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Table of Contents
About The Book
In the tenth book in the New York Times bestselling middle grade series inspired by the life of iconic New York Yankee Derek Jeter, young Derek and his friends persevere through everyday challenges.
Derek Jeter dreams of being the shortstop for the New York Yankees. He even imagines himself in the World Series. So Derek makes his case to be shortstop, but realizes winning is hard.
With his dad, Derek works hard practicing and makes sure he keeps a clear mind and stays focused. Coach Russell reminds him to work hard and get the small things right and the big things will follow. Derek discovers hard work is the only way to success and only he can make his dreams come true.
Derek Jeter dreams of being the shortstop for the New York Yankees. He even imagines himself in the World Series. So Derek makes his case to be shortstop, but realizes winning is hard.
With his dad, Derek works hard practicing and makes sure he keeps a clear mind and stays focused. Coach Russell reminds him to work hard and get the small things right and the big things will follow. Derek discovers hard work is the only way to success and only he can make his dreams come true.
Excerpt
Chapter One: New Beginnings Chapter One NEW BEGINNINGS
“That ball was outside!” Derek Jeter sprang up from his seat on the living room couch, his arms outstretched in protest. “Dad, that ump needs glasses.”
“Now, Derek, that was a borderline pitch,” Mr. Jeter replied, gazing at the TV screen as the dejected Tigers batter headed back to the dugout. “Give the umps a little slack. It’s a hard job.”
“I think the hitter should have swung,” said Derek’s little sister, Sharlee. Over the winter she’d become obsessed with baseball, and hitting in particular, mostly because their dad had started taking her along when he and Derek went to the indoor batting cages to practice.
“Who was that batter, anyway? I never saw him before,” Derek said.
“Jim Faye,” said Mr. Jeter. “He was in the minors last year.”
“There are so many new guys on the team,” Derek complained, sinking back down into his seat. “I barely know who’s who now. Where are all the guys from last year?”
“Well, they traded some away, let others go to free agency. The Tigers are rebuilding, Derek.”
“Why? They had a great team a couple of seasons ago.”
“Well, things change, Son. It’s a new season. New players, and a nice clean slate, too. Everyone’s in first place on opening day. Speaking of which, are you two excited for your leagues to start up next weekend?”
“Yes!” Sharlee exulted, bouncing up and down in her chair. “I can’t wait. I’m going to hit a home run every game this year!”
“She does have a mean swing,” Mr. Jeter said, glancing at Derek with a wink.
Derek laughed. “Hey, I’m just glad to get on the field again after all this time. It feels like years.”
Derek really was feeling jazzed about the new season. First and foremost he was now on the travel team. And unlike last fall, when practically all they’d done was practice, this spring would bring a whole slew of games against the stiffest competition in the region.
It made Derek feel like he was an elite player—at least in Kalamazoo. Of course, his dreams were much bigger. He wanted to be the best, not just in Kalamazoo but in the whole country.
On top of travel baseball, Derek would also be playing his final season in Junior League. Next year, in eighth grade, he’d move up to the Senior League, where the players were older, bigger, taller, faster, and stronger.
Derek himself had grown four inches over the past winter. If he kept it up, he might even get to be six feet tall, which would be really cool. Onward and upward, that was how he looked at it. Every day brought a new challenge, and he would work as hard as necessary to be ready.
“Derek!” his mom called from the kitchen. “Sharlee! Anyone going to clean up in here?”
Derek and Sharlee hopped up and went to help. Their chores around the house were all laid out in the contracts they’d signed with their parents. In exchange for privileges, they had clear responsibilities, and doing dishes after meals was one of them.
“There are so many leftovers,” Sharlee complained as she and Derek packed them up for later.
“Easter Sunday lunch,” their mom remarked, shrugging. “Should I have just made peanut butter sandwiches?”
“No!” Derek and Sharlee said at once, and they all laughed. Their mom had made a heaping feast, and Derek couldn’t imagine eating again till at least Tuesday.
“You guys ready to go back to school tomorrow?” Mrs. Jeter asked.
“Yes!” said Derek.
“No,” said Sharlee at the same time.
“What’s wrong?” Derek asked his sister. “You just had ten days off, didn’t you?”
“But it’s springtime,” Sharlee explained. “Finally. I want to be outside. Why can’t we have classes out on the lawn?”
“When you’re in charge of the schools, you can make those decisions,” Mrs. Jeter said, patting Sharlee on the shoulder. “And don’t forget to dry the frying pan.”
Sharlee moaned, but did as she was told.
Derek had had the same ten days off, but Sharlee had been hanging out with her friends the whole time. Ciara had been at their house almost every day over the break, and so had the Parker triplets—London, Adriana, and Abby. They’d driven Derek crazy with their talking and laughing and playing all kinds of games he wasn’t interested in.
His own best friend, Vijay, had been away with his parents, visiting family in India the whole time. Derek’s other best friend, Dave, had moved to Hong Kong with his parents the year before. His friend Avery, who lived across town, had gone traveling with her mom over Easter week, so Derek had spent a lot of time alone, getting a head start on reading assignments for school.
Last term he’d fallen behind in his schoolwork while playing both basketball and baseball. He’d done fine on his final grades, but not without a lot of hard work cramming at the last minute. He was determined to get ahead of the game this time around, because playing in two baseball leagues at once was going to eat up a lot of time between now and the end of June.
“Can I go over to the Hill?” Derek asked his mom. “I think Vijay might be home by now.”
“Sure,” said his mom. “Give him my best. Be back by six, okay?”
“We’re actually eating supper tonight? After that lunch? Seriously?”
“You’re a growing boy, old man,” his mom said with a wry smile. “You’re full now, but you’ve been basically a bottomless pit the last six months.”
He could tell she was happy that he’d gotten taller. For the longest time it had seemed like every other kid but him was growing into a man. Now he’d joined the party.
On the other hand, in a couple of months he’d be an actual teenager. The thought of it made him uncomfortable, and a little sad. Why did things always have to change? Why couldn’t life stay like it had been his whole life?
Vijay was already out on Jeter’s Hill (named for Derek because he spent almost every free minute there, playing ball). Vijay was playing catch with Harry Hicks, who also lived at Mount Royal Townhouses and whom Derek had known since he was a little kid.
Derek had never been happier to see his best buddy. They exchanged hugs and high fives with their mitts, and their elaborate secret handshake with their throwing hands.
Harry came over to greet him. “Hey, Jeter,” he said.
“How was Disneyland?” Derek asked him. Harry and his family had just returned from the West Coast, he knew.
“Awesome, but I might have outgrown some of the stuff,” Harry admitted. “My little sister went crazy for it, though.”
“So would mine,” Derek said, thinking of Sharlee and remembering how excited she’d gotten at that water park in New Jersey last summer.
“Hey, are you on the Yankees this season?” Harry asked him.
“No,” said Derek. “The Reds.”
“Bummer,” said Harry. “Hey, I’ve got to go. My grandma’s coming over this afternoon. See you guys in school.” Harry took off at a trot, checking his wristwatch.
“How about you, Vij? What team are you on?”
“Oh… me?” Vijay had a funny look on his face, almost like he was suddenly shy.
“You see anyone else here?”
“Um, I’m not playing ball this year,” Vijay said softly, looking away.
“Say what?” Derek couldn’t believe his ears. “But… we’ve been on the same team every year since…”
“Since the beginning,” Vijay said, nodding. “But for every beginning there’s an end.”
“You mean you’re not going to play ball again? Ever?”
“Well, like, here on the Hill, of course I’ll still play. But I’m just… I don’t know….”
Derek wanted to press the issue—to ask Vijay why. He just couldn’t understand.
Vijay had improved greatly over his years in Little League. He’d started as a complete novice and had wound up being an asset to the team. But he’d never been one of the better players. And while many of the kids had started their growth spurts already, Vijay hadn’t grown much at all the past year or so. He still looked for all the world like a fifth grader.
“Remember that kid last spring, who got his arm broken by a fastball?” Vijay reminded Derek.
Derek nodded. “He wasn’t on our team, but we all signed his cast anyway.”
“I’ll bet he’s not playing ball anymore either. I wouldn’t want to get hit like that. Some of the pitchers are six feet tall!”
It suddenly hit Derek that Vijay was really quitting the game. “Gee,” he said, feeling suddenly emotional. “It won’t be the same without you.”
“You’ll do fine,” Vijay assured him. “You’ve got what it takes, Derek. You always have, and you keep getting better every year. I’ve kind of hit my ceiling, if you know what I mean.”
Derek wanted to argue with him further, but Vijay preempted him. “Anyway, don’t feel bad on my account. I’ve got a new passion.”
“Oh yeah? What?”
“Are you ready?” Vijay asked, as if he were about to reveal the secret of the universe. Spreading his hands out and smiling blissfully, he said, “Video games!”
“Video games?” Derek repeated, confused.
“Derek, it’s a whole new world. No, a whole new universe. Wait till you try them.”
“I’ve tried them,” Derek said. “A couple of times. I think it was over at Jeff Jacobson’s house. Super Something Brothers…. It was pretty fun.”
“Super MARIO Brothers,” Vijay corrected him. “And now I have my own game console at home.”
“Wow, really?”
“My parents got it for me for my birthday, right before we left for India. I took it with me, and I was playing it half the time there. My parents even yelled at me because I was ignoring my cousins to play it. But, Derek, you can’t believe how much fun it is!”
“Well, next time I’m over at your house…”
“Totally. And guess what? Now there’s actually a real video game store in town, where you can go and play all these games on gigantic screens, and you can win tickets to redeem for prizes, and you can blow your entire allowance in one afternoon of supreme ecstasy!”
Derek had to laugh. He knew Vijay was joking, but he also knew that his friend meant every word. Vijay had already probably blown an insane amount of chore money at the new arcade.
Derek had seen the place from the outside—it was right across the street from the batting cages—but he’d never been inside. He couldn’t imagine having time for video games.
After playing catch with Vijay, Derek walked home feeling dejected. He’d been so excited about playing in two leagues, one with old friends and the other with new ones. But without his best pal, Little League baseball wouldn’t be what he had envisioned.
Last fall he’d worn himself out playing basketball and baseball at the same time. In fact, he’d wound up getting hurt and missing substantial chunks of the season.
Maybe I should just do travel team, he thought. Multiple games a week for the next two months was a lot, for sure. And travel back and forth ate up a lot of time too.
On the other hand, the more baseball he played, the better he would get—right? Derek was confident he could handle it, and also get his schoolwork done.
But it just wouldn’t be the same without Vijay.
“That ball was outside!” Derek Jeter sprang up from his seat on the living room couch, his arms outstretched in protest. “Dad, that ump needs glasses.”
“Now, Derek, that was a borderline pitch,” Mr. Jeter replied, gazing at the TV screen as the dejected Tigers batter headed back to the dugout. “Give the umps a little slack. It’s a hard job.”
“I think the hitter should have swung,” said Derek’s little sister, Sharlee. Over the winter she’d become obsessed with baseball, and hitting in particular, mostly because their dad had started taking her along when he and Derek went to the indoor batting cages to practice.
“Who was that batter, anyway? I never saw him before,” Derek said.
“Jim Faye,” said Mr. Jeter. “He was in the minors last year.”
“There are so many new guys on the team,” Derek complained, sinking back down into his seat. “I barely know who’s who now. Where are all the guys from last year?”
“Well, they traded some away, let others go to free agency. The Tigers are rebuilding, Derek.”
“Why? They had a great team a couple of seasons ago.”
“Well, things change, Son. It’s a new season. New players, and a nice clean slate, too. Everyone’s in first place on opening day. Speaking of which, are you two excited for your leagues to start up next weekend?”
“Yes!” Sharlee exulted, bouncing up and down in her chair. “I can’t wait. I’m going to hit a home run every game this year!”
“She does have a mean swing,” Mr. Jeter said, glancing at Derek with a wink.
Derek laughed. “Hey, I’m just glad to get on the field again after all this time. It feels like years.”
Derek really was feeling jazzed about the new season. First and foremost he was now on the travel team. And unlike last fall, when practically all they’d done was practice, this spring would bring a whole slew of games against the stiffest competition in the region.
It made Derek feel like he was an elite player—at least in Kalamazoo. Of course, his dreams were much bigger. He wanted to be the best, not just in Kalamazoo but in the whole country.
On top of travel baseball, Derek would also be playing his final season in Junior League. Next year, in eighth grade, he’d move up to the Senior League, where the players were older, bigger, taller, faster, and stronger.
Derek himself had grown four inches over the past winter. If he kept it up, he might even get to be six feet tall, which would be really cool. Onward and upward, that was how he looked at it. Every day brought a new challenge, and he would work as hard as necessary to be ready.
“Derek!” his mom called from the kitchen. “Sharlee! Anyone going to clean up in here?”
Derek and Sharlee hopped up and went to help. Their chores around the house were all laid out in the contracts they’d signed with their parents. In exchange for privileges, they had clear responsibilities, and doing dishes after meals was one of them.
“There are so many leftovers,” Sharlee complained as she and Derek packed them up for later.
“Easter Sunday lunch,” their mom remarked, shrugging. “Should I have just made peanut butter sandwiches?”
“No!” Derek and Sharlee said at once, and they all laughed. Their mom had made a heaping feast, and Derek couldn’t imagine eating again till at least Tuesday.
“You guys ready to go back to school tomorrow?” Mrs. Jeter asked.
“Yes!” said Derek.
“No,” said Sharlee at the same time.
“What’s wrong?” Derek asked his sister. “You just had ten days off, didn’t you?”
“But it’s springtime,” Sharlee explained. “Finally. I want to be outside. Why can’t we have classes out on the lawn?”
“When you’re in charge of the schools, you can make those decisions,” Mrs. Jeter said, patting Sharlee on the shoulder. “And don’t forget to dry the frying pan.”
Sharlee moaned, but did as she was told.
Derek had had the same ten days off, but Sharlee had been hanging out with her friends the whole time. Ciara had been at their house almost every day over the break, and so had the Parker triplets—London, Adriana, and Abby. They’d driven Derek crazy with their talking and laughing and playing all kinds of games he wasn’t interested in.
His own best friend, Vijay, had been away with his parents, visiting family in India the whole time. Derek’s other best friend, Dave, had moved to Hong Kong with his parents the year before. His friend Avery, who lived across town, had gone traveling with her mom over Easter week, so Derek had spent a lot of time alone, getting a head start on reading assignments for school.
Last term he’d fallen behind in his schoolwork while playing both basketball and baseball. He’d done fine on his final grades, but not without a lot of hard work cramming at the last minute. He was determined to get ahead of the game this time around, because playing in two baseball leagues at once was going to eat up a lot of time between now and the end of June.
“Can I go over to the Hill?” Derek asked his mom. “I think Vijay might be home by now.”
“Sure,” said his mom. “Give him my best. Be back by six, okay?”
“We’re actually eating supper tonight? After that lunch? Seriously?”
“You’re a growing boy, old man,” his mom said with a wry smile. “You’re full now, but you’ve been basically a bottomless pit the last six months.”
He could tell she was happy that he’d gotten taller. For the longest time it had seemed like every other kid but him was growing into a man. Now he’d joined the party.
On the other hand, in a couple of months he’d be an actual teenager. The thought of it made him uncomfortable, and a little sad. Why did things always have to change? Why couldn’t life stay like it had been his whole life?
Vijay was already out on Jeter’s Hill (named for Derek because he spent almost every free minute there, playing ball). Vijay was playing catch with Harry Hicks, who also lived at Mount Royal Townhouses and whom Derek had known since he was a little kid.
Derek had never been happier to see his best buddy. They exchanged hugs and high fives with their mitts, and their elaborate secret handshake with their throwing hands.
Harry came over to greet him. “Hey, Jeter,” he said.
“How was Disneyland?” Derek asked him. Harry and his family had just returned from the West Coast, he knew.
“Awesome, but I might have outgrown some of the stuff,” Harry admitted. “My little sister went crazy for it, though.”
“So would mine,” Derek said, thinking of Sharlee and remembering how excited she’d gotten at that water park in New Jersey last summer.
“Hey, are you on the Yankees this season?” Harry asked him.
“No,” said Derek. “The Reds.”
“Bummer,” said Harry. “Hey, I’ve got to go. My grandma’s coming over this afternoon. See you guys in school.” Harry took off at a trot, checking his wristwatch.
“How about you, Vij? What team are you on?”
“Oh… me?” Vijay had a funny look on his face, almost like he was suddenly shy.
“You see anyone else here?”
“Um, I’m not playing ball this year,” Vijay said softly, looking away.
“Say what?” Derek couldn’t believe his ears. “But… we’ve been on the same team every year since…”
“Since the beginning,” Vijay said, nodding. “But for every beginning there’s an end.”
“You mean you’re not going to play ball again? Ever?”
“Well, like, here on the Hill, of course I’ll still play. But I’m just… I don’t know….”
Derek wanted to press the issue—to ask Vijay why. He just couldn’t understand.
Vijay had improved greatly over his years in Little League. He’d started as a complete novice and had wound up being an asset to the team. But he’d never been one of the better players. And while many of the kids had started their growth spurts already, Vijay hadn’t grown much at all the past year or so. He still looked for all the world like a fifth grader.
“Remember that kid last spring, who got his arm broken by a fastball?” Vijay reminded Derek.
Derek nodded. “He wasn’t on our team, but we all signed his cast anyway.”
“I’ll bet he’s not playing ball anymore either. I wouldn’t want to get hit like that. Some of the pitchers are six feet tall!”
It suddenly hit Derek that Vijay was really quitting the game. “Gee,” he said, feeling suddenly emotional. “It won’t be the same without you.”
“You’ll do fine,” Vijay assured him. “You’ve got what it takes, Derek. You always have, and you keep getting better every year. I’ve kind of hit my ceiling, if you know what I mean.”
Derek wanted to argue with him further, but Vijay preempted him. “Anyway, don’t feel bad on my account. I’ve got a new passion.”
“Oh yeah? What?”
“Are you ready?” Vijay asked, as if he were about to reveal the secret of the universe. Spreading his hands out and smiling blissfully, he said, “Video games!”
“Video games?” Derek repeated, confused.
“Derek, it’s a whole new world. No, a whole new universe. Wait till you try them.”
“I’ve tried them,” Derek said. “A couple of times. I think it was over at Jeff Jacobson’s house. Super Something Brothers…. It was pretty fun.”
“Super MARIO Brothers,” Vijay corrected him. “And now I have my own game console at home.”
“Wow, really?”
“My parents got it for me for my birthday, right before we left for India. I took it with me, and I was playing it half the time there. My parents even yelled at me because I was ignoring my cousins to play it. But, Derek, you can’t believe how much fun it is!”
“Well, next time I’m over at your house…”
“Totally. And guess what? Now there’s actually a real video game store in town, where you can go and play all these games on gigantic screens, and you can win tickets to redeem for prizes, and you can blow your entire allowance in one afternoon of supreme ecstasy!”
Derek had to laugh. He knew Vijay was joking, but he also knew that his friend meant every word. Vijay had already probably blown an insane amount of chore money at the new arcade.
Derek had seen the place from the outside—it was right across the street from the batting cages—but he’d never been inside. He couldn’t imagine having time for video games.
After playing catch with Vijay, Derek walked home feeling dejected. He’d been so excited about playing in two leagues, one with old friends and the other with new ones. But without his best pal, Little League baseball wouldn’t be what he had envisioned.
Last fall he’d worn himself out playing basketball and baseball at the same time. In fact, he’d wound up getting hurt and missing substantial chunks of the season.
Maybe I should just do travel team, he thought. Multiple games a week for the next two months was a lot, for sure. And travel back and forth ate up a lot of time too.
On the other hand, the more baseball he played, the better he would get—right? Derek was confident he could handle it, and also get his schoolwork done.
But it just wouldn’t be the same without Vijay.
Reading Group Guide
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Reading Group Guide
Walk-Off
By Derek Jeter with Paul Mantell
Prereading Assignment
Review “Derek Jeter’s Ten Life Lessons.” They are listed in the front of the book.
Discussion Questions
Chapter 1—New Beginnings
Derek Jeter is returning to school after spring break, and he realizes it’s just a few more weeks until finals. There’s a lot on his plate, but Derek is excited to start the new baseball season. However, he will miss his good friend, Vijay, who has decided to quit in this final season.
What challenges do you think Derek Jeter will face as he tries to balance playing on the travel team and his Little League team?
Why is Derek so concerned about Vijay quitting baseball and about joining him in video game competitions? What will he do without his best friend, Vijay, on the team? Could Derek really juggle video games, Little League, the travel team, and schoolwork?
Chapter 2—All Shook Up
After spring break, a new special project is announced, designed to help students deal with new and difficult challenges. They have four weeks to complete a substantial assignment. Later that day, Mrs. Jeter comes home with some big news.
What is the topic of the major project, and what are the assignment requirements? Explain the details.
What is the great news Derek’s mom has for the family, and how does each family member react to her surprise? What major family decision is decided after they discuss the good news? What is Derek’s reaction? Explain his response.
Chapter 3—The Next Level
At practice, Coach Russell comments on Derek’s growth spurt and mentions that he’ll be having everyone try out different positions on the team this season. Later in the week, after Derek runs into Vijay in the library, he learns that his friend hasn’t even started their big research project.
Why do you think Coach Russell plans to rotate the players of the travel team around the diamond? Why is Derek concerned about this development?
Why do you think Derek is surprised to learn that that Vijay has not begun his term project research? Was it a good idea to put the term assignment on hold to play video games? Explain why or why not.
Chapter 4—Big League, Little League
Derek is very concerned about his overlapping schedules with his travel team and local Little League. After the Little League’s first win of the season, Derek and Coach Hamilton lament over the schedule, as Derek and his family have said the travel team would be the priority.
List two game plays that Derek accomplishes that causes his team to cheer and his coach to call him MVP. Why is Derek uncomfortable with this expression?
Using a Venn diagram, compare characteristics between the Reds Little League team and the West Siders travel team.
Derek missing so many games impacts game strategies, player placement on the field, and the batting lineup throughout the season. Discuss as a group the pros and cons of this situation. Consider bringing in another teacher or a team sport coach to add to the debate. What are the differing responses between the students’ and the adults’ recommendations?
Chapter 5—Fantasy and Reality
The Jeters are getting ready to look at houses for sale in their quest for a larger home for their family, but Derek asks to stay behind with Vijay, promising to work on their school project. His parents and sister return from house hunting excited about the spaces they’ve seen, and Derek is disturbed, as he’d hoped they wouldn’t find anything they liked.
What happens when Derek and Vijay begin working on the school assignment? What topic does each student select? What is the determining factor for Derek’s choice?
Why do you think Derek is so disturbed by his family’s excitement over these new houses? Why doesn’t he want to move away from Mount Royal?
Chapter 6—Losing the Groove
It’s the first game for Derek’s travel team, the West Siders, and the crowd is buzzed and tensions high. There are a lot of great plays in the game, strategies employed to the West Siders’ success, as well as some errors, mistakes, and even a “hit” batter, dampening Derek’s excitement for their win.
What happens when a large, powerful-looking player on the opposing team takes his turn at bat? How does Derek react? How does he feel about the result?
List two plays that make the game exciting for the players and the fans. Select one that positively impacts the Lakers score and select another that impacts the West Siders’ score. Explain why Derek is disappointed at the end of the game. Be brief and specific.
Chapter 7—Hooked?
Struggling to narrow his school project’s addiction assignment, Derek turns to his father for help and advice. Afterward, Derek feels confident about his topic and asks Mr. Jeter if he can go to the video game arcade with his friend Vijay, stating it would be a perfect opportunity to research the project.
What topics does Derek consider for his term project? How does his dad help support his decision?
What is his father’s warning? How long does he allow Derek to play the games at the arcade?
Chapter 8—The Lion’s Den
Traveling away for a game with the West Siders is very different than what Derek is used to, and even his position on the field is changed around. He is so thrown off, he strikes out his first two at-bats, and Coach Russell makes his disappointment known. After the game, Derek is excited to join his friends at the arcade and notices that his friends all seem a bit hypnotized by the flashing lights and dark atmosphere of the space.
During the disappointing travel team game with the Lions, Derek was certainly distracted. What factors contributed to his distraction, and do you think that affected his game play?
Why do you think Mr. Jeter set a playtime limit for Derek at the arcade? What did Derek experience in his time there? What was surprising to him, and what did he regret?
Chapter 9—Houses and the Haunted
The house hunt continues for the Jeter family, and Derek wants nothing to do with it, but as they are narrowing down their choices, his parents insist their son be present at the showings. But Derek doesn’t want to move away, and this manifests in a very bad attitude, with him snapping at his sister all afternoon and being rude to others.
Have you ever had to move away from your home or needed to change schools? Describe the situation. Include in your description how the process made you feel.
What advice does Mrs. Jeter offer Derek? What does she share about life’s changes and challenges?
Chapter 10—Fighting Through It!
At the next West Siders travel team game, Derek’s mom helps him focus and get his head in the game. It helps that he is back in his regular shortstop position, and even at bat, Derek feels better about his skills and uses his knowledge of the game to make a quick, successful decision.
What was the quick little phrase Mrs. Jeter used to motivate her son, just before the game started?
What did Derek do for his team walk-off in the sixth inning?
Chapter 11—Doing the Work
Coach Russell isn’t happy with Derek’s batting slump in the last few games and drops him down in the batting order to emphasize his concerns. He asks Derek to spend more time practicing and improving his swing and even suggests asking Mr. Jeter for help with the situation. In the meantime, the deadline for the addiction project at school is approaching, and Derek is realizing how big a project it really is.
Why is Derek concerned about fitting practice at the batting cages into his schedule? What does Mr. Jeter suggest when Derek asks him for help?
What is Mr. Jeter’s observation? Why does he think Derek is experiencing such a problem with his batting skills? In what way have the video games affected Derek?
Chapter 12—Double Header
This weekend is a double header for Derek: Little League Reds in the morning, and travel team West Siders in the afternoon. It is a little awkward on the Little League team, though, having missed so many games due to the travel team’s schedule, but Derek still tries his best. At the West Siders’ game, Coach Russell compliments Derek’s field work.
Mr. Jeter had a few words of advice for Derek as they drove to the afternoon game with the West Siders. What did he recommend? Be specific.
What response did Coach Russell give Derek when Derek asked him about his “at the plate” during the game?
Chapter 13—Close to Home
During the weekend, Derek is excited to visit with Vijay and play video games away from the stress of competitive baseball and his big addiction assignment. He is, however, very concerned to hear that Vijay has barely started his own project. Later, Derek is dragged back out to look at more houses and can’t find anything he likes about any of the options his family visits.
Derek’s friend Vijay is usually a straight A student. Why is Derek so worried about his good friend’s lack of motivation?
Why is Derek only interested in the possibility of moving once his dad mentions a house might neighbor a school’s athletic fields?
Chapter 14—The Road to Redemption
Derek sits down to contemplate his research on video game addiction for his school project and realizes he’s not only seen the negative effects on his friends and within himself, but also some positive attributes to playing video games. Later, he realizes that playing with the Reds, his Little League team, has renewed his sense of purpose. Despite his teammates’ teasing for missing games, he feels more confident among his friends.
List a few advantages and disadvantages to playing video games at home and in a public place, like an arcade. What are some factors to be aware of when perfecting the necessary skills needed for success or failure in the video game arena. List at least three specific points.
What causes Derek’s new feeling of confidence and expectation? What is the result and the final score of the game?
Chapter 15—The Main Event
It’s a big game for the West Siders that will define their league ranking. Coach Russell asks Derek a surprising question. After the West Siders win, Derek’s father is very proud of him, and Derek discovers he’s in for a greater surprise.
Describe the conversation Coach Russell has with Derek that surprises him. How does this lead to an important revelation for Derek?
Define déjà vu. Describe the big déjà vu moment for Derek. How does the experience fit the definition?
Chapter 16—Facing the Music
Tension is high during the West Siders’ next game against the league’s first-place team, but Derek and his teammates play like a finely tuned machine, resulting in a record-setting game of the season and landing them in the number one spot in the league.
How does Jeter prepare mentally for his “at bat with two outs” situation in the game with the league-leading Mets? What are the results? Why is this performance a timely and important opportunity?
Challenges met and championships secured, the Jeter family is finally able to settle down for a quiet celebration. What do both Derek and Sharlee have to celebrate? When is Derek’s birthday and how old is he at this point in the story? Why does the entire family have a reason to celebrate? Please briefly explain.
Extension Activity
Life Is a Daily Challenge: A creative-writing essay exercise
In chapter nine, Derek’s mom offers her son some advice about change and how to handle the particular challenges change is always going to bring. How can you apply this concept of challenges and choices to your own life changes? Compose an essay about a dilemma or responsibility you’ve had to take on that wasn’t expected of you in the past. If this responsibility is new, write about what makes it difficult, and if you’ve been working on this task for some time, explain how you’ve grown and how it’s gotten easier.
Written in 2024 by Chrystal Carr Jeter, Children’s Literature Consultant, formerly of Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willoughby Hills, Ohio.
This guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.
Walk-Off
By Derek Jeter with Paul Mantell
Prereading Assignment
Review “Derek Jeter’s Ten Life Lessons.” They are listed in the front of the book.
Discussion Questions
Chapter 1—New Beginnings
Derek Jeter is returning to school after spring break, and he realizes it’s just a few more weeks until finals. There’s a lot on his plate, but Derek is excited to start the new baseball season. However, he will miss his good friend, Vijay, who has decided to quit in this final season.
What challenges do you think Derek Jeter will face as he tries to balance playing on the travel team and his Little League team?
Why is Derek so concerned about Vijay quitting baseball and about joining him in video game competitions? What will he do without his best friend, Vijay, on the team? Could Derek really juggle video games, Little League, the travel team, and schoolwork?
Chapter 2—All Shook Up
After spring break, a new special project is announced, designed to help students deal with new and difficult challenges. They have four weeks to complete a substantial assignment. Later that day, Mrs. Jeter comes home with some big news.
What is the topic of the major project, and what are the assignment requirements? Explain the details.
What is the great news Derek’s mom has for the family, and how does each family member react to her surprise? What major family decision is decided after they discuss the good news? What is Derek’s reaction? Explain his response.
Chapter 3—The Next Level
At practice, Coach Russell comments on Derek’s growth spurt and mentions that he’ll be having everyone try out different positions on the team this season. Later in the week, after Derek runs into Vijay in the library, he learns that his friend hasn’t even started their big research project.
Why do you think Coach Russell plans to rotate the players of the travel team around the diamond? Why is Derek concerned about this development?
Why do you think Derek is surprised to learn that that Vijay has not begun his term project research? Was it a good idea to put the term assignment on hold to play video games? Explain why or why not.
Chapter 4—Big League, Little League
Derek is very concerned about his overlapping schedules with his travel team and local Little League. After the Little League’s first win of the season, Derek and Coach Hamilton lament over the schedule, as Derek and his family have said the travel team would be the priority.
List two game plays that Derek accomplishes that causes his team to cheer and his coach to call him MVP. Why is Derek uncomfortable with this expression?
Using a Venn diagram, compare characteristics between the Reds Little League team and the West Siders travel team.
Derek missing so many games impacts game strategies, player placement on the field, and the batting lineup throughout the season. Discuss as a group the pros and cons of this situation. Consider bringing in another teacher or a team sport coach to add to the debate. What are the differing responses between the students’ and the adults’ recommendations?
Chapter 5—Fantasy and Reality
The Jeters are getting ready to look at houses for sale in their quest for a larger home for their family, but Derek asks to stay behind with Vijay, promising to work on their school project. His parents and sister return from house hunting excited about the spaces they’ve seen, and Derek is disturbed, as he’d hoped they wouldn’t find anything they liked.
What happens when Derek and Vijay begin working on the school assignment? What topic does each student select? What is the determining factor for Derek’s choice?
Why do you think Derek is so disturbed by his family’s excitement over these new houses? Why doesn’t he want to move away from Mount Royal?
Chapter 6—Losing the Groove
It’s the first game for Derek’s travel team, the West Siders, and the crowd is buzzed and tensions high. There are a lot of great plays in the game, strategies employed to the West Siders’ success, as well as some errors, mistakes, and even a “hit” batter, dampening Derek’s excitement for their win.
What happens when a large, powerful-looking player on the opposing team takes his turn at bat? How does Derek react? How does he feel about the result?
List two plays that make the game exciting for the players and the fans. Select one that positively impacts the Lakers score and select another that impacts the West Siders’ score. Explain why Derek is disappointed at the end of the game. Be brief and specific.
Chapter 7—Hooked?
Struggling to narrow his school project’s addiction assignment, Derek turns to his father for help and advice. Afterward, Derek feels confident about his topic and asks Mr. Jeter if he can go to the video game arcade with his friend Vijay, stating it would be a perfect opportunity to research the project.
What topics does Derek consider for his term project? How does his dad help support his decision?
What is his father’s warning? How long does he allow Derek to play the games at the arcade?
Chapter 8—The Lion’s Den
Traveling away for a game with the West Siders is very different than what Derek is used to, and even his position on the field is changed around. He is so thrown off, he strikes out his first two at-bats, and Coach Russell makes his disappointment known. After the game, Derek is excited to join his friends at the arcade and notices that his friends all seem a bit hypnotized by the flashing lights and dark atmosphere of the space.
During the disappointing travel team game with the Lions, Derek was certainly distracted. What factors contributed to his distraction, and do you think that affected his game play?
Why do you think Mr. Jeter set a playtime limit for Derek at the arcade? What did Derek experience in his time there? What was surprising to him, and what did he regret?
Chapter 9—Houses and the Haunted
The house hunt continues for the Jeter family, and Derek wants nothing to do with it, but as they are narrowing down their choices, his parents insist their son be present at the showings. But Derek doesn’t want to move away, and this manifests in a very bad attitude, with him snapping at his sister all afternoon and being rude to others.
Have you ever had to move away from your home or needed to change schools? Describe the situation. Include in your description how the process made you feel.
What advice does Mrs. Jeter offer Derek? What does she share about life’s changes and challenges?
Chapter 10—Fighting Through It!
At the next West Siders travel team game, Derek’s mom helps him focus and get his head in the game. It helps that he is back in his regular shortstop position, and even at bat, Derek feels better about his skills and uses his knowledge of the game to make a quick, successful decision.
What was the quick little phrase Mrs. Jeter used to motivate her son, just before the game started?
What did Derek do for his team walk-off in the sixth inning?
Chapter 11—Doing the Work
Coach Russell isn’t happy with Derek’s batting slump in the last few games and drops him down in the batting order to emphasize his concerns. He asks Derek to spend more time practicing and improving his swing and even suggests asking Mr. Jeter for help with the situation. In the meantime, the deadline for the addiction project at school is approaching, and Derek is realizing how big a project it really is.
Why is Derek concerned about fitting practice at the batting cages into his schedule? What does Mr. Jeter suggest when Derek asks him for help?
What is Mr. Jeter’s observation? Why does he think Derek is experiencing such a problem with his batting skills? In what way have the video games affected Derek?
Chapter 12—Double Header
This weekend is a double header for Derek: Little League Reds in the morning, and travel team West Siders in the afternoon. It is a little awkward on the Little League team, though, having missed so many games due to the travel team’s schedule, but Derek still tries his best. At the West Siders’ game, Coach Russell compliments Derek’s field work.
Mr. Jeter had a few words of advice for Derek as they drove to the afternoon game with the West Siders. What did he recommend? Be specific.
What response did Coach Russell give Derek when Derek asked him about his “at the plate” during the game?
Chapter 13—Close to Home
During the weekend, Derek is excited to visit with Vijay and play video games away from the stress of competitive baseball and his big addiction assignment. He is, however, very concerned to hear that Vijay has barely started his own project. Later, Derek is dragged back out to look at more houses and can’t find anything he likes about any of the options his family visits.
Derek’s friend Vijay is usually a straight A student. Why is Derek so worried about his good friend’s lack of motivation?
Why is Derek only interested in the possibility of moving once his dad mentions a house might neighbor a school’s athletic fields?
Chapter 14—The Road to Redemption
Derek sits down to contemplate his research on video game addiction for his school project and realizes he’s not only seen the negative effects on his friends and within himself, but also some positive attributes to playing video games. Later, he realizes that playing with the Reds, his Little League team, has renewed his sense of purpose. Despite his teammates’ teasing for missing games, he feels more confident among his friends.
List a few advantages and disadvantages to playing video games at home and in a public place, like an arcade. What are some factors to be aware of when perfecting the necessary skills needed for success or failure in the video game arena. List at least three specific points.
What causes Derek’s new feeling of confidence and expectation? What is the result and the final score of the game?
Chapter 15—The Main Event
It’s a big game for the West Siders that will define their league ranking. Coach Russell asks Derek a surprising question. After the West Siders win, Derek’s father is very proud of him, and Derek discovers he’s in for a greater surprise.
Describe the conversation Coach Russell has with Derek that surprises him. How does this lead to an important revelation for Derek?
Define déjà vu. Describe the big déjà vu moment for Derek. How does the experience fit the definition?
Chapter 16—Facing the Music
Tension is high during the West Siders’ next game against the league’s first-place team, but Derek and his teammates play like a finely tuned machine, resulting in a record-setting game of the season and landing them in the number one spot in the league.
How does Jeter prepare mentally for his “at bat with two outs” situation in the game with the league-leading Mets? What are the results? Why is this performance a timely and important opportunity?
Challenges met and championships secured, the Jeter family is finally able to settle down for a quiet celebration. What do both Derek and Sharlee have to celebrate? When is Derek’s birthday and how old is he at this point in the story? Why does the entire family have a reason to celebrate? Please briefly explain.
Extension Activity
Life Is a Daily Challenge: A creative-writing essay exercise
In chapter nine, Derek’s mom offers her son some advice about change and how to handle the particular challenges change is always going to bring. How can you apply this concept of challenges and choices to your own life changes? Compose an essay about a dilemma or responsibility you’ve had to take on that wasn’t expected of you in the past. If this responsibility is new, write about what makes it difficult, and if you’ve been working on this task for some time, explain how you’ve grown and how it’s gotten easier.
Written in 2024 by Chrystal Carr Jeter, Children’s Literature Consultant, formerly of Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willoughby Hills, Ohio.
This guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.
About The Author
Maureen Cavanagh/Jeter Publishing
Derek Jeter is a fourteen-time All-Star and five-time World Series winner who played for one team—the storied New York Yankees—for all twenty seasons of his major league career. His grace and class on and off the field have made him an icon and role model far beyond the world of baseball.
Product Details
- Publisher: A Paula Wiseman Book/Beach Lane Books (April 2, 2024)
- Length: 176 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665931229
- Ages: 8 - 12
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