Common Sense Media Review
By Kyle Jackson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun tale of Jeter in Little League mixes action, messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE CONTRACT is the first book in a series of middle-grade novels based on Derek Jeter's childhood and early baseball career. Eight-year-old Derek is determined to be the starting shortstop of his favorite team, the New York Yankees, but he has to get through Little League first! Derek's parents are behind him 100 percent, drafting a contract for him to sign, with him promising to maintain good grades, be a role model for his little sister, and always act with respect and integrity. As he and his ragtag group of suburban teammates go through the season and school year, Derek has to deal with the responsibility of adhering to his contract, being a leader on and off the field, and striving to be a champion.
Is It Any Good?
The Contract is a winner for kids who love baseball, and Jeter is a perfect role model for any competitor, the embodiment of class and leadership. Derek learns -- as all kids do, eventually -- that talent isn't enough to succeed; it requires hard work, a support system, and the ability to balance different challenges at the same time.
Though the writing definitely hits the reader over the head with the morals and messages, it's inspirational nonetheless to see how crucial a role Jeter's family played in his development, especially knowing that in the end young Derek does succeed, beyond even his wildest dreams. The baseball scenes are when the book gets fun, capturing the intense psychology and ups and downs of Little League accurately and with pizzazz.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the value of setting goals and guidelines. How does having rules help us stay focused on what we need to do?
Derek always puts his schoolwork first, even ahead of sports. Why do his parents make sure he makes his academic performance a priority?
What do you think makes a good teammate? How can playing sports help build friendships?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Sports
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publishers : Jeter Publishing , Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : September 23, 2014
- Number of pages : 176
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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