Eighth-graders Stevie and Susan Carol are both winners of a young adult writing contest for the USBWA, thus giving them press passes to college basketball’s big event – the Final Four. While wandering around the Superdome looking for a story, Stevie and Susan Carol overhear someone threatening one of the star players into fixing the final game. Before they know it, Stevie and Susan Carol are in over their heads trying to prevent the blackmail scheme from succeeding. The book was a bit slow in the beginning, explaining a great deal about college basketball before finally getting to the mystery around page 50. After that, the pace picked up and the plot was a lot more compelling. Overall, this is an interesting book, with the mystery unfolding naturally with a balanced amount of suspense. My biggest issue is how 13-year-old Susan Carol (who could pass for 17) is constantly using her good looks to pump information out of middle-aged men – a little bit creepy in my opinion, especially for a book aimed at older children and younger teens. ( )

unbelievable

2006 - Best Young Adult

Reviewed by Taylor Rector for TeensReadToo.com

In this thrilling mystery about two eighth-grade reporters, a blackmail case is solved. Steven Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson win a journalism contest and are sent to the Final Four basketball games. They are required to write an article every day that they are at the tournament and are provided press passes and full access to all the inside information.

The first day that Steven and Susan are at the games they overhear someone make a blackmail threat to a Minnesota State University player. At first they don't think much of it until a player goes MISSING! You follow the story of the pair putting the puzzle pieces together and solving the mystery of the missing basketball player.

I loved the fast pace of the book, the thrilling moments, and the hostage situation. This is the first book in a four book series. And even though this book is about sports, and I'm a girly-girl, this book is awesome! Anyone can enjoy this book! ( )

While the situation is a bit unbelievable (two students stumble upon a blackmail scandal at the Final Four of NCAA basketball and are determined to save the star player) the characters themselves are well-drawn. The scenes with the big-name sports reporters are very funny, even if you don't recognize all the names. Anyone who enjoys NCAA basketball and a good mystery will like this book. ( )