When Stookie Norris's older brother, Greg, gets his picture in the paper for scoring three goals in one game, Stookie is dazzled. Greg insists strikers should try to score a hat trick every game, though Stookie's coach has never told him that. Still, when the Soccer 'Cats have their next game, Stookie does his best to score three goals -- even though it means running wild all over the field chasing the ball. But is that really the best way for him to play his position?

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### From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-This well-written series successfully combines soccer action with good sportsmanship and family values. The characters seem like real people with flaws and problems. Hat Trick focuses on Stookie Norris, who desperately tries to score three goals in every game after his older brother is featured in the local paper for doing just that-scoring a hat trick. Only his shots matter to him because the more he takes, the more likely he is to achieve his goal. It takes a wise coach and a good friend to make Stookie into a team player. In Secret Weapon, Lisa is self-conscious because she is short, which makes it difficult for her to make a throw-in. When her coach discovers that she has gymnastic ability, he encourages her to work on a secret-weapon flip throw that helps her team gain points. One black-and-white ink illustration appears in each chapter. Facial expressions convey the characters' emotions and pictures of the field action capture the excitement of the games.
*Barb Lawler, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA *
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

### About the Author

Matt Christopher is the best selling name behind more than 100 sports-themed books for young readers.