The Basket Counts

by Matt Christopher

Book Overview

On-court hostility threatens Mel's place on the team Mel Jensen is new to the Titans basketball team, but he knows he could be a vital part of the starting lineup-if only two other players would give him a chance to show his stuff. But Caskie and Stoney seem bent on ignoring him, and Mel knows it's because he's black. Should Mel fight fire with fire, or should he try to get along, if only for the sake of the team?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316140767
• ISBN13: 9780316140768
• Release Date: September 1991
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Length: 125 Pages
• Weight: 0.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.1" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Teamwork

Just imagine if you were a new kid in school and the new kid on the basketball team. You were also the kid who had a different skin color than anyone else on the team and almost everyone on the team hated you. This is how an African American teen named Mel Jensen felt. You will learn more about Mel Jensen and how he overcame this situation in this story The Basket Counts, by Matt Christopher. In this story, Mel Jensen goes to high school at Hillcrest High School where he is on the basketball team and he is really good. He knows that he could be a very good player on the team. Their point guard on his team never passes him the ball. His name is Caskie and he doesn't like black people. When they had a game, they are going against their rival school team. It is Spring Lake High School. All of his teammates are pumped except for him. He doesn't feel that excited because he knows that his teammates won't pass him the ball even if he was open. When the game starts, he is playing in the forward position and he is lined up at the right wing. Everyone see's Mel open all the time but it's just that Caskie doesn't like passing the ball to him. After the first quarter, the score is 9-7 in favor of Spring Lake. Mel wants to sit the whole second quarter and he does. When it is half time, the score is 25-18 in favor of Spring Lake High School. Mel is ready and he wanted to go back in. When the third quarter starts, he starts playing his hardest. He only scored 5 points and that's all he had. They ended up losing 30-25. The next week, it is the game before their winter break and he couldn't play because he is sick. The next day, he is When he got down there, his mom said there was a letter for him and it is from the team and from Caskie feeling really good and he goes down to get some breakfast.. It read " You didn't have to come last night. The team doesn't need you. You shouldn't come that often. We won 25-17." Mel got mad and he ripped the note. After that, his mom told him to bring his little brothers and sisters to the lake where it had been frozen and they would go ice skating there. When they got there, he saw Caskie and wanted to leave but he had to stay with his brothers and sisters. When Mel felt something in the ground shaking, he told his brothers and sisters to leave. Caskie was still skating and Mel tried to warn him but he didn't listen. The ice cracked down the middle and Caskie fell inside and Mel ran to him and picked him up. Then Caskie apologized to Mel about everything he done and he swore he would never be against him again. When they got back to school, Caskie starts hanging out with Mel and their game was on that night too. They were all pumped because they were going against the Polars. Then the game started... This book really has some good details about how a new kid at school becomes a real hero to his teammates and his basketball team. I really liked this because it shows how two people who didn't like each other can end up bei

Slam dunk for this book! By Nathan

Can Mel, an African American student, get along with his new team and school? The Basket Counts by Matt Christopher takes place out on a basketball court in a small town. Mel is an out going kind teen trying to make friends anyway he can. Caskie, the star of the basketball team, is a mean and nasty teen that is looking for trouble. This is a fast pace sport book that will make your heart jump. Mel is a new student at Hill Crest School. Mel and his friend Darry, try out for the basketball team called the Titans. Do the Titans win the championship and does Caskie and Mel get along? Read the book to find out.

Review on The Basket Counts

The Basket Counts by Matt ChristopherMel and his friends are on a good basketball team called the Titans. They live in a little town called Trixton.I think the people that will like this book are people that like sports.The Titans have won every game, until Mel, one of the best players on the team got into a fight with Caskie his own teammate, and Mel gets kick out of the game.Do the Titans go to the playoffs without Mel and do the Titans go to the champion chip game? Well the world may never know unless you read the outstanding book!!The Basket Counts by Matt ChristopherMel and his friends are on a good basketball team called the Titans. They live in a little town called Trixton.I think the people that will like this book are people that like sports.The Titans have won every game, until Mel, one of the best players on the team got into a fight with Caskie his own teammate, and Mel gets kick out of the game.Do the Titans go to the playoffs without Mel and do the Titans go to the champion chip game? Well the world may never know unless you read the outstanding book!!(...)

Josh from Connecticut, April 15, 2000

If you like basketball or ever have had to deal with racism, you'll like this book. Mel Johnson moves to an all white neighborhood and school. He joins the school basketball team and most of the players won't even pass the ball to him because he is black. When one of the other players falls through the ice and Mel helps to save his life, things turn around. From that point on they start to play as a team and realize that no matter what color you are "The Basket Counts" This book is very easy to read...if you're like me and would rather be playing basketball than reading about it!