The story The Perfect Shot by Elaine Marie Alphin has to be one of the best books I’ve read so far in my lifetime. This book had me hooked from the v...more The story The Perfect Shot by Elaine Marie Alphin has to be one of the best books I’ve read so far in my lifetime. This book had me hooked from the very beginning. I really enjoyed how Alphin keeps her readers guessing throughout most of the book. The basketball playing, high school characters of the story especially grabbed my attention because of how much I enjoy basketball. The fact that this book was also a mystery was just a plus for me. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading mystery books or anyone who likes basketball. The Perfect Shot follows the story of the high school basketball team captain, Brian. The author introduces Brian almost a year after the unexpected murder of his girlfriend, Amanda, and her family. At this point, Brian is still shaken by the tragedy. All he can think about is how he could have saved Amanda and her little brother by letting them play basketball with him and his friends. Brian’s only outlet away from thinking about Amanda is playing basketball. Though his basketball skills have shown no decline, his life outside of basketball is almost non-existent. As the story progresses on, Brian finds out that Amanda’s father is being convicted of the murder of her family. Knowing that it couldn’t have possible been Amanda’s father, Brian thinks back to that unfortunate day to try to find any kind of evidence to prove her father’s innocence. After contemplating for awhile, Brian remembers a possible suspect that passed him while he was playing basketball in his driveway. As Amanda’s father’s case closes, Brian has to decide whether or not to submit the possible evidence to the police. One main recurring theme throughout the story was to not hold in your thoughts or emotions. New secrets are discovered through almost every part of the story. These secrets dramatically change the opinions of others and the events that follow. Towards the middle of the story, Brian’s history project partner reveals to Brian that he is gay. Brian’s partner, Todd, has been an outcast ever since Brian could remember. After Brian discovers this, he is more understanding towards Todd and learns to trust him. Another case of revealing secrets comes from another friend of Brian’s named Julius. Julius is a black high school student, Brian’s best friend, and also the star player on the basketball team. After Julius gets in trouble one night for driving in a white neighborhood, he brought into custody and is never the same afterwards. Later on, he confesses to Brian that he was mistreated by the police while in jail. After he learns of this, Brian is able to help Julius turn back into the best friend that he has come to know. The last case of hidden secrets comes from Brian himself. Could Brian’s potential suspect be the actual killer in the case of Amanda and her family’s murder? Though Brian’s dad said that it is nothing important, Brian has a feeling that it will be. So now he faced with the choice of whether or not to offer his piece of evidence just before Amanda’s father’s case reaches its verdict. He has to make a choice now, or be silenced forever.(less)
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