The Contract (The Contract #1)

Eight-year-old Derek Jeter has a lofty dream: to play shortstop for the New York Yankees. While his friends and even his teacher belittle his goal, Derek's parents' mantra is "you can do anything you want in life, if you work hard enough and stick with it." They put together a contract for Derek--its rules include "Respect Others," "Respect Yourself," and "Work Hard"--which is predictably tested when Derek is assigned to a Little League coach who favors his own son to the detriment of the team. There's a noble message in this series opener and first title from star shortstop Jeter's publishing imprint, but it's delivered too cleanly. Derek is a picture-perfect kid (with picture-perfect parents), a third grader who constantly takes the moral high road and reasons things like, "He knew his dad was only trying to teach him a valuable lesson." Knowing the (real-life) outcome of Jeter's story helps offset the book's lesson-in-disguise qualities, but it may be hard for readers to find common ground with a character who always makes the right decisions. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)

Gr 4-8--This first book in Jeter's middle grade baseball series offers an inspirational, fictionalized account of Derek's third grade year when his dream of a baseball career meets the realities of schoolwork and Little League competition. To help Derek achieve his career dream (playing shortstop for the New York Yankees), his parents draw up a "contract" of positive expectations, values, and rewards that the boy signs. Selected to play on Kalamazoo's Little League Tigers, Derek is disappointed when the coach's son is given the shortstop position. Derek's parents and the contract help him channel his frustration into team play, hard work, and excellence as a second baseman. When his math grades dip, he recognizes the need to improve and gets extra help. Derek's determination, positive attitude toward others, and exceptional athletic talent ensure his success. His parents are a remarkable reservoir of wisdom, guidance, and support: defending his baseball dream to a doubtful teacher, suggesting a positive spin on racial slurs directed at their biracial son; and, arranging Derek's reward of seeing a Yankees game. Factual biographical information and real relationships are smoothly blended with fiction. Engaging descriptions of young Derek's aspirations and vulnerability, vivid Little League baseball action, and realistic peer and coach conflicts will resonate with middle grade fans. This purposeful, celebrity-authored book focuses on the first of Jeter's 10 Life Lessons, "set your goals high."--Gerry Larson, formerly at Durham School of the Arts, NC