a lot of time disappointing his dad. Nothing he does seems to be good enough. And the voices in his head frequently tell him that's a good chunk of the reason his dad and mom fight all the time. When he and his dad have a rare fun time together at a local putt-putt course and Malcolm actually beats his dad, his dad gets the brilliant idea that Malcolm should get into competitive putt-putt. Malcolm actually enjoys putt-putt, but he isn't so sure about this competitive thing. Especially when his dad hires him a coach. But Frank grows on Malcolm, and even though his teaching methods are sometimes unconventional, Frank proves a safe person for Malcolm to talk to. The putt-putt course also brings a new friend into Malcolm's life, someone just as quirky as he is who seems to get him. Could putt-putt really help Malcolm through being awkward and his parent's turmoil, or is it just going to be the straw that broke the camel's back?
Kudos to John David Anderson for writing possibly the first middle grade novel about competitive putt-putt. I liked the new angle. Poor Malcolm has a super harsh and hard to please father and it takes a LONG time to make any progress in that area. I also was kind of concerned about the voices Malcolm hears and wondered if he didn't have a deeper issue or if that was just something Anderson created to help tell the story. (I listened to much of this on audiobook and it sure gave the narrator a chance to show off a great range of voices.) I really liked Malcolm's friend Lex a lot. She's a well-grounded kid who is pretty ok being very unique, though she's also human and shows she isn't perfect. She's a great friend to Malcolm when he needs it. Frank was great too. He saw through Malcolm in ways his parents totally couldn't, and you can tell the coaching experience is good for both of them. I'm always on the hunt for more contemporary fiction with guys as the main character (they are few and far between in middle grade lit), so this will be good to add to the shelves.
Notes on content: 1 borderline swear depending on your culture, and 2 strong uses of profanity. No sexual content. No violence. One character suffers a minor heart attack. There's a lot of verbal and psychological tension at home for Malcolm.
Kudos to John David Anderson for writing possibly the first middle grade novel about competitive putt-putt. I liked the new angle. Poor Malcolm has a super harsh and hard to please father and it takes a LONG time to make any progress in that area. I also was kind of concerned about the voices Malcolm hears and wondered if he didn't have a deeper issue or if that was just something Anderson created to help tell the story. (I listened to much of this on audiobook and it sure gave the narrator a chance to show off a great range of voices.) I really liked Malcolm's friend Lex a lot. She's a well-grounded kid who is pretty ok being very unique, though she's also human and shows she isn't perfect. She's a great friend to Malcolm when he needs it. Frank was great too. He saw through Malcolm in ways his parents totally couldn't, and you can tell the coaching experience is good for both of them. I'm always on the hunt for more contemporary fiction with guys as the main character (they are few and far between in middle grade lit), so this will be good to add to the shelves.
Notes on content: 1 borderline swear depending on your culture, and 2 strong uses of profanity. No sexual content. No violence. One character suffers a minor heart attack. There's a lot of verbal and psychological tension at home for Malcolm.
May 30, 2020
Twelve-year-old Malcolm Greeley is never lonely when he’s alone. He has a cast of characters sharing space in his brain. Creative, imaginative, smart, and painfully shy, Malcolm’s interior life is where he feels safe, unlike his attempts at sports. After three years of trying to play baseball, it’s apparent that Malcolm did NOT inherit his father’s athletic ability. He knows that his father is disappointed in him and wonders if that is one reason his parents aren’t getting along.
Then his dad takes him to play putt-putt. Malcolm enjoys the concept of planning your shot, measuring the angles, and gauging the velocity and he’s good at it. Malcolm beats his dad by ten strokes. Excited to see some athletic talent, his dad signs Malcolm up for a junior miniature golf tournament and hires Frank, an old high school buddy and ex-pro golfer, to be his coach. It’s hard to believe that Frank was ever a pro at anything with his dime store flip flops and pot belly, but Frank is exactly the coach that Malcolm needs. He not only teaches Malcolm putting, he teaches him how to gauge life. But no matter how good Malcolm gets at putt-putt, it doesn’t seem to be helping the tension at home.
Does Malcolm win? I can’t tell you that, but I can tell you that you’ll be the winner if you read this book.
I highly recommend this humorous story of hope and holes-in-one, especially for the quiet kids who get picked last.
Then his dad takes him to play putt-putt. Malcolm enjoys the concept of planning your shot, measuring the angles, and gauging the velocity and he’s good at it. Malcolm beats his dad by ten strokes. Excited to see some athletic talent, his dad signs Malcolm up for a junior miniature golf tournament and hires Frank, an old high school buddy and ex-pro golfer, to be his coach. It’s hard to believe that Frank was ever a pro at anything with his dime store flip flops and pot belly, but Frank is exactly the coach that Malcolm needs. He not only teaches Malcolm putting, he teaches him how to gauge life. But no matter how good Malcolm gets at putt-putt, it doesn’t seem to be helping the tension at home.
Does Malcolm win? I can’t tell you that, but I can tell you that you’ll be the winner if you read this book.
I highly recommend this humorous story of hope and holes-in-one, especially for the quiet kids who get picked last.
May 5, 2020
A troubled home, a parent who is desperately trying to relive some former glory through their child, anxiety, and middle school. What is Things That Don't Help A Kid Fit In for 500, Alex!
Malcolm hates baseball, but he knows that keeping his dad happy is really important. If he's happy then he's less likely to fight with mom. So Malcolm plays baseball. At least he does until he finds another sport he actually likes. Mini Golf!
Turns out Malcolm is really good at mini golf. His dad sees this too and hires a coach to get him ready for a junior mini golf tournament.
Will Malcolm be ready for the tournament and will his parents' dustups keep getting worse? If only life were as simple as calculating the path of a tricky hole of mini golf!
This is the sports book for kids who hate sports! I loved how Malcolm was every nerdy kid who was ever forced to daydream in left field to satisfy a sporty parent. His friendship with Lex, his rough but sage coach Frank, and even the complicated characters of his parents all felt like real people I know. I think kids from grades 4 and up will really love this novel. Hopefully mini golf courses nationwide will be bustling once the quarantine is lifted!
Malcolm hates baseball, but he knows that keeping his dad happy is really important. If he's happy then he's less likely to fight with mom. So Malcolm plays baseball. At least he does until he finds another sport he actually likes. Mini Golf!
Turns out Malcolm is really good at mini golf. His dad sees this too and hires a coach to get him ready for a junior mini golf tournament.
Will Malcolm be ready for the tournament and will his parents' dustups keep getting worse? If only life were as simple as calculating the path of a tricky hole of mini golf!
This is the sports book for kids who hate sports! I loved how Malcolm was every nerdy kid who was ever forced to daydream in left field to satisfy a sporty parent. His friendship with Lex, his rough but sage coach Frank, and even the complicated characters of his parents all felt like real people I know. I think kids from grades 4 and up will really love this novel. Hopefully mini golf courses nationwide will be bustling once the quarantine is lifted!
October 7, 2021
DISCLAIMER: I received a digital review copy of ONE LAST SHOT via Edelweiss Above the Treeline in exchange for an honest review
John David Anderson always knocks it out of the park with his contemporary books, and ONE LAST SHOT was no exception.
I first discovered John David Anderson’s books two years ago when I read MS. BIXBY’S LAST DAY and I’ve read and loved all of his contemporary works since then. He has a knack for writing books with quotes that sound like they’re straight out of Jack Pearson’s mouth but also have scenes and lines that make me die laughing and any author that can blend deep emotions and humor seamlessly is a win in my book.
I loved the setup of this book too. Like, the end of each chapter was told in present day, but then the beginning of every chapter was in flashbacks, filling in the blanks. Maybe it’s because it reminded me a lot of THIS IS US and that’s my favorite show but I loved the way the story was told.
Would definitely recommend for fans of NBC’s THIS IS US, Broadway’s BE MORE CHILL, and John David Anderson’s FINDING ORION.
Will I be purchasing in May?
Yes.
John David Anderson always knocks it out of the park with his contemporary books, and ONE LAST SHOT was no exception.
I first discovered John David Anderson’s books two years ago when I read MS. BIXBY’S LAST DAY and I’ve read and loved all of his contemporary works since then. He has a knack for writing books with quotes that sound like they’re straight out of Jack Pearson’s mouth but also have scenes and lines that make me die laughing and any author that can blend deep emotions and humor seamlessly is a win in my book.
I loved the setup of this book too. Like, the end of each chapter was told in present day, but then the beginning of every chapter was in flashbacks, filling in the blanks. Maybe it’s because it reminded me a lot of THIS IS US and that’s my favorite show but I loved the way the story was told.
Would definitely recommend for fans of NBC’s THIS IS US, Broadway’s BE MORE CHILL, and John David Anderson’s FINDING ORION.
Will I be purchasing in May?
Yes.
December 18, 2020
Malcolm is an odd kid who doesn't have a lot of friends, and he also doesn't like sports. His dad likes sports. A Lot. His dad is constantly disappointed in Malcolm for not enjoying Little League as much as he does. His dad is obsessed with winning, and is very disappointed every time Malcolm causes the baseball team to lose the game.
Malcolm finally finds something he's passionate about: mini golf. His dad enters him in a mini golf tournament, and he hires Malcolm a golf coach (who turns out to be very... unconventional).
This book deals a lot with Malcolm's anxiety, which ultimately is influenced heavily by his parents' near constant fighting. But this book also has funny moments! It's a fun read and you don't need to know anything about mini golf to enjoy it.
This book is good for ages 4th grade and up. I would recommend it to any kid, but especially kids who are having a hard time with their parents' expectations or if they are dealing with their parent's divorce. I would also recommend it to boys who are having trouble with not fitting society's expectations of what boys and men should be like.
Malcolm finally finds something he's passionate about: mini golf. His dad enters him in a mini golf tournament, and he hires Malcolm a golf coach (who turns out to be very... unconventional).
This book deals a lot with Malcolm's anxiety, which ultimately is influenced heavily by his parents' near constant fighting. But this book also has funny moments! It's a fun read and you don't need to know anything about mini golf to enjoy it.
This book is good for ages 4th grade and up. I would recommend it to any kid, but especially kids who are having a hard time with their parents' expectations or if they are dealing with their parent's divorce. I would also recommend it to boys who are having trouble with not fitting society's expectations of what boys and men should be like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2020
I received an electronic ARC from Harper Collins through Edelweiss Plus.
The story began slowly but picks up about chapter four. Anderson sets his story up in eighteen chapters to match the 18-holes of miniature golf Malcolm is playing in the tournament. The brief descriptions of each hole apply to the hole itself and to the emotions and actions coming up in the chapter.
The title tells the story about Malcolm's family and about miniature golf. His parents argue consistently. He retreats and connects to voices he hears telling him it's his fault. They have one last shot to figure out if they remain together as a family. What Malcolm does on his next to last shot determines how the tournament standings finish. Anderson offers readers a view of complicated relationships and a young man figuring out who he is. They may well relate to either Malcolm or his friend, Lex as they look at their lives.
The story began slowly but picks up about chapter four. Anderson sets his story up in eighteen chapters to match the 18-holes of miniature golf Malcolm is playing in the tournament. The brief descriptions of each hole apply to the hole itself and to the emotions and actions coming up in the chapter.
The title tells the story about Malcolm's family and about miniature golf. His parents argue consistently. He retreats and connects to voices he hears telling him it's his fault. They have one last shot to figure out if they remain together as a family. What Malcolm does on his next to last shot determines how the tournament standings finish. Anderson offers readers a view of complicated relationships and a young man figuring out who he is. They may well relate to either Malcolm or his friend, Lex as they look at their lives.
February 23, 2020
This man can write a book. Damn. I can’t wait for Adam to be old enough to read them (he started trying on this one last night, but it’s probably a bit too much for age seven).
Anderson has a way with average kid voices going through average kid experiences in ways that are anything but average. Malcolm goes through a lot here. Parental pressures and strain, the feeling he’s not enough (and the feeling that he’s responsible for he’s parents’ unhappiness! Oh my heart!), a pretty awesome mini golf coach (damn Frank is amazing), and a sucker punch reveal of something that happened before he was born. All wrapped up in a frame around a mini golf competition. Loved it. Loved. It.
Anderson has a way with average kid voices going through average kid experiences in ways that are anything but average. Malcolm goes through a lot here. Parental pressures and strain, the feeling he’s not enough (and the feeling that he’s responsible for he’s parents’ unhappiness! Oh my heart!), a pretty awesome mini golf coach (damn Frank is amazing), and a sucker punch reveal of something that happened before he was born. All wrapped up in a frame around a mini golf competition. Loved it. Loved. It.
July 22, 2020
This book took a bit to get into, but after about half way, I found it hard to put down.
I loved the characters in this book and how real they felt with both negative and positives about them all. I think the author handles his mental illness in a loving way that lets other students see into the struggles that others may be having.
There are so many great themes in this book that I cannot wait to discuss with students for years to come such as family, success, friends, mental illness, and so much more.
I also CANNOT wait to talk about the ending of this book with my students. If you think you can guess it, guess again! It will be so much fun to see what my students think!
I loved the characters in this book and how real they felt with both negative and positives about them all. I think the author handles his mental illness in a loving way that lets other students see into the struggles that others may be having.
There are so many great themes in this book that I cannot wait to discuss with students for years to come such as family, success, friends, mental illness, and so much more.
I also CANNOT wait to talk about the ending of this book with my students. If you think you can guess it, guess again! It will be so much fun to see what my students think!
March 22, 2021
A middle schooler caught in the middle of his parents' relationship problems. He feels at fault and does everything he can think of to help them get along--which is how he's found himself in a very serious miniature golf tournament. This is a sensitive, authentic, compelling journey into Malcolm's struggles and insecurities, with very real dynamics between his parents. Luckily, through golf he finds two good friends to help him navigate everything, one an adult and one a peer. An excellent story.
May 9, 2020
Another great novel by John David Anderson! He always has the perfect balance of humor and poignancy, and this is no exception. Malcolm's lack of both ability and interest in sports has always disappointed his father. When they suddenly discover that Malcolm is very good at miniature golf, it's a real game changer. (Both literally and figuratively.) This was a fun book that addresses some serious family issues as well. Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.
eARC provided by Edelweiss
eARC provided by Edelweiss
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