Review
Praise for John Coy and Top of the Order:
“Appealing characters and plenty of baseball action will make this a hit with young sports fans.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Coy effortlessly captures the voices of boys on the verge of adolescence. Jackson and his friends are fully developed.”—School Library Journal
“Appealing and true to life.”—Publishers Weekly
Product Description
Just before they’re due to start middle school, Jackson, Gig, Isaac, and Diego, four sports-loving friends, all attend the same weeklong soccer camp. Diego is an experienced soccer player, and Gig has a natural ability for the sport he never realized. But Jackson and Isaac are split into another group of players—a group with younger, smaller kids. For the first time, both boys aren’t the stars of their team. In fact, they can’t seem to get a handle on soccer. At the same time, Jackson is having a hard time getting a handle on his mom’s deepening relationship with her boyfriend, and her suggestion that they move in with him. And Gig is worried about his father’s deployment to Afghanistan.
Here is a story about how life, like sports, can be unpredictable, frustrating, and exhilarating.
About the Author
John Coy is the aware-winning author of picture books (including Night Driving, illustrated by Peter McCarty), young adult novels, and the 4 for 4 middle-grade series. He live in Minneapolis and travels to schools nationaly and internationally. Visit him online at www.johncoy.com.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
I run up to midfield when the ball goes down to the other end and try to act like I know what I’m doing. I thought the purpose of soccer camp was to teach you to be a better player, not just run up and down the field in games….
In baseball, basketball, and football, I’ve always been pretty good. I never paid much attention to the kids who weren’t. Now I’m one of those.
A spinning ball comes my way. It takes an awkward bounce and is about to go over my shoulder. Instinctively, I stick my hand out to stop it.
“Hand ball. Hand ball,” everybody yells at once.
“You can’t use your hand,” one of the little guys scowls at me.
I turn away. Like I don’t know that. I walk over by Isaac as the other team lines up for a free kick. A mosquito buzzes my ear, and I wave it away.
“I hate playing defense,” I say. “It feels like everything is coming at me way too fast.”
