In the third book in the New York Times bestselling middle grade series inspired by the life of iconic New York Yankee Derek Jeter, Derek's father keeps his promise to coach his son's youth baseball team.
Derek is sure this will be the best season yet! He has it all planned-his dad will have him start at shortstop, and the team will cruise to a championship. But sometimes life doesn't go according to plan. Change Up focuses on a key life lesson of Derek Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation-Deal with Growing Pains-in the series companion to Hit & Miss and The Contract, about which The Wall Street Journal said, "the play by play action is exciting and the lessons many."
The second book in the New York Times bestselling Jeter Publishing imprint, Hit & Miss is a middle grade baseball novel inspired by the youth of legendary sports icon and role model Derek Jeter."Just try to make solid contact, stay level and in control. Positive thoughts only, right?" That's the advice Derek's father gives him about batting-and a lot more. It seems that Little League season is here. Throughout the long Michigan winter, Derek thought that Opening Day might never come. Now at last he can pursue his dream of one day playing shortstop for the New York Yankees. As luck would have it, he's on the Red Sox this year, and they seem to have more talent than the Tigers, the team he was on when last season ended in disappointment. His best friend, Vijay, is with him again, and Derek gets the same number-13!-that his father wore in college. Now if the new kid with the chauffeur turns out to be a player, well, the Red Sox might just win it all. But as Derek finds out, both baseball and life are hard. Before the season is over, he'll break out of a slump, bring his teammates closer together, learn a new sport, solve the mystery of why his sister Sharlee seems so quiet and suffer the consequences for violating "The Contract" he had signed with his parents. Before he can move closer to his dream, there are many lessons to be learned.
When Derek Jeter was in elementary school, he dreamed of being the shortstop for the New York Yankees.
He loves the game, and just to make sure he stays focused on school his parents make him sign a contract -- keep the grades up or no baseball. Even though Derek works hard on school, now he will work extra hard. When the Little League assignments are made, Derek tries his best to show the coach what he can do at shortstop, but Pete has the plays and Derek is assigned second base. That night he can't sleep, worrying about the position and wishing he could play short stop. His dad says, That's the thing about team sports. You're only as good as your team, but you can help your teammates be the best they can be by being a good teammate at all times. Later in the season, with a shot at the playoffs, the coach moves Derek to short stop. But win or lose, Derek realizes that it is about doing your best at any position. It's all about the team.
