Tj and the Sports Fanatic

by Hazel Hutchins

TJ Barnes is back, playing with his crazy cats, T-Rex and Alaska, helping out in his parents' hardware store and goofing around with his best friend, Seymour.

When Seymour announces that he has signed them both up for a football team, TJ fears the worst. Neither of them is huge or mean or able to tackle, catch, throw, run or kick a ball down a field, but Seymour is determined to be a star. With the help of a stack of library...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 155143461X
• ISBN13: 9781551434612
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.1" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Excellent Book for sports fans

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 9) for Reader Views (6/07) Do you have a friend that is always trying to get you to do things that maybe you wouldn't want to even try to do? Well, TJ Barnes has this problem. TJ has no athletic abilities but his best friend Seymour does. However, Seymour won't try out for a team unless TJ does with him. What are the right reasons for trying out for a football team? Is it that small chance that you might be good at it and can make lots of money. Or is it to be among the popular kids in school? Football teaches responsibility, teamwork and leadership skills. Whatever the reasons, TJ doesn't want to do it. But being a good friend to Seymour, he tries. TJ is more concerned with something greater than football. He helps out at his family's hardware store which has fallen on hard times. Perhaps the store will have to go in a different direction than what has always worked before. TJ doesn't understand all the X and O marks when the coach tries to explain the different plays. He doesn't understand all the penalties. But at least he's not like Seymour, who scores the first points of his football career against his own team. Teamwork takes on new meaning in this book. "TJ and the Sports Fanatic" is an excellent book for football lovers and other sports fans. It keeps your interest in both TJ's first attempt at playing football and being a valuable member of another team....his family. This is a good book for ages 8-12. With football season right around the corner, get prepared for the season by reading this one! Note from Brianne's mother: Brianne has always liked football. Perhaps it's because she was born in the year that her favorite NFL team won the Super Bowl. She has played on some different sports teams over the years and likes being a part of team. This book kept her interest and she didn't want to lay it down until after she read the last page.