Toby Wheeler: Eighth Grade Benchwarmer
on Goodreads (175)
What’s inside...
TOBY WHEELER LOVES basketball and playing pickup games at the local rec center with his best friend, JJ. However, their friendship is strained when JJ becomes busy and basketball season starts at their junior high, where JJ is the star and Toby is an ordinary gym rat. When Coach Applewhite offers Toby a chance on the team, Toby is eager to prove himself, but ends up as an eighth-grade benchwarmer. As he befriends the coach's daughter, Toby learns that he must start thinking like a team player, both on and off the court, to get playing time. Fans of John Feinstein and Matt de la Peña will love Toby Wheeler's dreams of being a basketball star that Phil Jackson says is 'a truly great basketball story.' And don't miss Thatcher Heldring's newest novel, The Football Girl --about a girl who follows her passion for the game and tries out for the football team! When Toby Wheeler has a chance to join the junior high basketball team, he’s eager to prove he can keep up with his best friend, JJ. But practice doesn’t go quite as Toby has planned, and when the coach announces the lineup, Toby’s hopes of playing ball with JJ are he’s an eighth-grade benchwarmer!
Age
8-12
Length
224 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Toby Wheeler
J.J.
Coach Conroy
Discussion points
How do you think Toby felt when he was constantly on the bench, and how would you feel in his situation?
What qualities do you admire in Toby and why? Are there any qualities you see in yourself?
Discuss how Toby's relationships with his coaches and teammates change throughout the book. What do these changes tell you about teamwork and respect?
Toby faces a lot of challenges in the story. Which challenge do you think was the hardest for him and why?
If you could give Toby one piece of advice, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, relate the themes to your child’s personal experiences in sports or any other teamwork activities to make the conversation more relatable.
Encourage your child to think about the outcomes of the story by asking them how they might handle similar situations differently.
Empathize with Toby’s emotions and challenges to help your child open up about their own feelings and experiences.
Highlight Toby's growth and lessons learned, prompting your child to reflect on their personal growth from challenges they've faced.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance pays off
Explanation: Toby Wheeler doesn't give up on his love for basketball despite initially only being a benchwarmer. His continuous effort and determination help him improve and gain significant playing time.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of persisting with their passions and hobbies, even when they face initial setbacks. This encourages them to strive for improvement rather than giving up.
Example Lesson: Teamwork is crucial
Explanation: Throughout the book, Toby learns the importance of teamwork and cooperation on the basketball court. This enables his team to achieve more than what they could individually.
Real-World Application: Understanding teamwork can help children in group projects and collaborative tasks in school, teaching them how to share responsibilities and uplift each other.
Example Lesson: Self-confidence is key
Explanation: As Toby gains more playing time and improves in basketball, his self-confidence grows. This newfound confidence positively impacts other areas of his life.
Real-World Application: Building self-confidence can inspire children to take on new challenges and believe in their capabilities, enhancing their overall personal and academic growth.
Example Lesson: Respect for authority and rules
Explanation: Toby learns to respect his coach's decisions and understands that rules in sports are crucial for fair play and respect.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of respecting authority figures like teachers and elders, and following rules at home, in school, or during extra-curricular activities.