Soccer Stand-off

By Jake Maddox

Milak must learn about personal responsibility when a new soccer coach challenges his worldview and his work ethic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: May 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781496591432

Jake Maddox

Who is Jake Maddox? Athlete, author, world-traveler – or all three? He has surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived in Australia, and climbed the mountains of Peru and Alaska. His books range from the most popular team sports to outdoor activities to survival adventures and even to auto racing. His exploits have inspired numerous writers to walk in his footsteps – literally! Each of his stories is stamped with teamwork, fair play, and a strong sense of self-worth and discipline. Always a team-player, Maddox realizes it takes more than one man (or woman) to create a book good enough for a young reader. He hopes the lessons learned on the court, field, or arena and the champion sprinter pace of his books can motivate kids to become better athletes and lifelong readers.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

SOCCER COACH DISASTER

Ethan rode down the sidewalk on his bike, eager to meet his best friend. He turned onto 23rd Avenue and caught a glimpse of Malik as he rose from the stoop on the corner. Ethan and Malik had played together on the Madison Middle School soccer team last year when they were in seventh grade. Now as eighth graders they’d probably be starters. Ethan felt a burst of nerves thinking about their first practice being held today.

Based on the first few practices, the coach would decide who started and at what position. Even though Ethan was pretty much a shoo-in, it was still nerve racking.

Up ahead, Malik waved as he walked his bike to the sidewalk and climbed on. Hey, Ethan! he yelled. You ready?

Ethan rolled to a stop next to his friend. You know it, he said, putting his hand out for a high five. Good summer?

Not bad, Malik said. Got home last night.

Malik had spent the last four weeks of summer in Alaska with his sister. She lived on an organic farm as a researcher, studying something Ethan didn’t understand.

How about you? Malik asked as the boys started pedaling toward the school.

Are you kidding? Ethan said, shaking his head. I’ve been so bored. With you and Jake out of town, I had nothing to do!

The boys’ other best friend, Jacob Levy, had been away almost the whole summer, too. His mom had a temporary assignment in California for work and the whole family went along. Ethan had heard almost nothing from him all summer.

A few more minutes of pedaling and the school came into view. Just as they pulled up, the phone in Ethan’s pocket vibrated. It’s a text from Jake, he said, looking at the screen. He says, ‘We need to talk right now.’

Right now? Malik said as he locked up his bike. Shouldn’t he be here, too?

Good point, Ethan said. He typed quickly back to Jake: First practice is starting. Where are you? Then he locked up his bike and jogged to the field with Malik. The rest of the team was already there, kicking the ball around.

Hey, Jake’s dad’s not here either, Malik said as he pulled a ball from the yellow netted sack and tossed it to Ethan.

Ethan coolly caught the ball with his foot and started juggling it. He showed off sometimes, but he couldn’t help it. He hadn’t even had to practice to get good at juggling. Might as well show off.

Ethan spotted Jerome Grouse from last year’s team stretching at the fence. He dribbled over to him. Hey, where’s Coach Levy?

I don’t know, man, Jerome said, jogging in place.

Just then, a whistle blew from the hill overlooking the field, halfway between them and the rear entrance to the middle school. Ethan looked up and saw a shadowed figure standing at the top, the rising sun behind it.

He quickly pulled out his phone and furiously texted Jacob again: What the heck is going on? Where are you and your dad?

The figure at the top of the hill walked toward them, and as Ethan began to make out the face and clothes, dread flooded through him.

No . . . , he said quietly, to no one in particular.

The person coming down the hill was Ms. Brezinka, the coach of the girls’ soccer team — and his horrible seventh grade science teacher.

Seventh grade science: the class Ethan barely squeaked through with a D the year before, and only after an extension into July to re-do failed labs and exams. He and two other students had been alone in the science room with Ms. Brezinka

Reviews for Soccer Stand-off

[jennybeast · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The goodreads description for this book is entirely wrong. It is part of the Jake Maddox series, but written by Eric Stevens.

Malik is a character in the book -- but he's a friend who consistently calls the main character on poor behavior. The main character, Ethan, is thrown when the soccer coach he was expecting is replaced by his dreaded science teacher, Ms. Brezinki. Ethan reacts badly to the change, and the book focuses on his need for an attitude adjustment.

Decent story, but requires sitting with a character who can't help himself from being a jerk. Uncomfortable, and more of a teaching tale than a plot-driven story. Think after-school special about social emotional learning.