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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSEleven-year-old Eddie Ball lives in a Louisiana trailer park with his mom, who works a grinding job at the Finkle Foods snack cake factory. Eddie has a natural gift for shooting anything at a target, but he chokes under pressure in real games. When Finkle Foods announces a contest where a kid can win one million dollars by sinking a single foul shot at halftime of the NBA Finals, Eddie sees a way out of poverty. His best friend Annie writes him a clever two-line poem to enter with, and against all odds, Eddie wins. Now he has six weeks to train for the most important shot of his life, with his mom, Annie, and Annie's father coaching him toward the foul line.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Million Dollar Shot
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Million Dollar Shot. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a boy nickname a bald girl after a famous 1800s sharpshooter?
✓ Answer
The Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman
Eddie calls his new friend Annie Stokely by the nickname Annie Oakley because she is an amazing shooter. The real Annie Oakley used to shoot dimes out of a man's fingers, so the nickname fits perfectly.
- First half
In what book does a boy mail in a poem written by his friend instead of his own?
✓ Answer
The Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman
After comparing the two poems, Eddie admits Annie's is better. He raids his mom's stash of Finkle box tops, rubs his lucky coin against the envelope, and drops her poem in the mailbox.
- First half
In what book does a coach drag a lawn chair to the line to prove a kid needs his legs?
✓ Answer
The Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman
When Eddie claims he shoots with only his arms, Mr. Stokely drags over a rickety lawn chair and makes him sit. The ball does not even reach halfway to the rim, proving Eddie needs his legs.
- Second half
In what book does a businessman offer a boy's mother her job back if the kid agrees to miss?
✓ Answer
The Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman
Finkle's first bribe is to give Mrs. Ball her old factory job back if Eddie throws the contest on purpose. Eddie is torn, since he wants to help his mom but also senses something is wrong.
- Second half
In what book does a creepy phone caller say only, "You're gonna miss, loser!" before hanging up?
✓ Answer
The Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman
After Eddie refuses the bribe, anonymous threats start. The mystery caller is part of a campaign to rattle Eddie before the big halftime moment.
- Near the end
In what book do twenty thousand fans go silent as a boy closes his eyes at the free throw line?
✓ Answer
The Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman
The arena gasps when Eddie shuts his eyes for his halftime free throw. With his eyes closed, all the distractions disappear and his muscle memory takes over.
