Steven Thomas is one of two lucky winners of the U.S. Basketball Writer’s Association’s contest for aspiring journalists. His prize? A ...
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Jan 13, 2012
Josh
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The Last Shot
By: John Feinstein
Published Date: 6/27/2006
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Steven (Stevie) Thomas is one of two lucky winners of the U.S. Basketball Writer’s Association’s contest for aspiring journalists. His prize is winning a trip to New Orleans and a press pass to the Final Four. The games going on behind the scenes between the coaches, the players, the media, the money-men, and the fans turn out to be even more fiercely competitive than those on the court. Stevie More...
By: John Feinstein
Published Date: 6/27/2006
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Steven (Stevie) Thomas is one of two lucky winners of the U.S. Basketball Writer’s Association’s contest for aspiring journalists. His prize is winning a trip to New Orleans and a press pass to the Final Four. The games going on behind the scenes between the coaches, the players, the media, the money-men, and the fans turn out to be even more fiercely competitive than those on the court. Stevie More...
Jun 19, 2010
Shally
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Summary: Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol are two 13-year-old winners of a national writing competition. Their prize is being student press writer at the Final Four Tournament as a part of March Madness. It was a dream come true for both of them. While there they both encountered a MSU player being blackmailed and threatened to throw the championship game. This encounter changed their entire experience and instead of student journalists they changed into investigative journalists to solve the myste
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May 06, 2010
Justin
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Last Shot, by John Feinstein is an excellent book. It is a thumb’s up for many reasons. It is about two kids that win a trip to the Final Four basketball tournament. There, there is a big blackmail scandal with a mystery that they coincidentally overheard, but have to solve. The best aspect about the author is that he made a very good plot; he made the book very interesting, and knew what he was talking about. For example, he included detailed information about the people involved in the final f
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Mar 02, 2010
Lizzie
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"Last Shot," by John Feinstein is a book on realistic fiction. In this story, Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol are the eighth graders that entered a writing contest sponsored by the U.S basketball writers association (USBWA), and won. The grand prize was a trip to the Final Four in New Orleans. They both recieved passes for this event to get backstage and they were considered working jounalists. Stevie says this will not be his only trip to the final four because he wishes to be a journa
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Oct 09, 2009
Mudassir
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When I first picked up this book, I expected it to be a book describing amazing shots and the on and off-court controversy of a basketball player. However, this book disappointed me because it was more of a mystery than a basketball novel. The author spent most of the book discussing what happens to Stevie Thomas and Susan Anderson, the main characters of the book. The two won a nationwide contest to attend the Final Four basketball game occurring in New Orleans, where they will be considered as
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Jan 09, 2012
Mindi
rated it:
I had to share, because this made me laugh...
The other day, my beau asked me,"Now that you're a librarian, do they make you read a lot of crap that you don't want to read?" This made me raise an eyebrow. Apparently, he had seen this book on the kitchen table and wondered why I was reading it.
A disclaimer: Last Shot is on the required reading list for my fifth grade students competing in our Reading Olympics program (basically a battle of the books), so I do have t More...
The other day, my beau asked me,"Now that you're a librarian, do they make you read a lot of crap that you don't want to read?" This made me raise an eyebrow. Apparently, he had seen this book on the kitchen table and wondered why I was reading it.
A disclaimer: Last Shot is on the required reading list for my fifth grade students competing in our Reading Olympics program (basically a battle of the books), so I do have t More...
Oct 24, 2011
Katelyn
rated it: 
Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery is by a well-respected sports author, John Feinstein. Feinstein was born on July 28th 1956 in New York, and then went on to graduate from Duke University where his love for college basketball began. With a degree in journalism, he was hired as an intern for the Washington Post. In 1985 he took a brief break to work on his first book, then moved to New York City and got a new job with Sports Illustrated in 1989. He began his best-selling career with A Season on t
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Jul 10, 2010
Dana
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I listened to the Audio version of this book so my views might be a little squed. I don't know about anyone else, but hearing the name Susan Carol all the time drove me insane. Why did she have to have a long name and why did her name have to be brought up constantly?
If you like basketball and mysteries, then this book is for you. Last shot is about a boy named Stevie who is a hardcore basketball fan and a writer. He enters a writing contest and gets chosen as one of the winners with More...
If you like basketball and mysteries, then this book is for you. Last shot is about a boy named Stevie who is a hardcore basketball fan and a writer. He enters a writing contest and gets chosen as one of the winners with More...
May 20, 2009
Rosalia
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 30, 2010
Anthony
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Dreams do Come True:
Kids can be Adults Sometimes,
Stevie Thomas read the letter once, and then twice, then a third time to be sure it was real. Then he started screaming. “Mom! Mom! Mom!” (3) As if something was wrong... This realistic fiction story, written by John Feinstein, takes place in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during modern times. One of the main characters is Stevie Thomas. I rated this book a three out of five stars because it was a good book but it was More...
Kids can be Adults Sometimes,
Stevie Thomas read the letter once, and then twice, then a third time to be sure it was real. Then he started screaming. “Mom! Mom! Mom!” (3) As if something was wrong... This realistic fiction story, written by John Feinstein, takes place in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during modern times. One of the main characters is Stevie Thomas. I rated this book a three out of five stars because it was a good book but it was More...
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(2 people liked it)
Mar 22, 2011
Yenchen
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Being a basketball fan, I really enjoyed this novel. This book opens a new perspective to me in sport novels by making the main characters reporters rather than the actual athletes playing in the sport. This perspective allows the author to create a well written mystery that happens "behind the scenes" during the final four. Even if you're not a basketball fan, you will still enjoyed this book. There isn't too much actual basketball play being described for a reader who is not a baske
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Nov 01, 2011
Ryan
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I thought that this book is personally one of the best books I have ever read. I like how the book had an ordinary background (the Final Four) with a mysterious twist. I like how Stevie, the main character, is chosen to go to the Final Four to write about the games and the players, but basically turns into a detective, with his co-winner Susan Carol, when they hear a professor blackmailing Chip Graber, the star of the Minnesota State Purple Tide. I also find it random, yet interesting, that they
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Mar 21, 2010
Eddie
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This book is great because it has mystery and basketball in a twist. Two people named Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol, both thirteen. They where elected to be the USBWA reporters for the March Madness Tournament. During the Final Four part a MSU player got black mailed by an MSU professor. He has to win his first game and "choke" on the next game. So Stevie and Carol have to stop this black mailer.
This book is great for people who like basketball and a little myste More...
This book is great for people who like basketball and a little myste More...
Feb 02, 2012
Henry
rated it:
All kids who want to be a reporter can only dream going to the final four as press. After 14-year-olds Susan Carol Anderson, and Steve Thomas win a writing contest, they get to fulfill this dream. They soon realize that being a reporter isn't all fun and games, after they overhear a conversation about throwing the national championship. Chip Graber, and his dad who is also the coach, would be falsely accused of cheating if they don't throw the national championship game against Duke. Susan Carol
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Dec 22, 2010
Jonathan
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This book is constantly suspenseful. It is about a 13 year old boy named Stevie and a 13 year old girl named Susan Carol, who win a writing contest. Since it is about basketball, they win a trip to the final four in New Orleans. Before the games start, they overhear Minnesota State star Chip Graber getting blackmailed to throw the championship game and don't know what to do. One of the teachers, Thomas Whiting, had changed his transcript to show two Fs, making Chip ineligible to play. If this pi
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May 18, 2011
Javier
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what i thought about his book was it was a great book. i play basketball so i can understand this book alot. this book is about a kid who dreames of going to go see the big four basketball teams and reporting on them. he finally gets a chance when he wins a contest for that oppurtunity. he has always loved the life reporters have because he getts to meet the teams and coaches and getts front row at all the games and acces to the players and gyms.
this book is for big sports fa More...
this book is for big sports fa More...
Jan 19, 2012
Brads
rated it:
Last Shot is another big hit for John Feinstein. I give it four stars because I absolutely loved the story line and details, but I have read better books. It is realistic fiction and very interesting. I think the people that would like this would be boys or girls that like sports and/or mystery because this book has a whole lot of both. The main characters: Stevie and Susan Carol, win a writing contest and get a media pass for the final four. Suddenly they overhear a big star from the Purple Tid
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Sep 07, 2010
Hannah
rated it:
I love this author. This book is the first in his mystery series starring Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson. Stevie and Susan always manage to get themselves into a big mess. In this book they are at the Final Four in New Orleans. The suspense is gripping as they face kidnappings, blackmail, stalkers and liars. The humor used by the author adds to the reader's enjoyment of the book.
The best part about Feinstein's books are the surprise endings and this one is no exception. The More...
The best part about Feinstein's books are the surprise endings and this one is no exception. The More...
Nov 24, 2011
Dayna
rated it:
A fantastic book for boys who are reluctant readers. I personally like Feinstein's style more than Mike Lupica's. Steve and Susan Carol win a contest for 8th graders to cover the Final Four in New Orleans. While there they overhear a conversation with a star player and another man. The player is being blackmailed into throwing the championship game. Steve and Susan decide to help the player, but with millions involved the stakes may well be their lives. A great story! It has enough basketball an
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Mar 26, 2009
Jen
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-Steve and Susan Carol are both young writers who won a contest and travel to the final four in New Orleans. They get to cover the semi-final and championship games. The beginning is slow… not much mystery. The book talks about how much Stevie & Carol know and love B-Ball.
-However, the mystery begins when they overhear a famous MSU player ( chip garber) talking to a MSU Trustee (Whiting). Whiting is blackmailing him; Garber is supposed to make sure they loose the Championship game o More...
-However, the mystery begins when they overhear a famous MSU player ( chip garber) talking to a MSU Trustee (Whiting). Whiting is blackmailing him; Garber is supposed to make sure they loose the Championship game o More...
Mar 17, 2010
James
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As the March Madness tournament approaches, this book reminds me about how much I learned from it about the inner workings of the tournament behind the scenes. It is sad to see that someone can get blackmailed in this setting, when there are huge audiences and one feels it would be hard to pull something like that off. I liked the gutsy way the two teenagers went for gold and saved the day. I would recommend this book to all college basketball fans around fourth to sixth grade, as Feinstein is w
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Oct 11, 2011
Jo
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For eighth graders Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson, March Madness has never been so mad. Both kids are winners of a fourteen-and-under writing contest sponsored by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). The grand prizes have won them trips to the Final Four in New Orleans. Not only will they get to watch the most thrilling college basketball games of the year, but they'll also be considered working journalists for the event. They have press credentials and are expected to report
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Oct 01, 2009
Ellen
rated it:
I almost didn't make it to the end of this one. I read Feinstein's second book (Vanishing Act) first and enjoyed the way the author inserted real tennis commentators like Mary Carillo and Bud Collins into the story line. I also enjoyed reading about the thirteen year old sportswriters who solved the mystery.
I follow tennis. I don't follow basketball. That may be why book one, which takes place during the NCAA basketball tournament, didn't grab me. I knew I was in trouble when Ste More...
I follow tennis. I don't follow basketball. That may be why book one, which takes place during the NCAA basketball tournament, didn't grab me. I knew I was in trouble when Ste More...
Oct 02, 2008
Joe
rated it:
Last Shot
Author:John Feinstien
Book report by: Joseph Bergin
Steven Thomas, a fourteen year old reporter from Philadelphia, wins a reporting contest with a girl named Susan Carol. Both Steven and Susan get invited to cover the exciting Final Four basketball tournament in New Orleans. But when Steven, Susan and their fathers arrive, Steven and Susan overhear a conversation with MSU’s star pointguard Chip Grabler and another man. The man was black-mailing Chi More...
Author:John Feinstien
Book report by: Joseph Bergin
Steven Thomas, a fourteen year old reporter from Philadelphia, wins a reporting contest with a girl named Susan Carol. Both Steven and Susan get invited to cover the exciting Final Four basketball tournament in New Orleans. But when Steven, Susan and their fathers arrive, Steven and Susan overhear a conversation with MSU’s star pointguard Chip Grabler and another man. The man was black-mailing Chi More...
Jan 14, 2008
Josh
rated it:
Last Shot. A book that grabs your attention from the beginning. Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol are two aspiring fourteen year old sports journalists who won a boys and girls writing contest and received the greatest prize. An all expense paid trip to the final four, a journalists dream come true. The two both meet many famous sports writers, and even more famous reporters. The trip was a blast for the two until it took a nasty turn. While wondering around the silver dome Stevie and Susan over hea
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Jan 02, 2009
Jennifer
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Stevie cannot believe it at first: the basketball article he submitted has won a student journalism contest and even though he’s only in 8th grade, he’ll be covering the Final Four in New Orleans! Sure, his co-winner, 8th-grader Susan Carol is a foot taller than him and a Duke fan (a team Stevie’s definitely not a fan of), but Stevie’s getting to meet all his sports writing and basketball heroes. He’s having the time of his life, until he and Susan Carol overhear someone blackmailing Chip Grab
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May 06, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
Reviewed by Taylor Rector for TeensReadToo.com
In this thrilling mystery about two eighth-grade reporters, a blackmail case is solved. Steven Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson win a journalism contest and are sent to the Final Four basketball games. They are required to write an article every day that they are at the tournament and are provided press passes and full access to all the inside information.
The first day that Steven and Susan are at the games they overhear someo More...
In this thrilling mystery about two eighth-grade reporters, a blackmail case is solved. Steven Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson win a journalism contest and are sent to the Final Four basketball games. They are required to write an article every day that they are at the tournament and are provided press passes and full access to all the inside information.
The first day that Steven and Susan are at the games they overhear someo More...
Aug 01, 2011
Neill
rated it:
Stevie Thomas was one of the winners of the U.S. Basketball Writers' Association under-fourteen writing contest and he has the opportunity to see the U.S. College Final Four in person and write stories for newspapers that don't have their own reporters there. But when he and a fellow winner overhear Stevie's idol being blackmailed into throwing the final game they are drawn into a convoluted conspiracy of college politics and illegal gambling.
