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Summary
Summary
Whisper Nelson hates sports&mdashall sports&mdashwith a passion! So when by a fluke she wins a chance to kick a goal past a professional soccer star for a million-dollar prize, she is torn. Should she try it and risk humiliation, or just forget the whole thing and save what dignity she has left? But the Million Dollar Kick might be Whisper's big chance not only to win a million dollars, but to regain confidence in herself.
Author Notes
Dan Gutman was born in New York City on October 19, 1955. He received a degree in psychology from Rutgers University in 1977. He started a video game magazine in 1982 called Video Games Player, which later became Computer Games. When the magazine went out of business in 1985, he decided to become a full-time writer. He wrote several non-fiction baseball books for adults, before changing his focus to non-fiction sports books for children. In 1994, he decided to switch to children's fiction. He is the author of the Baseball Card Adventures Series, My Weird School series, My Weird School Daze series, My Weirder School series, and The Genius Files series. In 2014 his title, Texas with Love, which was the fourth book in the Genius Files Series, made The New York Times Best Seller List.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8 An uninspired and reluctant 13-year-old, Whisper Nelson, who played soccer once in her life, has the chance to win a million dollars. All she has to do is overcome her "bad" attitude toward sports and herself, and go one-on-one against a competitive professional soccer goalie and score. This rendition of Dan Gutman's The Million Dollar Kick (Hyperion, 2001) is a winner. This is the first time that Gutman has used a female protagonist in his many sports stories, and she is interpreted brilliantly by award-winning narrator Christine Moore. Whisper's development from a sarcastic middle-school outcast, at odds with classmates, teachers, and family, to a confident, assertive young woman who knows her own mind, highlights the breadth and depth of Moore's vocal characterizations. Covering a range of female characters, including her mom, her younger sister, her "coach," and the infamous goalie, Carmen Applegate, in addition to Whisper, Moore demonstrates the power of subtle vocal changes. The sensitive, even paced, and clear delivery of every character makes this accessible for a range of ages. Filled with humor and insight about growing up, this is great listening for middle school students. -Tina Hudak, St. Bernard's School, Riverdale, MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Dan Gutman's The Million Dollar Kick does for soccer what his The Million Dollar Shot did for basketball. Whisper Nelson, a seventh grader living in Oklahoma City, enters a competition to create the best slogan (the Million Dollar Kick Contest at the Donut City) and wins "the chance to take a single shot against the Kick goalkeeper Carmen Applegate for a million dollars." Once again the author works into the story line a plethora of tips and facts about the game, making this a book for reluctant players and soccer fans alike. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Whisper Nelson, an uncoordinated middle school loner who hates soccer, is selected in a contest--if she can make a goal against professional goalkeeper Carmen Applegate, sheÆll win a million dollars. In practicing for the big shot, she picks up a few ideas on surviving middle school as well. A likable protagonist stars in a lively sports story that even nonathletes will like. From HORN BOOK Spring 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 5-8. Thirteen-year-old Whisper Nelson hates soccer--and many other things about her life as a middle schooler at the bottom of the social food chain. One day she allows little sister Briana, a soccer ace, to enter her in a contest to make up a new slogan for Oklahoma City's women's soccer team. The winner is allowed a kick against the team's professional goalkeeper, with a $1 million prize for a successful goal. Of course, shy, unhappy Whisper writes the slogan that wins, and her dealing with the publicity blitz and training for the kick once she decides to take the risk pull the story along to a highly satisfying and terrifically suspenseful conclusion. Gutman captures Whisper's pain and dry wit beautifully in this strong story about a teen getting through tough times. --Anne O'sMalley
Table of Contents
| 1 My Mental Video | p. 1 |
| 2 Whomperjawed | p. 5 |
| 3 Rules and Rip-offs | p. 21 |
| 4 A Million Dollars Is a Million Dollars | p. 30 |
| 5 Me Against Everybody Else | p. 43 |
| 6 Boys Will Be Boys | p. 57 |
| 7 The Lesson | p. 67 |
| 8 Head Games | p. 76 |
| 9 Take Your Business Elsewhere | p. 85 |
| 10 Virtual Whisper and Virtual Carmen | p. 92 |
| 11 Opening My Eyes | p. 105 |
| 12 The Genius of Jess Dada | p. 113 |
| 13 Shooting Pool | p. 122 |
| 14 Keeping Secrets | p. 132 |
| 15 Who in the World Is Carmen Applegate? | p. 142 |
| 16 Practice Makes Perfect | p. 145 |
| 17 Instant Replay | p. 154 |
| 18 Pure Science | p. 161 |
| 19 The Big Day | p. 171 |
| 20 Left or Right? | p. 182 |
| 21 Endings | p. 188 |
| 22 The Million Dollar Kick | p. 190 |
