One Last Shot
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4.0 • 1 Rating
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
The beloved author of
Ms. Bixby’s Last Day and Posted returns with a humorous and
heartwarming story of family, friendship, and miniature golf.
For as long as he can remember, Malcolm has never felt like
he was good enough. Not for his parents, who have always seemed at odds with
each other, with Malcolm caught in between. And especially not for his dad,
whose competitive drive and love for sports Malcolm has never shared.
That is, until Malcolm discovers miniature golf, the one
sport he actually enjoys. Maybe it’s the way in which every hole is a puzzle to
be solved. Or the whimsy of the windmills and waterfalls that decorate the
course. Or maybe it’s the slushies at the snack bar. But whatever the reason,
something about mini golf just clicks for Malcolm. And best of all, it’s a sport
his dad can’t possibly obsess over.
Or so Malcolm thinks.
Soon he is signed up for lessons and entered in tournaments.
And yet, even as he becomes a better golfer and finds unexpected friends at the
local course, be wonders if he might not always be a disappointment. But as the
final match of the year draws closer, the tension between Malcolm’s parents
reaches a breaking point, and it’s up to him to put the puzzle of his family
back together again.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Malcolm Greeley, 12, feels bad about disliking the sports that his father adores. So when he shows some flair for miniature golf and his dad jumps on it, finding Malcolm a coach and enrolling him in a league complete with tournaments, Malcolm goes along. Pleasing his father feels good, but it also causes further friction between his parents, who already fight a lot. Then there are the voices Malcolm hears: the one he's named Aleck, who says things Malcolm would never dare utter aloud, and the one that has him believing in his worst fears and insecurities. Countering that voice is Malcolm's warm relationship with his golf coach, Frank, as well as his new friendship with Lex, a girl he meets at the mini golf course. Chapters opening with golf tips intersperse the big tournament with the events leading up to it. Malcolm's desire to get along with his dad without upsetting his mother is well wrought, as are his anxieties and fears, expressed through the voices he hears. Light moments, such as Frank's cheerfully nutty stories, balance Anderson's (Finding Orion) serious themes, as does Malcolm's sympathetic and open narration. Ages 8 12.
