On Point
By Hena Khan and Sally Wern Comport
4.5/5
()
About this ebook
Now that Zayd has made the Gold Team, he’s hustling hard and loving every minute of the season.
But when the team starts to struggle, Zayd can’t help wondering if it has something to do with him. Even worse, his best friend Adam suddenly starts acting like he doesn’t care about basketball anymore, even though they are finally teammates. He stops playing basketball with Zayd at recess and starts hanging out with other kids. Then, Adam up and quits the Gold Team to play football instead.
While his uncle’s wedding preparations turn life into a circus at home, Zayd is left on his own to figure things out. He has to decide how to still be friends with Adam and step up to fill the empty shoes he left on the court. Does Zayd have what it takes to be on point and lead his team back to victory?
Hena Khan
Hena Khan is a Pakistani American writer. She is the author of the middle grade novels Amina’s Voice, Amina’s Song, More to the Story, Drawing Deena, and the Zara’s Rules series and picture books Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, Under My Hijab, and It’s Ramadan, Curious George, among others. Hena lives in her hometown of Rockville, Maryland, with her family. You can learn more about Hena and her books by visiting her website at HenaKhan.com or connecting with her @HenaKhanBooks.
Read more from Hena Khan
It's Ramadan, Curious George Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5More to the Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Amina's Song Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Mars: You Decide How to Survive! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to On Point
Titles in the series (3)
Power Forward Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bounce Back Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On Point Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related ebooks
Bounce Back Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Power Forward Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zara's Rules for Record-Breaking Fun Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Magnificent Mya Tibbs: Spirit Week Showdown Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Badir and the Beaver Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zara’s New Eid Dress Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIbrahim Khan and the Mystery of the Roaring Lion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Aisha Goes in Search of Colour Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Victory Boys Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIbrahim Khan and the Mystery of the Haunted Lake Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Gift of Ramadan Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Great Race to Sycamore Street Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Spider and the Doves: The Story of the Hijra Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ramadan Through the Eyes of a Child Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Trust of Treasures Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Give It a Try, Yasmin! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Husna and the Eid Party: An Eid Story Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Umar and the Bully Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hassan & Aneesa Celebrate Eid Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Zak and His Little Lies Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Zara's Rules for Finding Hidden Treasure Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsToday I Celebrate Holidays!: How Ali, Adam, and Ari Find More In Common Through Their Differences Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSadiq and the Ramadan Gift Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Allah Gave Me a Nose to Smell Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5We Are Family Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What a Scare! (Book Two of Rubiah from Semarang): Rubiah from Semarang, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGolden Girl Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Miraculous Happenings in the Year of the Elephant Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Children's Sports & Recreation For You
The Crossover: A Newbery Award Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stone Fox Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Prepared Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Curious George Gymnastics Fun Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Spy Ski School Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary of Jason Hanson's Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBig Nate: Revenge of the Cream Puffs Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tangerine Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Woodsong Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wizenard Series: Training Camp Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Big Nate: The Crowd Goes Wild! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Good Kind of Trouble Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ninja Farts: The Disgusting Adventures of Milo Snotrocket Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Snowman: The True Story of a Champion Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Magic Pinata/Piñata mágica: Bilingual Spanish-English Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wilder Boys Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Patina Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Charlie Brown: POW!: A PEANUTS Collection Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Day My Fart Followed Me To Hockey Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRock Collecting for Kids: An Introduction to Geology Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Diary of a Christmas Elf: festive magic in the blockbuster hit Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5100 Days of Adventure: Nature Activities, Creative Projects, and Field Trips for Every Season Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBig Nate: Game On! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fossils for Kids: An Introduction to Paleontology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBooked Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Top Softball Tips Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dino-Swimming Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Epoca: The River of Sand Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for On Point
3 ratings1 review
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I really enjoy these stories -- it was so nice to get to catch up with the Saleem family and hear more of their story. The wedding sounds like a wild ride, and it's interesting to see Zayd become a more confident basketball player.
Book preview
On Point - Hena Khan
1
Sometimes when you finally get something you really want, it ends up not being what you hoped it would be. Like that remote-control car that’s supposed to be able to drive over anything but gets stuck on the carpet and spins its wheels. Or the haircut that is cool looking on that kid on TV but on you looks like a giant mushroom sprouted on top of your head.
So far, though, being on my new basketball team is as amazing as I thought it would be. It’s totally worth the weeks of practice I put into getting ready for tryouts. And that includes getting grounded when I skipped violin practice to play basketball instead. I’m finally on the best team in the fourth-grade league with my best friend, Adam. And each time I lace up my sneakers and step onto the gym floor during practice, I feel like a million bucks.
It’s halftime during our first game of the season. My parents and older sister, Zara, are in the stands. I heard them cheering loudly for me when Coach Wheeler put me in during the last five minutes of the first half. I missed a wide-open shot but had a good pass and a nice rebound. And now I get to start the second half! My heart is thumping wildly in my chest. This is exactly the moment I’ve been waiting for.
We’re huddled around Coach and his clipboard, where he scribbles down plays and taps his pen to make his point. We’re down by four. Not too bad. Although by the way Coach is speaking, you’d think we were losing by a lot.
All right, guys.
Coach Wheeler taps on the clipboard. I know we have new players. We’re still learning to work together as a team. That’s no excuse for rushing your passes and turning the ball over. Remember to keep the ball up when you rebound.
I look around at my new teammates’ faces. Adam looks determined. Blake is super sweaty. Ravindu looks like he hasn’t slept enough. And Sam? He’s mouthing something to his mom in the bleachers instead of paying attention.
Who’s going to take us home?
Coach asks.
Let’s do this,
Adam says gruffly. He’s the team captain, and he puts his hand out first. I stick mine on top of his, and soon there’s a pile of hands.
One, two, three, MD HOOPS!
we shout in unison. I feel reenergized as I step back onto the court. I’m going to put up some serious points in the second half. I can feel it.
Blake inbounds the ball, and Adam starts to take it up the court. I always admire his handles. He can dribble behind his back, and he has a sweet crossover. He’s stuck right now, though, because the other team is pressing him hard. Two guys are all over him.
Over here,
I yell, holding out my hands. Adam glances at me for a second but then flings the ball over to Blake. A kid from the other team strips it from Blake before he has possession. The kid takes it down the court on a fast break and makes an easy layup. Now we’re down by six.
We get the ball back, and this time Adam passes it to me. I immediately have two guys smothering me. All I can see is a bunch of arms waving in my face like a giant octopus. They’ve got me in a trap, and I try to pass the ball back to Adam. But I turn the ball over. The other team runs down the court and puts up two more points. Now we’re down eight.
My dad loves this old movie where this guy wakes up each morning and the same thing happens to him over and over again. It sounds super boring to me, but now I know what he means when he says, "This reminds me of Groundhog Day." Because the same exact pattern keeps repeating. We get the ball. They press us. We turn the ball over. They score. Repeat.
We’re down by twelve with only three minutes left.
Time out!
Coach yells. He looks as sweaty as we are and has been pacing the sidelines and yelling louder as each minute ticks by.
Let’s see if you guys have better luck,
he mutters as he puts in the entire bench for the rest of the game. Adam and I sit next to Blake, Sam, and Ravindu and watch as our teammates try