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The Contract
Now a winner of a Parents’ Choice Silver Award!The debut book in the Jeter Publishing imprint, The Contract is a middle grade baseball novel inspired by the youth of legendary sports icon and role model Derek Jeter.Derek Jeter is a legend in professional sports and a role model for many youth around the country. While leading the New York Yankees to five World Series Championships and achieving a myriad of milestones and accomplishments on and off the field, including thirteen All-Star nods and membership in baseball’s exclusive 3,000-hit club, Jeter has established a reputation of unparalleled character, credibility, dedication, and excellence. When Jeter was a boy, he had the dream of becoming the shortstop for the New York Yankees. Inspired by his childhood, this start to a middle grade series is about a boy who sets high goals for himself and makes his dreams come true through hard work, teamwork, and determination.
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First published April 8, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
September 25, 2014
I thought the book, The Contract, by Derek Jeter and Paul Mantell, would inspire every kids’ ultimate goal in life. I thought the authors for this book tried to make the book powerful so kids would follow their goals in life without letting any doubters slow them down. I think one of the strengths of this book is that whenever Derek was slowed down by a disbeliever, he always got himself to disregard it and focus on the next play. I think a weakness of this book is that the book only tells about one little league season instead of more parts of Derek Jeter’s record breaking career. I would definitely recommend this book to all of my classmates, because this book will make them want to give their all in everything they do to make their goals come true. I hope there is a sequel to this book, because it will make a lot of kids want to make their goal in life come true.
March 9, 2018
I think the theme is that some dreams will only work if you work at it.
September 23, 2014
Baseball fans across the country have been watching with interest and sadness as New York Yankees captain and baseball icon Derek Jeter is playing out his last year in baseball. Many people wonder what he will do next, and his answer is : become a publisher.
Jeter has his own publishing imprint with Simon & Schuster, where he will publish books by authors he finds have an something interesting to say. The first book under the Jeter Publishing imprint is for children ages 8-12 titled The Contract. Jeter wrote it with Paul Mantell, and it is based on his own life as a Little Leaguer.
Young Derek Jeter, called 'old man' by his mom because he went to school in a suit and carrying a briefcase, is a talented baseball player and a serious student. When his classroom teacher assigns the students an essay describing their realistic future dreams, Derek really wants to write that his future plans include playing shortstop for the New York Yankees.
He discusses this with his parents, who encourage him to realize how difficult it will be, but with his excellent work ethic and determination and practice, he can do just that.
Derek signs up for Little League and ends up playing on a team with his best friend Vijay. He wants to play shortstop, but the coach's son is the star shortstop with a bad attitude.
Much of the book describes in detail many of the Little League games, and children who love baseball will so enjoy the thrilling play-by-play. But this book is also one parents should read to or with their children.
Derek would not be the great player he is today were it not for his parents. They created a contract for Derek, detailing what he needs to do to set himself on a path to achieving his dream. The items include respecting himself and others, doing his chores, being a good role model for his younger sister, maintaining good grades and the number one rule is family comes first.
The Contract not only teaches children how to be responsible, it can help parents with their own parenting skills. The Jeters are good role models for their two children, and hold them both to high standards, knowing that it is the key to raising good citizens.
I liked how important school is to Derek, how he works as hard at school as he does at baseball. And Derek is not a perfect child here; he gets frustrated and angry, but when he makes a mistake, he tries to be better.
The final scene is a sweet one, with Derek playing catch with his grandma, with whom he and his sister spend their summers. They clearly have a loving relationship, as many young children do.
I highly recommend The Contract for both children who like baseball, as well as their parents. It would make a wonderful gift for the young baseball fan in your life, and it would be a terrific addition to your child's school library.
Jeter has his own publishing imprint with Simon & Schuster, where he will publish books by authors he finds have an something interesting to say. The first book under the Jeter Publishing imprint is for children ages 8-12 titled The Contract. Jeter wrote it with Paul Mantell, and it is based on his own life as a Little Leaguer.
Young Derek Jeter, called 'old man' by his mom because he went to school in a suit and carrying a briefcase, is a talented baseball player and a serious student. When his classroom teacher assigns the students an essay describing their realistic future dreams, Derek really wants to write that his future plans include playing shortstop for the New York Yankees.
He discusses this with his parents, who encourage him to realize how difficult it will be, but with his excellent work ethic and determination and practice, he can do just that.
Derek signs up for Little League and ends up playing on a team with his best friend Vijay. He wants to play shortstop, but the coach's son is the star shortstop with a bad attitude.
Much of the book describes in detail many of the Little League games, and children who love baseball will so enjoy the thrilling play-by-play. But this book is also one parents should read to or with their children.
Derek would not be the great player he is today were it not for his parents. They created a contract for Derek, detailing what he needs to do to set himself on a path to achieving his dream. The items include respecting himself and others, doing his chores, being a good role model for his younger sister, maintaining good grades and the number one rule is family comes first.
The Contract not only teaches children how to be responsible, it can help parents with their own parenting skills. The Jeters are good role models for their two children, and hold them both to high standards, knowing that it is the key to raising good citizens.
I liked how important school is to Derek, how he works as hard at school as he does at baseball. And Derek is not a perfect child here; he gets frustrated and angry, but when he makes a mistake, he tries to be better.
The final scene is a sweet one, with Derek playing catch with his grandma, with whom he and his sister spend their summers. They clearly have a loving relationship, as many young children do.
I highly recommend The Contract for both children who like baseball, as well as their parents. It would make a wonderful gift for the young baseball fan in your life, and it would be a terrific addition to your child's school library.
November 6, 2014
I read this book and it was okay. It had a lot of detail but the age of Derek didn't really match up with how well the team was playing. You can't really bat over .500 if your in third grade!!!!!!!! It starts off with Derik's class having to write a report on what they want to be when they grow up. Derik says that he wants to be the starting Yankese shortstop. He gets marked down because his teacher says that it has to be realistic. Derek is hurt by this and is determined to prove his teacher wrong. When he gets put on a baseball team, the coach's son takes both Derek's number and his position! Derek is mad but he signed a contract that says that he has to respect others and do well in school. Derik is so obsesed with him not getting his position (and that his team isn't good) that his grade starts to drop because he got an 84 on a math test! Derek hadn't gotten less than a 90 before that. Soon derek has to start doing better in school or he will be taken off the team by his parents! He starts working really hard in math and on the next test he gets a 100! Derek later gets moved to shortstop and his dream is starting to come true! This book reminded me that if you really want somthing, it's within reach if you work hard enough.
January 13, 2020
Choice book 1 quarter 2
The contract by Derek Jeter is a historical fiction book.
The Contract takes place in his house and at the Westwood fields baseball park.
The main characters in the book are Derek and Pete. Derek is an 8-year-old boy who loves baseball. He dreams of becoming a shortstop for the New York Yankees. He gets good grades and does good in school. His best friend Vijay and his family are the only people that actually believe in him becoming a baseball player. He is a dynamic character because at the start of the book all he wants to do is play shortstop but by the end, he learns to just let others have a chance and do whatever the coach says.
Next, Pete is an 8-year-old boy who also loves to play baseball. Petes dad is the coach so Pete gets to play whatever position he wants while other people don’t. He is a sometimes mean and cocky and yells at his teammates. He is a good player and can be nice. I think he is a static character because he is pretty mean most of the book and that doesn’t change.
The main problem in the book is that Pete gets to play the position Derek wants to play but Derek signed a contract that he has to be nice to others at all times. This is a person vs person conflict because Pete is mean to Derek and is in the position Derek wants to be in.
A possible theme statement is that you’re not always going to get what you want to get.
One example is that Derek wants to play shortstop but he gets put at second base. Next, he wanted to beat Gary on a math test but he got and 84% when Gary got 97%. Lastly, he got called out on the last play of the game when he should have been safe. He didn’t like the call but he had to deal with it.
I really liked this book because it’s about one of the best players of all time. This book is not like any other book I have read. My favorite part of the book is when they are facing the yankees at the end of the book. I would rate this book a 9 out of 10. If I was the author I would have made the book longer.
The contract by Derek Jeter is a historical fiction book.
The Contract takes place in his house and at the Westwood fields baseball park.
The main characters in the book are Derek and Pete. Derek is an 8-year-old boy who loves baseball. He dreams of becoming a shortstop for the New York Yankees. He gets good grades and does good in school. His best friend Vijay and his family are the only people that actually believe in him becoming a baseball player. He is a dynamic character because at the start of the book all he wants to do is play shortstop but by the end, he learns to just let others have a chance and do whatever the coach says.
Next, Pete is an 8-year-old boy who also loves to play baseball. Petes dad is the coach so Pete gets to play whatever position he wants while other people don’t. He is a sometimes mean and cocky and yells at his teammates. He is a good player and can be nice. I think he is a static character because he is pretty mean most of the book and that doesn’t change.
The main problem in the book is that Pete gets to play the position Derek wants to play but Derek signed a contract that he has to be nice to others at all times. This is a person vs person conflict because Pete is mean to Derek and is in the position Derek wants to be in.
A possible theme statement is that you’re not always going to get what you want to get.
One example is that Derek wants to play shortstop but he gets put at second base. Next, he wanted to beat Gary on a math test but he got and 84% when Gary got 97%. Lastly, he got called out on the last play of the game when he should have been safe. He didn’t like the call but he had to deal with it.
I really liked this book because it’s about one of the best players of all time. This book is not like any other book I have read. My favorite part of the book is when they are facing the yankees at the end of the book. I would rate this book a 9 out of 10. If I was the author I would have made the book longer.
October 8, 2024
These are my sons new favorite books! There are ten books in the series, each of them a different year of Jeter's life as a young boy growing up with the dream of becoming a professional baseball player. My son has this same dream and these books strike the perfect balance of letting him know that this dream is possible, but not without significant dedication and hard work.
The stories not only emphasize the work that a baseball player must put in on the field, but also the work that is needed off the field and in the classroom. It addresses issues of temptations that may distract from your goals, such as video games or negative attitudes. These topics are not only appealing to my little boy, but also to me as a parent.
If you have a little boy who loves sports as much as mine does you've got to go get these books ASAP! They are great!
The stories not only emphasize the work that a baseball player must put in on the field, but also the work that is needed off the field and in the classroom. It addresses issues of temptations that may distract from your goals, such as video games or negative attitudes. These topics are not only appealing to my little boy, but also to me as a parent.
If you have a little boy who loves sports as much as mine does you've got to go get these books ASAP! They are great!
August 7, 2017
These are fairly popular with my 6th grade boys...but as an adult, I couldn't get over the extreme cheesiness, the cliches (feud with the coach's son, bad-baseball-becomes-good, etc.), and the fact that the characters read like middle school students but are supposed to be in 3rd grade. I think these are great for reluctant readers and baseball fans, but I've read other middle-grade sports books that I enjoyed much more.
March 31, 2017
I rate this five star because it is a great book about a professional player called Derek Jeter, who is a great baseball player. In the book he is a young boy playing Little League for the Tigers. His jersey was usually number 13, but he got number 2 instead while playing a season of Little League and the jersey number 13 is what his father wore playing Little League too.
I recommend this book to people who like Derek Jeter and sport books. He has played shortstop all his life, but one day he started to play second base and it was harder for him to play it because it was a new experience for him. Eventually, he succeeded in playing second base in the season.
I recommend this book to people who like Derek Jeter and sport books. He has played shortstop all his life, but one day he started to play second base and it was harder for him to play it because it was a new experience for him. Eventually, he succeeded in playing second base in the season.
April 23, 2018
Derek Jeter shows leadership and bravery in the book and in real life. The way he does that is by not showing fear or anger he just thinks what can he do to do better. Everyone says that he is trash but he knows that he is brave enough to do what he wants to do.
December 3, 2020
I love this first book of this series. I kind of teaches us kids to set rules for our selves and to try not and break them and that way we have a shot of being successful of whatever we want to do in life.
April 28, 2017
I read a lot of baseball books when I was a kid. And I do mean A LOT. As kids baseball books go, this one really isn't bad. I particularly liked the storyline about Derek working towards his goals.
July 11, 2018
I like jeter because he is on the nyy team
March 19, 2020
The theme for this book is responsibilities over anything.
February 22, 2021
The big idea behind this one is that Jeter's parents supported their son's childhood dream of becoming a major-leaguer so much so that they wrote up a contract (which included timeless classics such as homework first, be respectful, etc.) to help him get there.
This is the story of Jeter's following through on that contract.
What makes it a great read is not just that it's got all of that wonderful inspirational stuff, but it's also got the inning-by-inning play-by-play for several games, which is exactly what I want if I'm reading a book about baseball.
Just a real fun book.
This is the story of Jeter's following through on that contract.
What makes it a great read is not just that it's got all of that wonderful inspirational stuff, but it's also got the inning-by-inning play-by-play for several games, which is exactly what I want if I'm reading a book about baseball.
Just a real fun book.
May 18, 2020
never give up on your dreams
November 10, 2014
The Contract is about Derek Jeter in 3rd grade. He and his friends, Vijay, and Jeff play Little League. But the problem is, Jeff isn't on the same team as Derek and Vijay who are on the same team. As a kid Derek had to sign a contract that lets him play baseball. In school there is this kid, named Gary, who thinks sports is a waste of time. Derek and his class get an assignment to write a two page essay about their dreams. Derek writes he wants to be SS (short stop) for the Yankees and he got a C-. At a conference his teacher brings it up and Derek gets told to stand outside of the room. His mom yells at the teacher for that. Baseball season is happening, the teams record is 4-5 at this point and they have three games left. They win two. The last game of the season is against the undefeated Yankees. Derek and Vijay talk to Jeff before the game. In the top of the 6th inning there are two outs, Jeter is on first, Pete is at the plate. Pete is the coaches son. He hits s ball over the left fielders head, Jeter scores easily. Pete rounds 3rd Jeter tells him to slide so he slides and the call is...
The Contract by Derek Jeter is a great book. I would recommend it to anyone who likes baseball. Derek Jeter is a great author and was a great baseball player, but he retired in 2014.
The Contract by Derek Jeter is a great book. I would recommend it to anyone who likes baseball. Derek Jeter is a great author and was a great baseball player, but he retired in 2014.
December 19, 2014
I chose because my favorite sport is baseball, and Derek Jeter is one of my favorite players. One thing that really impressed me was the theme. The theme was that if you do all your other things and you work really hard at what you want to accomplish, you'll eventually accomplish it. The book says, "And now he had the whole summer to work on his goal, to dream of the future, and to plot the next steps on his way to get there" (Jeter 151). This shows his dedication and aspiration would accomplish his goals in the future. This book had a great significance to my life, because I feel I am similar to him, and I want to be a professional baseball player when I grow up.
September 28, 2014
I really liked this book. Now I may be biased because I am a Yankee fan and a Derek Jeter lover, but this was a book that anyone can read. It is a middle-grade book, but I am a 17 year old college student who enjoyed it, and my grandfather who's almost 80 enjoyed it just as much. I think it teaches kids a great lesson about working hard and re-enforces these values in people who aren't kids. Overall, this is a great book to give to a kid or a Yankee/Derek Jeter lover. I cannot wait to continue reading this 10 book series and am anticipating the next release.
February 10, 2015
I loved this book soooooooooooo much. This is the best book I have ever read. In the book Derek Jeter Derek is waiting for his slip that has his team on it. When he finally gets his slip it said he was on the Tigers. Derek did not want to be on the Tigers.He wanted to be on the Mighty Yankees. But if he wanted to play he had to be on the Tigers. When the coach asked the team what positions they wanted to play the coaches son stole his spot. Read this awesome book if you want to know what happens next.
March 10, 2015
I read this book with my 8 year old nephew who is becoming an amazing baseball player at a young age. He is struggling at times with his school work and focusing on it because he's so wrapped up in baseball and wanting to play ball, watch ball on TV, and everything else there is to do with baseball. I hoped in reading this book with him that it will help him to dedicate himself and realize he needs to live up to the promises he makes to his mom, teachers, coaches, and players. Great educational book, but told in a way that's not a 'textbook'.
November 10, 2014
It would be hard for me as a Red Sox fan to endorse a book by Derek Jeter, and thankfully I think I’ve been spared that fate - this semi-autobiographical book is fairly didactic and there is a lot of in game action which will appeal to serious baseball fans, but probably not to your average middle grade reader. To be fair, it was better than I anticipated and I think it's an awesome post-retirement move by Derek... perhaps the 2nd one will be a little less heavy handed on the values message.
January 22, 2016
I think this book is really good i am reading hit and miss
November 30, 2017
After retiring from the MLB Derek Jeter has written an amazing childhood story, The Contract. The title of the novel refers to the contract Derek’s parents had him sign which basically tells him to get good grades, be kind, and to always follow your dreams. This nonfiction book is a very heartwarming and a feel-good story that will always keep you intrigued even if you aren't a baseball fan. The story shares many life lessons and how to achieve your goals that you thought were never possible. This book is very similar to the biography of Lebron James because, just like Derek, Lebron had many dreams as a kid and ended up accomplishing them.
Taking place in a small town in Michigan, the story explains overcoming life's problems. The setting is pretty simple. Just an average small town with some things to do. When Derek is in school he is constantly pressured by another kid, Gary, to get better grades than him on the math test which never happened. Derek was always upset and wanted to overcome this. Derek also struggled with his baseball team. He was a good player but his team wasn’t the best. Derek wanted to play shortstop but the coach’s son got to while Derek was stuck at second base. This would be stuck in Derek’s head and he would come home to his parents acting very sad thinking nothing would ever go right for him.
The number one conflict is that Derek would also get into some trouble daydreaming about one day playing at shortstop in the big leagues, specifically for the New York Yankees. When kids heard about what his goal was they laughed at him and gave him no chance, but that just made him dream more and work harder to reach the goal. As mentioned before, Derek gets a contract from his parents that consists of rules he must follow and if he breaks the rules, he would lose the contract. Derek would follow the rules of the book and keep trying to prove his haters wrong. To add to that, the main point of the book is to show people that is doesn’t matter who you are or what others say to you. The only thing that matters is if you believe in yourself and follow the rules, just like Derek with the contract he was given.
To conclude, this book was a great choice to read. It was chosen because I thought it would be about baseball. But as mentioned before, it’s more than just about baseball so everyone would like it. If you are into character accomplishments, you should read this book. The book also speaks from the heart, very openly and invites you into the childhood of Derek Jeter. Humorous, sad, and finally happy, The Contract is a true example of accomplishing your dreams, goals, and fears.
Taking place in a small town in Michigan, the story explains overcoming life's problems. The setting is pretty simple. Just an average small town with some things to do. When Derek is in school he is constantly pressured by another kid, Gary, to get better grades than him on the math test which never happened. Derek was always upset and wanted to overcome this. Derek also struggled with his baseball team. He was a good player but his team wasn’t the best. Derek wanted to play shortstop but the coach’s son got to while Derek was stuck at second base. This would be stuck in Derek’s head and he would come home to his parents acting very sad thinking nothing would ever go right for him.
The number one conflict is that Derek would also get into some trouble daydreaming about one day playing at shortstop in the big leagues, specifically for the New York Yankees. When kids heard about what his goal was they laughed at him and gave him no chance, but that just made him dream more and work harder to reach the goal. As mentioned before, Derek gets a contract from his parents that consists of rules he must follow and if he breaks the rules, he would lose the contract. Derek would follow the rules of the book and keep trying to prove his haters wrong. To add to that, the main point of the book is to show people that is doesn’t matter who you are or what others say to you. The only thing that matters is if you believe in yourself and follow the rules, just like Derek with the contract he was given.
To conclude, this book was a great choice to read. It was chosen because I thought it would be about baseball. But as mentioned before, it’s more than just about baseball so everyone would like it. If you are into character accomplishments, you should read this book. The book also speaks from the heart, very openly and invites you into the childhood of Derek Jeter. Humorous, sad, and finally happy, The Contract is a true example of accomplishing your dreams, goals, and fears.
October 30, 2018
A Contract for a Good Book
Most people know who Derek Jeter is. People know that he was the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees and a respectable man, but not many people know his childhood story. Derek Jeter the Contract is a great way for kids to understand Derek’s story and learn life lessons along the way.
Derek’s story is one that should be told to children. He grew up in a house with an African-American father and a white mother. Back when he was a child, this was not a popular thing to do. Derek as a result had darker skin than most people and was often bullied. Even with this negativity in life, he still has the dream of becoming the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees. His parents see this dream as realistic while everyone else doubts him.
Derek takes the motivation and the value of hard work that his parents gave him and he works hard to achieve that dream. He wants to get good grades,be a successful baseball player, and be a loyal friend. He works hard to fulfill these goals by studying hard for tests, playing baseball whenever he has free time, and he sticks up for his friends when they are being pushed around.
This book can also be good for parents to read. They can observe the different parenting styles that Derek’s parents and Pete’s dad use with their kids. Derek’s parents are supportive of Derek they help him fix his mistakes and they promote good values for him. Pete’s dad on the other hand gives his son what he wants, does not reprimand him for mistakes, and he does not show him how to act properly. Sometimes, the book is a little bit cheesy and odd. Yet, it provides good comedy for little kids and gives them something interesting to read.
All in all, Derek Jeter the Contract was a great book. It was filled with many lessons for both children and parents. The children can learn to work hard and follow their dreams. The parents can learn to support their kids with everything they do and they can learn to teach their children good lessons and values. This book is also a great way to portray the story of Derek Jeter’s childhood for a younger audience. I would recommend any book to anyone who wants a good book to read. Just remember, if someone wants to “know your real dreams, the ones you could actually make come true,” then just tell them that you can make any dream come true (Jeter 2).
Most people know who Derek Jeter is. People know that he was the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees and a respectable man, but not many people know his childhood story. Derek Jeter the Contract is a great way for kids to understand Derek’s story and learn life lessons along the way.
Derek’s story is one that should be told to children. He grew up in a house with an African-American father and a white mother. Back when he was a child, this was not a popular thing to do. Derek as a result had darker skin than most people and was often bullied. Even with this negativity in life, he still has the dream of becoming the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees. His parents see this dream as realistic while everyone else doubts him.
Derek takes the motivation and the value of hard work that his parents gave him and he works hard to achieve that dream. He wants to get good grades,be a successful baseball player, and be a loyal friend. He works hard to fulfill these goals by studying hard for tests, playing baseball whenever he has free time, and he sticks up for his friends when they are being pushed around.
This book can also be good for parents to read. They can observe the different parenting styles that Derek’s parents and Pete’s dad use with their kids. Derek’s parents are supportive of Derek they help him fix his mistakes and they promote good values for him. Pete’s dad on the other hand gives his son what he wants, does not reprimand him for mistakes, and he does not show him how to act properly. Sometimes, the book is a little bit cheesy and odd. Yet, it provides good comedy for little kids and gives them something interesting to read.
All in all, Derek Jeter the Contract was a great book. It was filled with many lessons for both children and parents. The children can learn to work hard and follow their dreams. The parents can learn to support their kids with everything they do and they can learn to teach their children good lessons and values. This book is also a great way to portray the story of Derek Jeter’s childhood for a younger audience. I would recommend any book to anyone who wants a good book to read. Just remember, if someone wants to “know your real dreams, the ones you could actually make come true,” then just tell them that you can make any dream come true (Jeter 2).
March 1, 2018
The book I read was The Contract by Derek Jeter. The Contract is about Derek Jeter in his childhood and talking about his summer league baseball. He talks about what is happening at school and in his summer league baseball.
Jeter talks about how getting your school work done comes before anything else. Which I agree with him. One time in the book it said that he made a contract with his parents. He had to do everything that was written down. So throughout the whole book he had tried to reach for everything that was written down for what he had to do. So he kept those things in his mind at all times. One of the main rules written down was school work comes before sports (but for other people it might be different). Once his parents thought he did good enough for his contract they bought tickets for a New York Yankees game (Jeter's favorite team was the Yankees). Something that could interest the reader was that Derek had to compete with two other people for baseball and for school. He had to compete with Pete who was on his baseball team and they both wanted to be short stop. Pete got to be short stop for the whole season except for one game he got to play short stop. The other person he had to compete with in school was Gary. Gary always got a 97 percent on his test and Derek would get in the 90 percent but lower than Gary. One day Derek have had enough of Gary he studied a lot in order to try to beat Gary. When the math test finally came Derek was confident. When he got his test score back he had seen a big 100 percent at the top. He asked what Gary got and Gary got a 97 again. Derek was very happy after that.
I didn't really care for this book but it was still enjoyable. The book was easy going and easy to understand. The book was a little bit on the easier side. The book was easy to understand it made sense to what was happening. The ending was a little confusing to me. My favorite part was when Derek got to play short stop for the first time. He made it seem very exciting. One connection that I made to the book is that I used to play baseball and the book talks about baseball. I would recommend this book to people who like baseball and enjoy an enjoyable book. If you aren't interested in baseball then I wouldn't recommend reading this book.
Jeter talks about how getting your school work done comes before anything else. Which I agree with him. One time in the book it said that he made a contract with his parents. He had to do everything that was written down. So throughout the whole book he had tried to reach for everything that was written down for what he had to do. So he kept those things in his mind at all times. One of the main rules written down was school work comes before sports (but for other people it might be different). Once his parents thought he did good enough for his contract they bought tickets for a New York Yankees game (Jeter's favorite team was the Yankees). Something that could interest the reader was that Derek had to compete with two other people for baseball and for school. He had to compete with Pete who was on his baseball team and they both wanted to be short stop. Pete got to be short stop for the whole season except for one game he got to play short stop. The other person he had to compete with in school was Gary. Gary always got a 97 percent on his test and Derek would get in the 90 percent but lower than Gary. One day Derek have had enough of Gary he studied a lot in order to try to beat Gary. When the math test finally came Derek was confident. When he got his test score back he had seen a big 100 percent at the top. He asked what Gary got and Gary got a 97 again. Derek was very happy after that.
I didn't really care for this book but it was still enjoyable. The book was easy going and easy to understand. The book was a little bit on the easier side. The book was easy to understand it made sense to what was happening. The ending was a little confusing to me. My favorite part was when Derek got to play short stop for the first time. He made it seem very exciting. One connection that I made to the book is that I used to play baseball and the book talks about baseball. I would recommend this book to people who like baseball and enjoy an enjoyable book. If you aren't interested in baseball then I wouldn't recommend reading this book.
November 1, 2018
Derek Jeter’s Dinger of a Book
Think of the name Derek Jeter. Ring a bell? It should. In case you don’t know him, Derek Jeter was an amazing shortstop for the New York Yankees. He played with them for 20 years and was one of the few people to reach the 3,000 hit mark. His number was retired in Yankee Stadium and Jeter, “The Captain”, will live on for many years to come.
To the book though, it’s a very simple, easy to follow type of read. There is nothing that is confusing and the story-line is basic. Still a good story and teaches a lot. “If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else believe in you? We can be our own best friends or our own worst enemies. I have always vowed to be my own best friend by exhibiting a positive attitude.” One of the many lessons in the book is what he said there. In order to have people believe in you, you must believe in yourself first. But it’s not something really developed and in detail, so if you want a really good story to read for a couple weeks, this 151 page book is not for you.
Also, This was about Jeter’s little league career. When his parents made him a contract to have Jeter focus on his school work as his primary goal, and to play baseball as his secondary goal. Of course the contract wasn’t real, but it felt real to him. Although Jeter had an amazing MLB career, he wasn’t always the best player on the team growing up. This story is a little reflection on how Jeter was able to overcome adversity and to work harder to become the best baseball player he can be. The book shows many important life lessons that apply in all aspect of life. Some of them are how to never give up, strive for what you want, and don’t let anyone else put you down.
Overall, I was able to personally connect to this book, as a baseball player myself, and to rethink how i think about my baseball and work ethic in school. The book teaches some very valuable things that anyone, baseball player or not, can use at some point in your life. The book is something that will change your life and your input on how you see everything.
Think of the name Derek Jeter. Ring a bell? It should. In case you don’t know him, Derek Jeter was an amazing shortstop for the New York Yankees. He played with them for 20 years and was one of the few people to reach the 3,000 hit mark. His number was retired in Yankee Stadium and Jeter, “The Captain”, will live on for many years to come.
To the book though, it’s a very simple, easy to follow type of read. There is nothing that is confusing and the story-line is basic. Still a good story and teaches a lot. “If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else believe in you? We can be our own best friends or our own worst enemies. I have always vowed to be my own best friend by exhibiting a positive attitude.” One of the many lessons in the book is what he said there. In order to have people believe in you, you must believe in yourself first. But it’s not something really developed and in detail, so if you want a really good story to read for a couple weeks, this 151 page book is not for you.
Also, This was about Jeter’s little league career. When his parents made him a contract to have Jeter focus on his school work as his primary goal, and to play baseball as his secondary goal. Of course the contract wasn’t real, but it felt real to him. Although Jeter had an amazing MLB career, he wasn’t always the best player on the team growing up. This story is a little reflection on how Jeter was able to overcome adversity and to work harder to become the best baseball player he can be. The book shows many important life lessons that apply in all aspect of life. Some of them are how to never give up, strive for what you want, and don’t let anyone else put you down.
Overall, I was able to personally connect to this book, as a baseball player myself, and to rethink how i think about my baseball and work ethic in school. The book teaches some very valuable things that anyone, baseball player or not, can use at some point in your life. The book is something that will change your life and your input on how you see everything.
October 29, 2018
Why you should read Derek Jeter’s The Contract
Attention all baseball fans: You need to stop at your local library or bookstore and get Derek Jeter’s The Contract right now. People of all ages could read this book because it is not a difficult read, and if you love baseball, especially if you are a fan of the New York Yankees, I strongly recommend that you read this book.
Within the book, Derek Jeter’s childhood is described and it is explained how he made his way up to the majors. After receiving a school assignment about what he wants to be when he grows up, young Jeter writes about how he wants to be the shortstop for the New York Yankees. After his teacher and classmates laughed at him and told him that his dream was unrealistic, Jeter was very upset. However, his parents still believed in him and created a contract for him to follow so he could be the best he could be so he could make it to the MLB. “If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else believe in you? We can be our own best friends or our own worst enemies. I have always vowed to be my own best friend by exhibiting a positive attitude” - Derek Jeter. The contract included getting all A’s or B’s, doing well in little league, staying away from drugs and alcohol, and helping around the house.
The rest of the story detailed Derek’s struggle earning his position on his little league team and his struggles in math class. However, the story does turn out how in Jeter’s favor. The Contract details aspects of how young Jeter was parented. It could show other parents how to help their son achieve his goal of reaching the MLB or any child achieve their dream. If all parents used the parenting technique used by the Jeter's, all talented kids could become professionals within their specific interests. If you are interested in baseball and want to read about one of the greatest baseball player’s childhood, this book is for you. The Contract by Derek Jeter gives a first hand perspective of Jeter’s childhood and his struggles and method to become a future MLB great.
Attention all baseball fans: You need to stop at your local library or bookstore and get Derek Jeter’s The Contract right now. People of all ages could read this book because it is not a difficult read, and if you love baseball, especially if you are a fan of the New York Yankees, I strongly recommend that you read this book.
Within the book, Derek Jeter’s childhood is described and it is explained how he made his way up to the majors. After receiving a school assignment about what he wants to be when he grows up, young Jeter writes about how he wants to be the shortstop for the New York Yankees. After his teacher and classmates laughed at him and told him that his dream was unrealistic, Jeter was very upset. However, his parents still believed in him and created a contract for him to follow so he could be the best he could be so he could make it to the MLB. “If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else believe in you? We can be our own best friends or our own worst enemies. I have always vowed to be my own best friend by exhibiting a positive attitude” - Derek Jeter. The contract included getting all A’s or B’s, doing well in little league, staying away from drugs and alcohol, and helping around the house.
The rest of the story detailed Derek’s struggle earning his position on his little league team and his struggles in math class. However, the story does turn out how in Jeter’s favor. The Contract details aspects of how young Jeter was parented. It could show other parents how to help their son achieve his goal of reaching the MLB or any child achieve their dream. If all parents used the parenting technique used by the Jeter's, all talented kids could become professionals within their specific interests. If you are interested in baseball and want to read about one of the greatest baseball player’s childhood, this book is for you. The Contract by Derek Jeter gives a first hand perspective of Jeter’s childhood and his struggles and method to become a future MLB great.
March 6, 2019
The book I’m reviewing is The Contract by Derek Jeter. This book tells the story of Derek’s love of baseball and the contract he signed with his parents. The contract was that he had to keep his grades up in order to play baseball. If he followed the contract he would get an extra surprise, attending a Yankees baseball game. The lexile level of this book is 770.
The setting of this book takes place primarily at Derek’s school and on the baseball diamond. In order to meet his contract requirements he needed to earn all A’s and B’s in school so there was competition between him and other students. On the baseball field Derek had to learn that he would not necessarily get to play the position he wanted. He had to earn the right to play shortstop. Through his experiences in the classroom and on the field Derek had to learn to be a good teammate and friend in both places. In the end Derek accomplished his goal. His team had a good season and he was MVP of his team. He got all A’s and B’s in school so he met the terms of his contract with his parents. His reward was attending a Yankees game. The settings of this book are common to most readers. The experiences Derek had both in the classroom and on the baseball diamond serve as good examples to the readers on how to reach their goals.
This book was an autobiography of Derek’s elementary school years. I enjoyed the book because I like baseball and have always admired Derek Jeter as a baseball player. I found the book at a comfortable level of complexity. It was farfilly believable. Many of the experiences he had were similar to ones I have had. I liked the ending because he got to go to the Yankees game which was something he had wanted and was able to earn. There were a couple of parts that were my favorites. One was when he earned the right to play shortstop. The other was when he hit numerous homeruns at his last baseball game. I would recommend this book to other students especially if they enjoy sports, especially baseball.
The setting of this book takes place primarily at Derek’s school and on the baseball diamond. In order to meet his contract requirements he needed to earn all A’s and B’s in school so there was competition between him and other students. On the baseball field Derek had to learn that he would not necessarily get to play the position he wanted. He had to earn the right to play shortstop. Through his experiences in the classroom and on the field Derek had to learn to be a good teammate and friend in both places. In the end Derek accomplished his goal. His team had a good season and he was MVP of his team. He got all A’s and B’s in school so he met the terms of his contract with his parents. His reward was attending a Yankees game. The settings of this book are common to most readers. The experiences Derek had both in the classroom and on the baseball diamond serve as good examples to the readers on how to reach their goals.
This book was an autobiography of Derek’s elementary school years. I enjoyed the book because I like baseball and have always admired Derek Jeter as a baseball player. I found the book at a comfortable level of complexity. It was farfilly believable. Many of the experiences he had were similar to ones I have had. I liked the ending because he got to go to the Yankees game which was something he had wanted and was able to earn. There were a couple of parts that were my favorites. One was when he earned the right to play shortstop. The other was when he hit numerous homeruns at his last baseball game. I would recommend this book to other students especially if they enjoy sports, especially baseball.
January 22, 2021
Patrick Walsh
1/20/21
Period 1
Rating: 3.5/5
The Beginnings of a Yankee Superstar
All Little League players dream of making it to the big leagues. I,as an athlete, have asked myself several times how to get there. Derek Jeter gives you a very detailed account of how he was a young middle school student chasing his dream of making it to the pros. I recommend this book to anyone who loves sports and wants to pursue their dream. Derek Jeter not only teaches hardwork and dedication, but patience and the power of family/friendship play a very significant role in this book. This autobiography is called The Contract, but not the contract you may be thinking about. This contract is between him and his parents, and you need to read the book to find out how this document changed his life. I highly recommend reading the book and I also recommend tearing out one of the initial pages when you’re done. Derek starts the book with, “Derek Jeter’s 10 Life Lessons.” (preface) If you have set your goals high where the sky's the limit, this page is valuable in itself. I learned a lot throughout this book. I was even reminded to look at things from different perspectives. For example, all players have encountered bad calls that can be consequential to a game. In The Contract, players are reminded that umpires aren’t perfect and deserve respect and gratitude. “He is out there trying his best, just like you. And he is doing this for your benefit, not his own” (Jeter 124). There is value in different perspectives and life lessons offered by Jeter. Also, the constant message throughout the entire text is for the reader to pursue their dreams no matter what ups and downs may come his or her way. It is an inspirational read for young people searching for a bit of motivation from a baseball legend and an American role model.
1/20/21
Period 1
Rating: 3.5/5
The Beginnings of a Yankee Superstar
All Little League players dream of making it to the big leagues. I,as an athlete, have asked myself several times how to get there. Derek Jeter gives you a very detailed account of how he was a young middle school student chasing his dream of making it to the pros. I recommend this book to anyone who loves sports and wants to pursue their dream. Derek Jeter not only teaches hardwork and dedication, but patience and the power of family/friendship play a very significant role in this book. This autobiography is called The Contract, but not the contract you may be thinking about. This contract is between him and his parents, and you need to read the book to find out how this document changed his life. I highly recommend reading the book and I also recommend tearing out one of the initial pages when you’re done. Derek starts the book with, “Derek Jeter’s 10 Life Lessons.” (preface) If you have set your goals high where the sky's the limit, this page is valuable in itself. I learned a lot throughout this book. I was even reminded to look at things from different perspectives. For example, all players have encountered bad calls that can be consequential to a game. In The Contract, players are reminded that umpires aren’t perfect and deserve respect and gratitude. “He is out there trying his best, just like you. And he is doing this for your benefit, not his own” (Jeter 124). There is value in different perspectives and life lessons offered by Jeter. Also, the constant message throughout the entire text is for the reader to pursue their dreams no matter what ups and downs may come his or her way. It is an inspirational read for young people searching for a bit of motivation from a baseball legend and an American role model.
January 26, 2021
The Contract Book Review
The story The Contract is about Derek Jeter growing up young and playing baseball. Derek loved the game since he was very little. His favorite team growing up was the New York Yankees, and he wanted to be there shortstop. He had this dream from a young age, and this story shows the beginning of his preparation to achieve this goal. It shows some people doubting him and making fun of him, and other people encouraging him and supporting him. At a young age he realized a lot about life in general. He learned that things worth having don’t come easy, he learned that there are always ups and downs, and he learned how to control and stay focused during those highs and lows in his life.
I really enjoyed the book, it gives you great information on Derek’s childhood life and the relationship he had with his family. His parents taught him to follow the moral oath and life, and made him a rounded person who is willing to learn. The contract gives him a list of around 10 rules that he must follow if he wants to make his goal truly happen. They are simple things like, respect other people, get homework done before sports, work hard at practice etc. This shows how a simple routine can create one of the world's best athletes.
One of the aspects I did not like about the book is that it only talked about his elementary school life. I would have really liked to see if the contract changed over time and how often he was practicing and working out. There is a general statistic that you master something when you practice for 10,000 hours. I bet Derek Jeter put in many hours a day to practice baseball, but it ended short of his middle school, and high school success. I would definitely recommend this book to a range of people, but definitely younger athletes.
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