The thought provoking author of "On the Devil's Court" has once again touched our lives with "Heart of a Champion" . Carl Deuker , a wise, intelligent author, brings to our curious eyes the wonderful story about a young boy growing up with a love for baseball . This may sound like the typical boy-and-his-glove story but witty Deuker gives the novel a certain twist of excitement and drama . Seth, a young determined boy, discovers his new interest for baseball when meeting his new friend Jimmy for the first time . As Seth sees Jimmy's father's strict coaching and more private problems, he starts thinking more about his own father's death . As the two grow and start playing in baseball leagues together Seth realizes that all his determination and strength does not equal to Jimmy's allstar proformance as a player . In the end Seth finds that all his dedication pays off . As the two reach highschool , issues of drinking arise and start interfearing with the actual game playing . After small punishments Seth is unfortunate to be the only one realizing the concequences while Jimmy faces more problems with his father . Jimmy overlooks boundaries and ends up in more trouble than he will ever know . Through the years Seth realizes the true meaning to have the heart of a champion .

"Heart of a Champion" is beautifully composed by Carl Deuker. It is the #1 title for a reader who has a love for baseball. Deuker's love for baseball is portrayed in his easy-to-understand commentary of the baseball action. Probably written for ages 12-16, it is a book that sugar coats nothing about a baseball teenager's life in a small town. Jimmy is a boy dedicated to the sport of baseball.Jimmy often touched the people he played with.One was Seth to whom he sent a ball rolling to him at Henry Ford park and changed his life forever.They became the best of friends and were inseperable year-roundof themselves and the sport of baseball. The adventures they go through are amazing but they are up to you to read about!

A Review by Tyler
Heart of a Champion is a good book, actually it's great book. Probably the best book I've ever read, I give it 5stars. This book was so real to life, and the struggles, heartaches, and pains a real friendship goes through. Seth and Jimmy both love the game of baseball, and everything about it, they both dream of playing in the Major Leagues. But Jimmy likes one thing inpaticular that some Major Leagues do, that will eventually break him. To find out what read the book. The ending to this story is what no one would expect, and that is how the whole book is, this is part of the reason the book is so good. The book was well written; all the conflicts seemed so real. Although there were a couple of scenes where I had to read it twice, to figure out whose talking or just what it meant. I would recommend this book to anybody who even remotely likes baseball or any sport.

On the Devil's Court is an intresting book written by Carl Deuker. It deals with a boy named Joe, who isn't really fantastic in any area of life. His main concern is to play varsity basketball, but he hasn't been playing so great. Then, a miracle happened. He is a star on his varsity team, one of the most popular kids in school, and a straight A student. Are these accomplishments of his hard work or is someone or something helping him!

MY MOST FAVORITE BOOK WAS On The Dervils Court. It was about a boy trying to fit in and make the asketball team.Well one day on his way home he found this old broken down court in a building.One day while he was playing a deep black mist vcome into the room and he starts making all his three point shots. And jokenly he says give me a fuul season of power and my soul is yours. The thing i loved the most about this book was the way the author desribed everything I felt as if I was watching a movie. In other words this book was very informative . Although it was long it kept you wondering what is going to happen next.If you like basketball read this book.

On the Devil's court is a GREAT book!!! Joe Faust, a senior in high school, sees his basketball skills deteriorating, and desperately wants to improve so he can make the varsity team. One night, while in an old deserted gym, Joe makes a terrifying bargain, agreeing to sell his soul to the Devil in exchange for one straight season of power. When the end of the year rolls around, Joe's team is undefeated, and they make the championships. Joe's deal with the Devil is done.
On the Devil's Court takes place in Seattle where Mr. Deuker lives, and the story is very true to real life. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to any one who likes basketball and suspense, and would like to add, if anyone is interested, that Mr. Deuker is a very nice and funny person, and is my WONDERFUL teacher!!!

The author of this book is Carl Deuker. This book would be under the sports category, but it does have other topics in the story. In this book, a young boy has no friends in his neighborhood and doesn't really play sports. Then one day another boy (the same age as him) moves in across the street. They become friends and enjoy hanging out and playing baseball throughout the book and experience many different adventures. I have read other Carl Deuker books and this one is better and more exciting than his other ones. I had read On the Devil's Court and Danger Zone and this one was clearly more interesting nd had better sporting events. When I read this book I reacted in a happy way. The book was very good and it really good and kept me wanting to read it. On page 54, "I felt so bad that I said that to him. I can't lose him as my friend, I just can't afford that." This just made me think how hard it has been for him to go through life with no friends. Now, he has one friend and he almost lost him. I just keep on thinking about this and it always makes me try to see and feel what he is feeling. He must be so glad now that he finally has a friend and he knows that he can't let him lose this one. Even though this book was tremendously well written, there were some things I didn't enjoy so much. Some of the dialogues were too long and weren't necessary to what was actually happening and some of the characters weren't described too well. I think that if you like sports, then you will like this book. Also, if you have read Deuker books in the past, this one is better than all of them. Good Bye.

This story is basically a story of struggle for one kid and a glory for another. The main character Ryan is a kid who had always loved baseball, but could not play because a freak acident that broke both his legs. Ever since the injury he has not wanted to play again, until a new kid moves next door. Ryan's new neighbor turns out to be one of those great athletes that are good at any sport they play. They would throw the ballaround everyday and it got Ryan hooked. Ryan and Josh turn out to become really good friends, and Josh talks Ryan into trying out for baseball in the spring. When spring comes around and Ryan shows up for the tryouts, he doesn't know what to think. He doesn't know if he will make the team. Do you think that Ryan will make the team? If you want to find out, read the book. The book painting the Black by Carl Deuker is a very well written and thought out book. I really enjoyed reading this novel. First of all, the whole theme of the book is about baseball and I am a baseball nut. I like stories that there are odds to overcome and surpass before you get what you want. I really like how the author has other things going on in this novel as well. I really connected with this book because when I was a freshman trying out for baseball I really didn't know if I was going to make the team. But the main character in this story, Ryan, is trying out his senior year in high school. As you have read, the story is about overcoming odds to get to where you want to be. Everyone should connect with this book in one way or another.

PAINTING THE BLACK

BY: Carl Deuker

" A thrilling sports story "

By the title you think it's about painting. But it's not, it's about baseball. As soon as you read the first page you'll be hooked, and find out it's about a lot more.

Ryan Ward is the type of kid who works at home on the weekends, but isn't a geek or made fun of. He'd do enough to get through the day so he can go back to his safe little room in his safe little house. But when Josh Danils moves in at midnight Ryan's life will change in away he never expected. Ryan is your typical senior who isn't very athletic
Sits around really doesn't have any friends. When Ryan goes over to introduce himself to josh ,a guy who is 6-2 200 pounds good-looking guy, they end up playing baseball at the park. Josh asks Ryan to catch for him Ryan is hesitant because he hurt is ankle and it never healed right but to his surprise josh says he's the best catcher he's ever seen.

Josh soon teaches Ryan about life. One day josh packs up all his stuff and goes and
Tries out for football. Well that's when Ryan starts to realize it's about attaching the day instead of just getting through it. So Ryan works out to get into shape every day. Finally baseball comes Ryan knows josh will make it but Ryan's not sure if he will but josh says
He will. But to his surprise he's the only one who can catch josh's slider, Ryan makes the team . Ryan's life is about to turn upside down in away he never expected. Ryan soon finds out josh is popular and feeds off it. But Ryan is proud of him self he is athletic and has made friends

Ryan emends up having the best year of his life on the baseball team when his life
Starts to change.

Shane Hunter, a Sophomore and star closer for Shorelake High School - a private school near Seattle - seems to have it all, that is until his father is arrested for money laundering and later commits suicide. His mother is forced to sell the house and move the family into public housing. Shane falls in with the wrong crowd and is arrested for shoplifting at a local convenience store. He is put on probation fixing up a baseball field at a Boys' and Girls' Club. There he meets Cornelius Grandison, the baseball coach at his high school Shane later discovers. Coach Grandison becomes a father figure to Shane.

Carl Deuker has created another winner. You'll think you're sitting in the front row with a box of Crackerjacks and a Coke as Shane mows them down in the last inning, and you'll feel the emotions right along with Shane during the roller coaster ride his life takes. Good baseball books are in short supply for teens, so don't let this one slip past.

This is a totally excelent book. I think you should read it. A reason why is because it relates with teenage kids ...The story line is awsome too. I got to read it over 7 months before it came out and the author (Mr. Deuker) read it to us (his class) ...

This book is a good example of how life throws all different kinds of things at you. It also shows that through teamwork anything is possible. Nick,the main character, loves to play basketball. He makes varsity at Bothel High. There is a kid named Trent Dawson who is a trouble maker who also makes the team. At first the guys don't like that, but after a while he shows them that he is good. They end up beating one of the best teams in their league. Then a bad turn of events comes around, and someone gets shot. Then Trents brother is blamed for it, and he runs away. Trent feels obligated to go with his brother when he sends for Trent. The basketball season is almost done, but there are two games left and they are both very important games. The rest you'll have to read to find out. This was a good book for young adults, and I would recomend it to anyone.

Night Hoops by Carl Deuker is an awesome book! This is the kind of book that you don't want to put down and you find that you are just reading late into the night until you just fall asleep, which I did a couple of times!

I like this book for many reasons, not just because I like sports and books about sports but how it related to me and many other people in the world. This book taught me that just because someone may look bad, live in a dirty house, or be just pain old mean, doesn't mean that you have to hate him/her but that that you could become friends with him/her. I liked the way that Nick and Trent became friends; it was a very different way of becoming friends. At a glance, Nick Abbott and Trent Dawson may not seem to have anything in common, but if you look closer at their lives, it becomes obvious that they are going through pretty much the same thing, family problems, Nick's parents are divorced and Trent's single mom constantly has a different boyfriend, and his brother is constantly in trouble with the law.

To sum it up this book is about two high school ninth graders, their passion for basketball and their life story/problems.

'Night Hoops' by Carl Deuker is an awesome book! This is the kind of book that you don't want to put down and you find that you are reading late into the night, which I did a couple of times!

I like this book for many reasons, not just because I like sports and books bout sports, but how it related to me and many other people in the world. This book taught me that just because someone may look bad, live in a dirty house or neighborhood, or just be plain old mean, doesn't mean you have to hate him/her, but that you could become friends with him/her. I liked the way that Nick Abbot and Trent Dawson became friends; it was a very different way of becoming friends. At a glance, Nick and Trent may not seem to have much in common, but if you look closer at their lives, it becomes obvious that they are going through pretty much the same thing, family problems. Nick's parents are divorced and Trent's single mom constantly has a different boyfriend and a brother that is constantly in trouble with the law.

To sum it up this book is about two high school sophomores, their passion for basketball and their life problems.