Product Description

It’s simple. All Billy Raynor wants to do is shoot. After all, he is one of the best shooters in the league. But with his dad as his coach, and his parents newly separated, somehow everything’s become complicated. His brother Ben, the piano prodigy, hardly talks anymore. His mom is always traveling on business. And his dad is always on his case about not being a team player. But when Ben’s piano recital falls on the same day as the championship game, it is Billy who teaches his dad the true meaning of being a team player.

#1 New York Times bestseller Mike Lupica scores from downtown with this new series for young middle-grade readers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #174383 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780399247149
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Lupica (Miracle on 49th Street) again relays fast-paced basketball action in this involving first volume of the Comeback Kids series. The narrative moves equally sure-footedly off-court to explore the dynamics of 10-year-old Billy's family. His parents have recently separated, and his father, Joey, has moved to another house. Joey is also Billy's demanding, hot-headed basketball coach, constantly criticizing his son for shooting rather than passing during games. Billy's well-intentioned mother works long hours as a lawyer and travels frequently. Younger brother Ben, as passionate about the piano as Billy is about basketball, becomes increasingly withdrawn and, alarmingly, begins to skip piano lessons. Billy comes to Ben's rescue when a school bully picks on him, but resents feeling that his often-absent parents expect him to take care of his vulnerable brother. Tensions peak when Ben's piano recital and Billy's championship game occur at the same time; their mother is called out of town, and their father refuses to miss the game for Ben's recital. The resolution is pat, but pleasing—although not as pleasing as the sports writing. Lupica moves to the gridiron in the series' Two-Minute Drill, due the same month. These should score big with middle-graders looking for alternatives to Matt Christopher's titles.Ages 8-up. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author
Mike Lupica writes a nationally syndicated column for New York’s The Daily News and is a regular on ESPN’s The Sports Reporters. He lives in Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

He's On Fire!
Billy passed? Mike Lupica's book Hot Hand was a great book. Billy Raynor is a basketball player in the Rec. league. His dad was his coach and was extremely tough. Billy would make all his shots but, his Dad would scream at him because he would never pass. I agree with his Dad but, not with his punishments. He kicked Billy out of a playoff game. Billy's parents are divorced and he was having a tough time. Billy got suspended from school because he got into a fight. Ben, my favorite character, was a piano prodigy. Billy had a championship game on the same day as Ben's piano recital. The family worked together and found a way to go to both events but Billy had to miss part of his game. At the game, Billy came out hot but, with seconds left his Dad called timeout. "I am going with the hot hand. Yours." He said. One reason I enjoyed this book is because basketball is my favorite sport. This book is great for anyone who loves basketball. Lupica has a great flow throughout the book, keeping it interesting. Also, read Two-minute drill. A Great book for sports fiction lovers!

hot hand
Hi I am a student of Victoria the buyer of this book and my literacy teacher. If you are a teen kid who is in love with basketball or just likes it a lot then I recommend this book to you. This story takes place in a house and on and off the basketball court. The main character is Billy Raynor and his main conflict is that he is not a team player and seems like he just can't get along with his father on and off the court no matter how hard he tries. The coolest thing about my book is that the author doesn't just say Billy's team is winning; he puts more effort and details in it such as 30 secs. left in the 4th quarter with Billy's team winning by 4 the score is 50-47 and Billy's team has the ball. So if you think the review is good than you should see how good the book is!!!!!!!

A dad's review
Hot Hand: Mike Lupica's Comeback Kids
Ten year old Billy Raynor only lives for one thing, and that's basketball. When he's on the basketball court with his buddy Lenny and his team the Magic, he's truly happy and it seems like all of his problems disappear. Or at least they would if Billy's dad wasn't also the team's head coach. Worse, Billy's parents have just separated and his dad has moved out of the house. And Billy's dad won't get off his back about his playing, insisting that Billy shoots too much and is trying too hard to be a sports hero instead of a team player. Both Billy and his father want to see the Magic go all the way to the championship this year, but even if the team makes it, will the two of them still be father and son when it's all over?

Billy's difficult relationship with his father takes center stage in this novel. Billy's dad is stubborn, opinionated, and has his own ideas about what Billy should and shouldn't do. He often doesn't listen to Billy, and clearly has his own problems to worry about as well. In short, he's the kind of dad we all can be sometimes. While Billy and his father are antagonists throughout the novel, Billy nevertheless still yearns to make him proud. Lupica's depiction of a difficult father and son relationship is quite realistic of their conflict while also avoiding demonizing either Billy or his father. He also portrays how children can often feel trapped within situations larger than themselves, especially those situations (like separation) that may never have a happy ending. The level of the text is appropriate for young readers, and this is an excellent book for a child (especially a boy) who loves basketball or sports, who is caught in the midst of his parents' separation or divorce, or who has a father who may sometimes ride him just a little too hard when trying to teach him important life lessons.