The Perfect Shot

by Elaine Marie Alphin

Someone murdered Brian's girfriend, Amanda. The police think it was her father. Brian isn’t so sure. But everyone he knows is telling him to move on, get over it, focus on the present. Focus on basketball. Focus on hitting the perfect shot. Brian hopes that the system will work for Amanda and her father. An innocent man couldn’t be wrongly convicted, could he? But then Brian does a school project on Leo Frank, a Jewish man lynched decades ago for the murder of a teenage girl―a murder he didn’t commit. Worse still, Brian’s teammate Julius gets arrested for nothing more than being a black kid in the wrong place at the wrong time. Brian can’t deny any longer that the system is flawed. As Amanda’s father goes on trial, Brian admits to himself that he knows something that could break the case. But if he comes forward, will the real killer try for another perfect shot―this time against Brian?

Genres: Sports, Young Adult, Mystery, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Basketball

360 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

I was born on 30 October 1955 in San Francisco, California, and attended Lafayette Elementary School in San Francisco. Then my family moved to New York City, where I attended William H. Carr Junior High School. This is a school picture of me from my junior high school days. After that we moved to Houston, and I went to Westchester High School and on to Rice University.

Reviews

[Tyler Tulloch · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was OK. It failed to capture my attention through out the book, and had many unimportant scenes that have no correlation to the story's outcome. The mystery of the book was pretty plain...
I would have given this book a 2.5 star if it were available because it was Ok, but just not as interesting as I would have liked and fails to captures the readers attention.
Might have liked this book better if I played basketball...

[Cole Bare · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that this book described the thoughts of the character very well. It made me feel like I was inside the character's mind as he was thinking about everything. I am also a big fan of basketball so the topic of basketball throughout the book made me want to read it even more. The mystery that was involved with the killing of Amanda and the accusation of Daine murdering his own family made the book all the more suspenseful.

Something I didn't like about this book was how it set a tone and stayed that way throughout the entire book. It didn't get any less boring, which I liked, but it didn't get any more exciting which I thought was a mistake considering this book has so much potential.

I gave this book a 3 out of 5 stars for the reasons I just explained, and I think that this book would be good for people that like the game of basketball, however, they have to be at least 13 to know about everything that is happening with the Daine trial.

[Owen McDonnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the book was written well. Some of the characters were good, but other ones I really couldn't have care less about. I thought the idea of mixing in sports with a murder mystery was really original.

[Sydney S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect shot was about a teenage boy named Brian who had lost his girlfriend Amanda and her family in a shooting. He's trying to juggle the thought of Amanda's death, schoolwork, and basketball all at the same time. I gave this book 4.5 stars because I like how Elaine tries to put sports and murder mystery in the same book that was cool. During the case, Amanda's father is blamed for the murder because of the color of his skin. Brian later remembers that there was grey fiber at the scene. He saw a jogger the day of the murder in a grey sweatsuit. It convinced me for a while that it was the runner but later in the book, I found out the murderer was Officer Conners. They put the star of his basketball team in jail because Julius was walking around "looking suspicious." because he was black. He threatened Brian that if he told anyone it was him he would the same thing he did to Amanda's family to his. They survived.

[Cara]

When I first picked up the book, The Perfect Shot, by Elaine Marie Alphin, I expected it to be a decent book mainly about basketball, which I don’t care much for. Boy was I wrong! Alphin blew my expectations out of the water with this novel. Not only was it action packed and kept me guessing until the end, I actually enjoyed the basketball part of the book! The Perfect Shot would mainly be for young adult audiences who enjoy sports and crime/thriller books. Now, let’s explore more of the plot.
The story begins by introducing us to the main character: Brian. He’s one of the most hardworking athletes on the basketball team, but he cannot make that perfect shot like his best friend and teammate, Julius. Eight months ago, his girlfriend Amanda, her brother Cory, and their mother were murdered in their garage on a summer afternoon. Brian is consumed with guilt because that same day, Amanda had asked Brian if she and Cory could play ball with him. Brian turned her down, saying he needed time to play with his pals. He never even heard the gunshots over the constant drawl of the orange ball bouncing on the concrete. Bang. Bang. Bang. Three perfect shots. When the police came to talk to Brian, he says he was focused on his shooting and didn’t really see anything out of the ordinary. At the end of the interview, Brian adds that he saw a jogger in a gray sweatshirt. He doesn’t know if it means anything, but he thought they should check into it. Instead it ends up being Amanda’s father who is the main suspect in the murder of his entire family. When Brian is assigned a project in history class on Leo Frank, an innocent man who was wrongly convicted and hanged for a murder he didn’t commit, it gets him thinking about the case. But Brian doesn’t want to think about it. He wants to drown out all of his feelings in basketball, because it is just too much. Worse still, Julius, Brian’s best friend who also happens to be black, was arrested for being a black kid in the wrong place at the wrong time. Brian has to face it that the justice system is flawed.
What I liked most about this book is that it shows the difference between making the choice that will keep you safe and making the choice that is right. I also liked the fact that I never knew who the real killer would be until the end. The constant action keeps you on your toes and I wanted to keep reading from the second I picked it up. Finally, I loved how it showed the interactions between jocks and outcasts improving once they finally understand each other. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who likes sports and action thrillers. The book ended up being exciting and relatable to the common teenager, whether they are a jock, an outcast, or somebody in-between. This modern book exceeded my expectations of a shallow book about sports and turned it into a book that really made me think and taught me to always do the right thing, even if it seems dangerous or risky. We must live our life doing things that make us happy and live for the moment.

[Paxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Perfect Shot by Elaine Marie A teenage boy who's best friend was killed, and the main suspect became her father. But he believes he has other evidence of someone else who did it. To me Brian seems very courageous, strong and smart man. An example of Brian being strong is when he went against his father and decided to bail his best friend Julian out of jail."I know you like Julius" he says slowly" but it sounds as if he's really gotten himself into trouble this time. I don't think we should get involved, Brian," he says finally, avoiding my eyes." (Alphin 152). He basically did the opposite of what his father wanted to do, because he knew what was right. It's his best friend you don't just leave him stranded in jail, so even though his father might have been mad he still did it! Also Brian is a very courageous young man! He put himself in danger just to protect his family. When Amanda's killer got into their house he stacked him and eventually killed him. " I stand in front of the man who killed Amanda, the man who terrified me and shamed me, the man who broke into my house and tried to kill my family. I point the gun very carefully, hardly noticing him raising his gun in his unsteady left hand. I tell myself I can't miss this time, and pull the trigger."(Alphin 330). I think it's pretty obvious that he was courageous and he was willing to sacrifice his life for the rest of his family and get vengance for Amanda. Finally another characteristic was Brian's intelligence. He was the smartest player on the basketball team and everyone called him brainman as a nickname." Just come. I'm counting on you, brainman." (Alphin 151). So most everyone depended on him during a game, to come up with plans or strategies or just personal reasons. We'll those are some of the reasons why I think Brian is a brave, passionate and knowing man!
I would definitely recommend this fictional book. It has everything from sports to murder mysteries. So if you enjoy a suspenseful story that also adds in a little basketball, then it would be a perfect book for you to read. One connection I have is when it kind of commentates the games and I play basketball so I understand it more. Another aspect of the book that I likes is that you never knew what was going to happen next. Like after they one a game, you never would've thought the Julius would be in jail that night. Or that when the killer threatened Brian in the bathroom, to not tell anyone about him. So overall this is a story that was very interesting and that you wanted to keep on reading, so you know what was going to happen next!

[Deanthony Curry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book the perfect shot was a good book it just took a long time to really tell what brian did after his girlfriend got killed. This book was much too long the story could have been told in half the length. There was also a point in the book were i forgot what i was reading about because they went kind off the subject. But other than that the book was very good they told deep details when they talked about something or described something.

It was also a book of thoughts in life because u can relate it to your life. A book that leaves you asking questions about what is right and wrong, the meaning of justice, and how well the legal system really works. This is life related.This book is about a teen learning who killed his girlfriend, along with learning about life, has a little of everything, including action and a violent ending.

This book was very interesting on how a teens life can be very unpleasant / difficult when you deal with a close freinds murder that has happened in your life. Brian goes a long way for finding justice and honesty in this case and i know any murder that is close to you is very hard to deal with. The book is good but drags a bit but overall a good read for someone who likes teen life / mystery.

I think this is a book that most people would like because even though it looks like it's about sports it just kind of a backdrop on the whole story and it teaches you a life lesson on if someone threatens you you have two choices take the safe way out and live or do what's right and take a risk that's something that I really learned from this book.

It is about some kids that get involved with a murder. I thought that the author did a nice job with a lot of description and dialouge. Overall I would give it 9/10 because the author gets you to the point where you can feel all joy, excitement, and fear the characters feel. I decided on reading another book by this author. Overall i would highly recommened this book to anyone because it is a GREAT read!

[Cornmaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very intriguing book - lots of excellent basketball scenes that helped tell a story which was part mystery, part identity search, and part commentary on justice. The teenage protagonist must research a real-life murder case from the early 20th century that parallels a murder case ongoing in his life, and he must make a decision about how much of a part he will play in the current one.
Much is said about differences between people and how we make assumptions that shut off acceptance of others. It's quite the journey, and very exciting. I think sports lovers will love the basketball parallels. The mantra is "what you do on court, you do in life." Issues of teamwork, truth telling, standing up for others and for what's right, etc. etc. It culminates in a dramatic and violent scene with the murderer, but then I think the author does a decent job of having the kid process it all, including his actions.
While I don't think the protagonist is perfectly true to a teen boy (there are some, but he's a little too strong and perfect), it's still a good modeling for courage and strength.
Another good HS discussion book.

[Patrick McNally · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was about a high school basketball player who's girlfriend's family was killed (including herself) by an unknown murder. they suspect that the father was the killer but Brian doesnt agree. he has guilt that is building up in his chest because he thinks that he could have saved her from being killed. and on top of all of this tragedy brian has to deal with school work and most of all basketball. i learned from this book that to never let guilt build up on you because it can ruin your life... overall i think that this was a good book but in my opinion there are to many things happening at once.

[John Arrowsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a pretty good book. It is one of those books that switches back and forth between past and present so if you like that sort of thing than you should read this. It is about a young boy who is a basketball star. His girlfriend gets murdered and he is torn between the case and his basketball career. Unable to focus on basketball with the thought of the murder on his mind. He attempts to find out who murdered her and her family.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was laughing to myself as I read the previous reviews on this book. Why? They all recommended it for teenage GUYS. Not that that's not probably the case most of the time, us girls like it too! It did switch back and forth between the past and present a bit though, but it's a really great book, especially if you like basketball. Brings up a few good points too.

[Jamie 8-22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book, it is amazing.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was amazing

[June Guymon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that leaves you asking questions about what is right and wrong, the meaning of justice, and how well the legal system really works.

[Brice Carmicle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Shot by Elaine Marie Alphin was an outstanding book that once you began you did not want to stop. The book had a very complex mystery plot that was thrilling to unravel the truth. Along with the main plot of this book which is about basketball and the main characters love for the game it also has multiple sub plots that bring up issues with society today. In this report I will talk about the main plot and the sub plots and why I find them so interesting.
The book starts out with Brian (the main character) playing a two on two pickup game with his teammates and preparing for the next basketball season. Brian takes basketball extremely seriously. For him basketball isn’t just a game it’s a life style. So, when he is playing a game he wants to be at his best no matter if it’s a real game or just a pickup game with friends. While he is playing is girlfriend Amanda comes over with her little brother. Brian and Amanda have known each practically their whole lives. They are both in love with each other and would do anything for the other. She asks him if her and her brother could play with them because things aren’t so good at home. Amanda’s mom wants to take her and her brother to the water park but, Amanda doesn’t want to go she wants to get away from her parents for a while so, she asks Brian if they can play with them so she doesn’t have to go. As I said earlier though he does not like any interruptions so, when she asked he said no. He played for a couple hours and then he saw them come home he waved at them hoping Amanda wasn’t mad at him and then he went inside for a drink. When he came out he started shooting by himself. He has always wanted to hit the perfect shot. His best friend Julius has had no problem hitting the perfect shot from deep range. He wishes he could have as nice as a shot as Julius. Brian is a good shooter but, he is not as good as Julius. Brian steps back to three point range and he shoots. The ball flies threw the air like a majestic eagle flying in the sky. The ball looks good but, clanks off the rim and starts to roll away. Brian runs after it and almost runs into a jogger in a grey sweat suit. Brian says sorry to him but, the jogger doesn’t say anything back in fact he doesn’t even look up.
Brian does find this a little odd because he lives in a small neighborhood where everybody knows everybody and he did not recognize the jogger. Brian goes back inside for a little while. He hears sirens and goes outside. He sees police cars and lights over at Amanda’s house. Him and his parents go and see what has happened. When a police officer walks up to them and says that Amanda, Amanda’s brother, and Amanda’s mom have all been shot and murdered. The police officer starts asking him questions like when did he go inside, what he saw, and if he saw Amanda’s father come home. Brian told him that he did not see anything besides Amanda coming home and the jogger the police officer says that he will check in on the jogger and then Brian’s dad says that Brian should go and get some rest he has been through a lot.
This is pretty much the main plot for the story. It tells how he tries to forget about the tragedy that happened to Amanda and her family. He uses basketball to do so. This plan works pretty well until he starts seeing on the news the trial for Amanda’s father. He is getting tried for the murder of his family. Amanda’s father is an extremely honest police officer this is pretty much all Brian knows of Amanda’s father. Amanda’s dad says the he is innocent and that he was at the gym while they were at the water park and when he got home he found them dead and he called the police. He says that the police to concentrate on finding the real killer before the trail gets cold.
Brain keeps on trying to forget the whole thing but, he keeps remembering the jogger. His mind becomes full of what ifs. Like; what if Amanda’s dad is innocent and is telling the truth, what if the jogger was actually important to the case after, what if he should come out and say something.
School and basketball season go on with Brian and the Warriors having a winning season. Things are going great for the basketball team until their history teacher assigns them a huge project right before the playoffs and if they don’t do well on it then they will fail off the team and will be out for the playoffs. The team cannot afford anyone being for the playoffs so, they are going to have to work hard if they want to play. They are hoping they get to pick their partners but, their teacher picks for them and they get stuck with kids they haven’t talked with or they don’t like. Brian’s partner is Todd an awkward kid that doesn’t talk much and Brian finds him a little weird. The topic they have to study is a case where a man was accused of killing a women. They find out later that he was not involved, but only after the man was killed for something he didn’t do.
I liked how the author tied in a story they have to research that has a lot related to the actual story. As the story continues Todd and Brian become closer and actual become very good friends. Their project is going very well and Brian is positive that they will get a very good grade on it. That is not the case however for the rest of his teammates. So, after practice one day Brian says that we are a team we have each other’s backs on the court, we also need to have each other’s backs of the court. The team starts helping each other on all of their projects and it all starts running smoothly. The only project that isn’t running smooth is Julius’s. His partner and him don’t get along so, they have gotten nothing done and the due date for the projects due date is coming up.
More information is being gathered about Amanda’s father and the case. They prosecution have found that only three bullets were fired one of each went into the heads of each family member. The shooter shot three perfect shots and killed three people. The prosecution brings up a witness that says Amanda’s dad is that good of a shot to make three perfect shots. They also found grey fibers at the crime scene. This really hits Brian because the jogger that he saw was wearing a grey sweat suit but he thinks to himself if the jogger was that important the defense would have said something about it by now.
The Warriors win their next game and the team goes out for pizza like they always do after a win. This time Julius can’t come because he has to drive to the city and take his parents to the airport. They are going on a business trip to another country. Later that night Brian gets a call it’s Julius and he sounds very scared. He says that he just got arrested. Brian asks what happened and Julius says that the roads confused him and he accidently went down a one way road and a cop pulled him over. The cop took him to jail so they could search him for drugs. He asks Brian if he could get his dad to come get him. So, Brian asks his dad but, his dad says no because he doesn’t want Brian to get involved. Brian tries to tell his dad that they only arrested him because he is black but, his dad doesn’t listen. Brian knows he can’t let Julius down so, he calls Todd and Todd tells his older brother to come. Todd’s brother is a very good lawyer and threatens the police for arresting Julius for no reason. The police let Julius go and they drive back home.
Julius seems different after that night. He starts talking ghetto which he has never done before. This goes on for a couple of weeks. Not only is he different of the court he is also different off the court as well. He starts talking back to coach and he starts being a ball hog. Brian goes and talks to him about it and Julius tells him what the police did to him in jail. The police took him in a room and took off his cloths. They gave him a cavity search for no reason. Todd’s brother wanted him to sue them but, Julius was so embarrassed about the situation that he hasn’t even told his parents. So, Brian and the rest of the team go and talk to Julius’s parents and tell them what happened. Brian along with the rest of the team also help Julius finish his history project. Julius starts going back to old Julius again.

[Ariv Saxena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elaine Marie Alphin's "The Perfect Shot" is an interesting novel that explores the difficulties of growing up. It is set in a high school, the story nicely combines the protagonist's personal struggles with larger, real-world issues, making it a powerful book for both teens and adults.

The novel introduces a girl, Rachel, a sixteen-year-old with a deep love for photography. She often uses her camera to express herself and feel connected to the world, especially since she feels like an outsider at school. The upcoming photo contest is a key part of the plot, showing Rachel's strong desire for personal validation and her need to find her place.

The author is great at creating realistic relationships. Rachel's friendship with her outgoing best friend, Lisa, is written nicely and demonstrates how two different people can support each other through the ups and downs of life. The book also talks about Rachel's romance with Ben, a boy with his own set of problems. Their relationship adds to the story's emotional area, showing the fun and confusion that comes with young love.

The author uses photography as one of the big symbols throughout the book. Every photo Rachel takes is a way for her to understand her feelings and how she sees the world. This approach lets readers feel all the parts of Rachel's life from sad to beautiful. For example, her decision to photograph both happy and painful moments shows that life, like a photograph, is a collection of experiences that come together to form a bigger picture.

"The Perfect Shot" also covers topics like bullying and mental health. The author describes these issues realistically, which can help readers who have faced similar challenges feel like the book is relatable. By showing Rachel's struggles with bullying, the book reminds us how important kindness is in school and really just anywhere in life. While the book's main themes are fascinating, for readers familiar to the genre the plot may feel predictable.

The climax of the book is when Rachel must decide what is most important to her. This turning point has a lot of strong emotions, showing how important having strength is. In the end, Rachel learns that being perfect is not as important as accepting herself, including all her imperfections.

The novel ends with optimism as Rachel has grown stronger and wiser because of these experiences. The ending teaches us the lesson that growing up is a continuous process. Overall, "The Perfect Shot" is a great book that uses the story of a girl finding herself through photography to explore the complications of life and is a book I would recommend everyone to read once in their lives.

[Sam Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect shot is the perfect mix between mystery and action. It is based on a murder of a young girl, who's best friend knows important things about the murder case, but doesn't want to get involved. He has to do all this while balancing a big project about another girls murder and being the captain of the basketball team. His team goes through a lot of tough times, including a period where racism almost loses them the biggest game of the year.

This book brings up a lot of issues that apply to us today. One of these things is police brutality, particularly directed to young, black teens. This is a very important topic because our law enforcement shouldn't see color, they should see actions. In this book, a black teen is arrested and wrongfully search for turning into the wrong neighborhood. He couldn't have gotten out of jail if it weren't for a lawyer who brought up racism while pleading his case. This book was a very good read, but i think there is definitely room for improvement. One of the things that I believe could have improved this book is more focus on the importance of the judicial system in our government. This book portrayed the judicial system as broken and uneffective, but I think that it is important to have it because without it, another branch of our government would gain more power, which would throw off our entire government system. I agree with the authors opinion of bringing forth important information in order for the judicial branch to work. This book deals with two murders, one at the current time of the book and one in the past, where very important information wasn't brought forth until it was too late. In one case, this evidence was able to save someone's life once it was brought forth. I also think that the author has a good point in saying that parents and adults should encourage people, specifically children, to bring forth evidence, rather than hide it to avoid getting involved.

Some advice I would give to future readers is think about this in our world today. Some of the topics covered are sad and society tries to avoid them, but I think that this book gives a good chance to think about these things. It is important to talk and think about touchy topics in order to better understand them and for an opinion about them.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book I would normally read, I thought The Perfect Shot would mainly be about basketball and students overcoming some type of challenge. And, while all that is true about this book, it had a strong enough message about stereotyping and inequality to make it more than just "basketball," including a student's decision to tell or not tell the truth about a murder.

What I also like about this book is that the students work on different history projects that pertain to injustices of the judicial system back in the day, such as Leo Frank and the murder of Mary Phagen in Atlanta, Georgia in 1913.

This book also succeeded showing the racial and social inequalities in the world, without going too political, which may be because the book is young adult. But it's important that youth realize there is a middle ground of problems that we can work on so that things don't get to the extreme.

I like that the main character, Brian, breaks through the norms of a high school basketball player, and befriends his neighbor Amanda although she dies in the opening chapter, and it is her and her brother and mother's murder, pinned on her father that Brian knows something isn't fairly being tried in court who is more studious. While Brian conveniently gets paired with classmate Todd for their history project on Leo Frank and Todd conveniently has a brother who is a lawyer that helps get their black classmate, Julius, out of jail when he is arrested for accidentally getting lost in a white neighborhood, their friendship helps Brian realize that he needs to speak up.

While most students won't be faced with as hard a decision as Brian does at the very end, I hope people realize that it is the day to day interactions with people that can make all the difference.

[Cole · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book I am reading is The Perfect Shot by Elaine Marie Alphin. I chose this book because my favorite genre is sports and this looked like a good fit for me. Also, I like mystery stories and this fell into that category. The author Elaine Marie Alphin is an award winning mystery book writer so that is probably why she wrote this book.

The plot in this book is that Brain’s girlfriend Amanda was killed and how Brian is going to deal with his life after. Brain is very sad about the death even a year later and he will not talk to anyone or get new friends or even a girlfriend. All Brian does is think about basketball and how he is going to be the best he can be. Now the police are saying it was Amanda's dad who did it but Brian knows this is false.

The book was written to show the story of Brian childhood and what he had to get through as a kid. My favorite part of the book so far is when Brian gets very mad at his friend Julius because he says that Brian never does anything anymore since Amanda's death. This related to other books by Elaine Marie Alphin like Picture Perfect, It relates because it is also a murder mystery and adolescents.

I think the book is good at showing what is happening in Brian's life and how he reacts and responds to Amanda's death and basketball. I think it is cool how Brian gets along so well with Todd who is a weird kid who no one hangs out with. Another exciting part is the beginning where Amanda actually gets shot because it is suspenseful for what is going to happen next. I would recommend this book for people who have a love of basketball or murder mysterys.

[Will Gilbertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summative Response:
The Perfect Shot is a book about a kid named Brian Hammet who dealing with and trying to solve the murder of his girlfriend and some of her family. His girlfriend’s name was Amanda and her brother, mother, and herself were shot to death. Everyone thought Amanda’s father did it so they have her father locked up. Brian also thought it was her father until he started researching the Leo Frank Case. He noticed that things with case matched up with the day of Amanda’s murder and rembered seeing a strange man in the neighborhood. Brian wanted to tell the court, but the stranger threatened to kill him if he told anyone. Later, the stranger had shot Brian and he almost died, because Brian told the court. It turns out all the events that happen are like flashbacks that lead up to him waking up in the hospital and they have arrested to the right person.
Reflection:
I read this book because I personally like basketball so the title instantly attracted me. The book itself is a great book, it keeps you locked in and wanting to read it every day. Overall, this book is in my top 3 best sports books that I have read. I highly recommend reading this book, it is a great book and keeps you wanting to read more every time you turn a page.

[Joe Knutson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it was sort of a combination of two of my favorite genres, realistic fiction and mystery. I really liked this book, because even though it was a longer book, it was still very exciting. This book was great because it wasn't just a book about basketball, it involved many other parts of life and also death. The book also talked about the Leo Frank story and how we pick the person that is guilty before we even go over the evidence. It also shows how injustice can be done in the police system.
The genre of this book is realistic fiction with a little bit of mystery in the middle/end of the story. I like this genre because it is a great genre to relate to because you could be going through the same thing as the main character is in the story. This could also sort of qualify of a sports book because it talks about basketball and how he comes to realize that there is more to life than basketball. This is my favorite genre because you can relate to the characters very well.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brian is the hero of this book. A murderer is the antagonist. Brian's family and friends on the basketball team are the main supporting characters. Brian is on the basketball team but he could not focus after what happened to his girlfriend. This book genre is a fictional mystery.
I felt kind of sad reading this book because you got to see what some of these characters are going through. My favorite part of this book was the ending because of how it ended but I cannot tell you because it would spoil the book. My least favorite part was the beginning because it tells you what happened to Amanda and her family. My favorite characters are Brian, Cory and Julius because of their relationship in the book.
I enjoyed this book because I like mystery books. I think other people would like this book because it can make you see that this stuff happens all throughout history. But if you don't like murder mystery books, you probably wouldn't like this book.

[Lisa Muller · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Goodreads site:

"Someone murdered Brian's girfriend, Amanda. The police think it was her father. Brian isn't so sure. But everyone he knows is telling him to move on, get over it, focus on the present. Focus on basketball. Focus on hitting the perfect shot. Brian hopes that the system will work for Amanda and her father. An innocent man couldn't be wrongly convicted, could he?

"But then Brian does a school project on Leo Frank, a Jewish man lynched decades ago for the murder of a teenage girl--a murder he didn't commit. Worse still, Brian's teammate Julius gets arrested for nothing more than being a black kid in the wrong place at the wrong time. Brian can't deny any longer that the system is flawed.

"As Amanda's father goes on trial, Brian admits to himself that he knows something that could break the case. But if he comes forward, will the real killer try for another perfect shot--this time against Brian? "

[Lisa Muller · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Goodreads site:

"Someone murdered Brian's girfriend, Amanda. The police think it was her father. Brian isn't so sure. But everyone he knows is telling him to move on, get over it, focus on the present. Focus on basketball. Focus on hitting the perfect shot. Brian hopes that the system will work for Amanda and her father. An innocent man couldn't be wrongly convicted, could he?

"But then Brian does a school project on Leo Frank, a Jewish man lynched decades ago for the murder of a teenage girl--a murder he didn't commit. Worse still, Brian's teammate Julius gets arrested for nothing more than being a black kid in the wrong place at the wrong time. Brian can't deny any longer that the system is flawed.

"As Amanda's father goes on trial, Brian admits to himself that he knows something that could break the case. But if he comes forward, will the real killer try for another perfect shot--this time against Brian? "

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Shot by Elaine Marie Alphin is a young adult novel that blends a compelling murder mystery with a powerful commentary on justice, racial discrimination, and moral courage. The story follows Brian Hammet, a high school basketball player who is haunted by the murder of his girlfriend, Amanda, and becomes determined to prove the innocence of his friend Julius, who is wrongfully accused due to racial prejudice. Set in a contemporary American town, the novel challenges readers to reflect on their own biases and the flaws within the judicial system. As Brian struggles to balance his pursuit of truth with the expectations of his community, his growth as a character highlights the difficulty of standing up for what is right. Alphin’s thought-provoking narrative and well-developed characters engage readers, encouraging them to think critically about morality, integrity, and the courage to confront societal injustices.

[Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my opinion "the perfect shot" by, Elaine Marie Alphin was a good book all around. For the most part, the book kept my attention and left me with questions that were later answered as I continued reading. The main theme is the book is justice and how it should be served. Throughout the book very confusing things happen which eventually is all linked together at the end, which is one thing that really liked about the book. The honest reason I chose this book was because it had to do with basketball which is also my favorite sport, but as I read I learned that the book wasn't just a basketball book and had to do with many other interesting topics. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who like basketball and/or mystery novels.

[Ethen Moyanmakl · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Perfect Shot,” details how a young basketball star named Brian, is having a tough time moving on from the death of his girlfriend(Amanda) and most of her family, who type police believe were killed by her father a police man. Brian still hasn’t moved on from Amanda, and he only stops thinking about it when he plays basketball. Brian is not able to live his life freely, as every time he turns on the TV it is always talking about the case, and whether or not Amanda’s father is guilty. Brian may have info about the case but is hesitant to come forward, as his father doesn’t want him to get involved, and wants him to just focus on basketball. I recommend this book for young adults and teens, whom have an interest in mystery books.

[Levi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Shot is a captivating film that takes you deep into the world of competitive basketball, blending high-stakes sports drama with powerful character development. Directed by a talented filmmaker, the movie explores the personal and professional struggles of its protagonist, a young athlete on the verge of greatness.

The storyline is built around the journey of a promising basketball player, whose passion for the game pushes him to the limits of his talent and dedication. The narrative weaves together moments of triumph and heartache, with each shot on the court symbolizing a pivotal step toward success.

What makes The Perfect Shot stand out is its remarkable attention to the emotional highs and lows of being an athlete. The film not only focuses on the adrenaline of the game but also dives into the complex relationships and sacrifices that come with chasing a dream. The balance between on-court action and personal struggles is expertly crafted, providing a rich viewing experience that resonates long after the credits roll.

The performances are outstanding, particularly the lead actor, whose portrayal of the driven yet vulnerable athlete adds a layer of depth to the film. The supporting cast also shines, providing strong backstories and relationships that complement the main narrative.

Visually, The Perfect Shot nails the intensity and beauty of basketball. The cinematography captures the dynamic energy of the game, with fluid, expertly choreographed sequences that immerse the viewer in the action. The soundtrack enhances the tension and emotion of pivotal scenes, reinforcing the themes of perseverance and self-discovery.

If you're a sports fan or someone who enjoys a well-crafted drama, The Perfect Shot is an absolute must-watch. Its message about striving for excellence and understanding the true cost of success makes it not just a sports film, but an inspiring life lesson for all.

Rating: 4.5/5

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about Brian who is a senior in high school and recently his girlfriend got murdered and they are trying to find out who the killer is. Throughout the book, they think it is their father because there is a lot of evidence against him. Like him sleeping with other women. Also, Brian is doing a school project and it is about a murder and the main suspect got hung. Years later a witness came out and said that it wasn't the guy who got hung. So Brian thinks that he saw something that others didn't.

[Masen Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend people should read this book if they like sporty and history books. Because this book talks about historical events with a some basketball in the mix. This book shows you to prove what is right even if its wrong in some else view. Also this book is a school were the police have more African-Americans in jail and the Brain's best friend Julius is African-American. This is a good historical fiction book that I think people should read.