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59th out of 99 books
—
98 voters
On the Devil's Court
by
Carl Deuker (Goodreads Author)
"A clever blend of family conflict, superstition, and exciting sports action. Adolescent readers will empathize with the mind games Joe plays as he struggles for...independence; teachers will delight in the literary references...and librarians will praise this fine addition to sports fiction." -School Library Journal
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
September 1st 1991
by Avon Books
(first published 1989)
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Community Reviews
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392)
Curtis Powell
Mrs. Romaniuk and Mr. Moyer
Book Review #1
30 September 2011
ON THE DEVIL’S COURT:
On the devil’s court is a good book. The book is by Carl Deuker. This book when I read the back of the book, the book got me thinking like I should read this book. In the book the characters is Joe, his mom who is an artist, his dad who is a scientist, john who’s good at basketball. Is Joe’s teammate. Joe is a senior in high school .He is moving to Seattle and he wants to fit in. So he joins the varsity...more
Mrs. Romaniuk and Mr. Moyer
Book Review #1
30 September 2011
ON THE DEVIL’S COURT:
On the devil’s court is a good book. The book is by Carl Deuker. This book when I read the back of the book, the book got me thinking like I should read this book. In the book the characters is Joe, his mom who is an artist, his dad who is a scientist, john who’s good at basketball. Is Joe’s teammate. Joe is a senior in high school .He is moving to Seattle and he wants to fit in. So he joins the varsity...more
" This book is about how a teenage boy that just moved from Boston to Seattle. His Dad is the winner of the Laskar Award. Joe is looking for a new beginning and he needs to choose between a public or a private school to attend. Joe is A tallented baske ...more This book is about how a teenage boy that just moved from Boston to Seattle. His Dad is the winner of the Laskar Award. Joe is looking for a new beginning and he needs to choose between a public or a private school to attend. Joe is A tall...more
"On the Devil's Court" is a really book because the author did a great job with the whole storyline of the book and how it progressess throughout the whole book. It was very well thought out could tell Carl Deuker tried his hardest to keep you interested throughout the whole book. This book relates to my life because there are times when I wish I could do, not necessarily bad nor good, to give an extra advantage over overyone else when it comes to certain tasks. I would reccomend this book to m...more
This book is about a teenage boy named Joe Faust who move to Seattle. He starts to play basketball over the summer with some guys his age at the public courts. They see that he is really good and becomes good friends with them. One guy in particular is named Ross and that is Joe's best friend.
ross goes to Liberty High which is a public school. Joe's dad wants him to go to a private school, but decides to let him go to Liberty when Ross throws an end of summer party. Joe almost hooks up with a h...more
ross goes to Liberty High which is a public school. Joe's dad wants him to go to a private school, but decides to let him go to Liberty when Ross throws an end of summer party. Joe almost hooks up with a h...more
I picked this book up as I don't typically choose sports books and I need more books to recommend for kids who enjoy sports. I also know that Deuker is a strong author in the YA sports field and I had yet to read a book by him. Also, Jay is reading it right now and loving it so of course I had to give it a shot.
The book had a tremendous amount of potential. It began strong and I feel like there are all of these interesting themes of race, class, independence, and even spirituality swirling aroun...more
The book had a tremendous amount of potential. It began strong and I feel like there are all of these interesting themes of race, class, independence, and even spirituality swirling aroun...more
Curtis Powell
Mrs. Romaniuk and Mr. Moyer
Book Review #1
30 September 2011
ON THE DEVIL’S COURT:
Looks are deceiving
On the devil’s court is a good book. The book is by Carl Deuker. This book when I read the back of the book, the book got me thinking like I should read this book. In the book the characters is Joe, his mom who is an artist, his dad who is a scientist, john who’s good at basketball. Is Joe’s teammate. Joe is a senior in high school .He is moving to Seattle and he wants to fit in. So he...more
Mrs. Romaniuk and Mr. Moyer
Book Review #1
30 September 2011
ON THE DEVIL’S COURT:
Looks are deceiving
On the devil’s court is a good book. The book is by Carl Deuker. This book when I read the back of the book, the book got me thinking like I should read this book. In the book the characters is Joe, his mom who is an artist, his dad who is a scientist, john who’s good at basketball. Is Joe’s teammate. Joe is a senior in high school .He is moving to Seattle and he wants to fit in. So he...more
I think that the authors purpose was to always believe in yourself because in the book the character doesnt think he has enough skill to play on the basketball team so her sells his soul to the devil to try to get those skills but in the end all the skills he needed was right insided of him he just had to find them.
I think the theme of the book is that to never but your family down because in the end they are the people that are always there for you and they will do anythhing for you. This sto...more
I think the theme of the book is that to never but your family down because in the end they are the people that are always there for you and they will do anythhing for you. This sto...more
Seventeen-year-old Joe Faust has just moved to a new private school, and he did not make the varsity basketball team as a senior. He is desperate and will do anything for the perfect season. In Joes English class, he is reading Dr. Faustus. The more he reads, the more he questions why losing ones soul would be so bad. Then, one evening as he shoots in an abandoned gym, he sees a strange shadow and is convinced it is the devil. He then shoots many perfect swish shots in a row. To himself he says...more
May 24, 2013
Kaylee
is currently reading it
It was a great book, The main character moved from Boston to Seattle. When he moved there he was bored so he decided to got to the local gym where he met Ross. Ross was a bad kid, and a bad role model. He went to the school where there were thugs, gangs, and a bad staff. So he decided to enroll at the private school. He didn't start out to good, and as he was reading this book he found out that if he sold his soul to the devil his basketball skills would improve for only 24 more games. So thats...more
1. This book is about 17 year old Joe Faust who is hoping to have his best year on the basketball court. Unfortunately, he doesn't do as good as he hoped. He couldn't make a pass or lay-up. So in desperation he makes a deal with the devil.
2. I gave it 5 stars because I thought it was a great story and there were a lot of parts you would not expect.
3. "It was an incredible feeling, to be able to do it all so effortlessly. I think that's why I made the vow." (Pg. 68) This quote is significant be...more
2. I gave it 5 stars because I thought it was a great story and there were a lot of parts you would not expect.
3. "It was an incredible feeling, to be able to do it all so effortlessly. I think that's why I made the vow." (Pg. 68) This quote is significant be...more
On the devil's court by Carl Deuker is a fabulous book. In my opinion this book would get an 8 out of 10. When Joe reads a book about selling your soul to the devil he decides to do it. As the days go by he is realizing that he isn't just a ok basketball player and an average student, he is is an all-state basketball player and a A student. But when time runs out he starts to become the same kid he always was and now he has to find a way to get off the devil's list and become the person he wants...more
I now know what it is like to read something that is absolutely not your style. I realize now the importance of sticking with what you know and what you love to read. I can think of several of my students who would love this book with all its action and all its sports. However, I am not one of those people. I'm not a sports person and I could care less about a close game. I definitley disliked this book for that reason but also it was just painful...the characters weren't believable and the plot...more
On the devil's court is a great book that always keeps you thinking. I never knew if his bet with the devil was fake or if it was real. This book explains the character's feelings really well and you feel like you are in the story. There is a lot of basketball action and suspenseful moments where you don't know what will happen next. Each of the characters has something different about them and are like real people.
On the Devil's Court is about a high school boy who really dreams about being a...more
On the Devil's Court is about a high school boy who really dreams about being a...more
This book is a wonderfully fast, easy, and exciting read. Joe Faust's life has gone into the dumps, and the only thing that matters anymore is basketball. Unfortunately, his basketball game is rotten these days too. So, Joe sells his soul to the devil for a perfect season of basketball. Readers are guaranteed to be propelled through the book by. This book is an original sports story, I’ve never heard of a sports story like this. It illuminati of sports. This is a must read for sport fans, and pe...more
May 22, 2013
Mehmed
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Mehmed by:
MsKim
The book by Carl Deuker "On the devil’s court" is a great book to read.By reading the summery in the back of the book I felt like this would be a great book to read. The summery in the back encouraged me to read further about it. The characters in the book are Joe his mom and his father. This book is about how a teenage boy that just moved from Boston to Seattle. Joe is looking for a new beginning and he needs to choose between a public or a private school to attend. Joe is a talented basketball...more
Jan 30, 2008
Jeffrey
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Jeffrey by:
Carl Dueker (from inside Painting the Black)
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Though the protagonist of the story is a little young for high school readers, the story is one that will keep them going. Joe’s successful scientist father and his sculptor mother make him feel a failure, and insignificant, too, because the academics they value do not come easy to him. Then one day, beginning with basketball, Joe becomes a success in all areas of his life--because he made a deal with the devil? Very positive with lots of good athletic stuff. A little language.
I had never heard of this author, but I went into this book expecting something along the lines of Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine. I was disappointed. While there's plenty of build-up to what could have been creepy in a really fun and youthful way, it just kind of... ends. The second half of the novel is much more about basketball plays than about actual plot, and I skipped much of it just to have it over with.
This book is set in the rainy state of Washington. Joe, the main character, moves to Washington from Boston which is a major change for him. He must decide whether to go to Eastside which is a private school that has great education and would make his father proud, or go to Loyal High where he could play on a premier basketball team. The author creates intense basketball scenarios that keep you on the edge of your seat. He also mixes in many off-the-court conflicts. One of these conflicts is the...more
This is a really good book to read if you like basketball. Its about a senior named Joe. He wanted to be a basketball player but his dad wanted him to be a scientist. He was kinda good at basketball to. After he reads a book Doctor Faustus, Joe considers selling his soul to the devil. Suddenly he find hiself from being a c student and a good player. He changed to a A student and a great basketball color.
This book is about how a teenage boy that just moved from Boston to Seattle. His Dad is the winner of the Laskar Award. Joe is looking for a new beginning and he needs to choose between a public or a private school to attend. Joe is A tallented basketball player that lead his team to a championship in Boston. Joe decides to side with his parents and go to the private school that his parents wanted him to attend. Joe is well spoken and he is tallented at what he does. Joe is a well-rounded charac...more
I love how Deuker understands the mentality of an athlete and writes these psychological stories. As a coach, I have my players read Deuker and then talk to them about what they learn!
This one wasn't quite as good as NIGHT HOOPS, which I loved.
I was valuable because it helps kids know what FAUST was, but I just didn't like it as much as NIGHT HOOPS.
This one wasn't quite as good as NIGHT HOOPS, which I loved.
I was valuable because it helps kids know what FAUST was, but I just didn't like it as much as NIGHT HOOPS.
On The Devil's Court by Carl Deuker is a great read for people who like sports or want a good read. Joe Faust, the main character, loves to play basketball. He wants to go to public school really badly, but his father makes him to go to private school. John, Joe's friend, also attends Eastside and plays basketball. He is the one that tries to make Joe play for Eastside. After Joe made the Eastside Private School basketball team, he sold his sole to the devil. "Give me a full season of glory, and...more
I really did not like this book all that much, because it starts off kinda slow and it did not get me hooked. I would recomend this book to young people who like to play basketball. This book is about one kid who decides to sell his soul to the devil for one season of great power.
If you can imagine a hybrid of Marlowe's Dr. Faustus and Teen Wolf, you've about captured the essence of this book. Sadly it has none of quality of Faustus or the sheer stupid fun of Teen Wolf. If you're looking for a sports title, you've got to be able to find something better than this.
Out of all the book i have read this has got to be my favorite! I used to play basketball and many other sports too but manyly basketball. Usually you dont hear about someone selling their some to the devil but yet instead kids and teenagers with un-touched raw talent.
Interesting Faust storyine running through the book. The main character thinks he's made a deal with the devil to play well for the season--he spends the rest of the season trying to figure out if the devil really was helping him!
I thought this was kind of boring. The plot was dull and the book kind of dragged along. I did like the part where he got injured and his team was forced to rally together and win without Joe. I didn't see that coming. Overall I really wouldn't recommend this book to a lot of people but I really couldn't get it into it.
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i dont think this is one of deukers best book at times it was kind of hard for me to follow along
May 24, 2013
Keagan
added it
I dislike this book. I dint know Why, its just not my style of books i
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