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Starred Review The Perfect Shot

  • Interest Level: Grade 6 - Grade 12
  • Reading Level: Grade 6

Someone murdered Brian’s girfriend, Amanda. The police think it was her father. Brian isn’t so sure. But everyone he knows is telling him to move on, get over it, focus on the present. Focus on basketball. Focus on hitting the perfect shot. Brian hopes that the system will work for Amanda and her father. An innocent man couldn’t be wrongly convicted, could he?

But then Brian does a school project on Leo Frank, a Jewish man lynched decades ago for the murder of a teenage girl—a murder he didn’t commit. Worse still, Brian’s teammate Julius gets arrested for nothing more than being a black kid in the wrong place at the wrong time. Brian can’t deny any longer that the system is flawed.

As Amanda’s father goes on trial, Brian admits to himself that he knows something that could break the case. But if he comes forward, will the real killer try for another perfect shot—this time against Brian?

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978-1-4677-6820-7
 $23.99
Available at all major wholesalers and distributors. Save 25% off list price on hardcovers and ebooks when you buy direct! Digital purchases will be accessed on Lerner Digital Bookshelf. An account will be created for you after purchase.
Interest Level Grade 6 - Grade 12
Reading Level Grade 6
Genre Young Adult
Copyright 2005
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Carolrhoda Lab ®
Language English
Number of Pages 360
Publication Date 2014-08-01
Reading Counts! Level 6.8
Text Type Fiction—Mystery
BISACS YAF042000, YAF024170, YAF058190
Dewey [Fic]
Dimensions 5.5 x 8.25
Lexile 920
ATOS Reading Level 6.1
Accelerated Reader® Quiz 101802
Accelerated Reader® Points 14.0
Features Author/Illustrator biography, Awards, Reviewed, and Starred Reviews

Awards

  • ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Gold Award, Winner, 2005
  • VOYA Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers, Winner, 2005

Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

“With basketball action, a murder mystery, a compelling story from history, adolescent angst, racial and parental tension, Alphin offers something to please most young readers.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Publishers Weekly

“Alphin (Picture Perfect) scores big with this novel. . . the author’s portrayal of Brian’s slow awakening to a sense of personal integrity and responsibility – even at great personal cost – is convincing, and may well get readers thinking.”
—Publishers Weekly

Starred Review School Library Journal

“This novel will resonate with readers long after the final page.”
—Starred Review, School Library Journal