travel team chapter 14 summary

Travel Team

43 pages • 1 hour read

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-7

Chapters 8-14

Chapters 15-21

Chapters 22-28

Chapters 29-33

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Chapters 15-21 Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 15 summary.

Another team drops out from the Tri-Valley Basketball League, so the Warriors are in. When Danny insults the team again, Richie tells him to grow up and that he has a plan.

Ty hasn’t responded to Danny’s calls or messages.

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In the first two games, the Warriors lose. 

Chapter 16 Summary

Richie is late to the next practice and arrives in a bad mood . He puts the team through a series of drills then tells them, “The worst crime in sports isn’t losing. […] It’s not competing. In my whole life I’ve never been associated with a team that didn’t want to compete and I’m sure not going to start now” (131). He continues to yell at the players throughout practice. Ali sees, having stopped by on her way home from book club. She asks to speak with Richie alone.

Danny sneaks back to listen to the argument, overhearing his mom chastise him for being hungover. She tells him to either quit drinking or just leave, telling Danny doesn’t need to find out that he’s a drunk. Danny wonders what’s going to happen with the team. 

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"Travel Team" Summary

By Mike Lupica

sports | 304 pages | Published in NaN

Estimated read time: 5 min read

One Sentence Summary

After being cut from the travel basketball team, Danny Walker forms his own team and seeks redemption in the championship game.

Table of Contents

Introduction, brief synopsis, main characters, chapter summary, main events, themes and insights, reader's takeaway.

"Travel Team" is a young adult novel written by Mike Lupica. This inspiring and heartwarming story revolves around a 12-year-old boy named Danny Walker. The book addresses themes of determination, friendship, and the pursuit of dreams. Set in a small town in the United States, the narrative follows Danny as he strives to overcome obstacles and fulfill his passion for basketball. As the protagonist navigates challenges both on and off the court, readers are taken on a journey of self-discovery and perseverance.

Plot Overview

Danny Walker is a talented basketball player with dreams of making it to the travel team, an elite squad that competes in prestigious tournaments. However, Danny's hopes are dashed when he is cut from the team due to his small stature. Despite the setback, Danny refuses to give up on his passion for the game. With the help of his friends and the support of his coach, he sets out to form his own team and prove himself on the court.

The story is primarily set in the town of Middletown, a close-knit community where basketball holds significant importance. The vivid description of the town and its basketball culture provides a rich backdrop for the protagonist's journey. From the local courts to the intense tournament arenas, the setting plays a crucial role in shaping the events of the narrative.

Chapters 1-5

Danny dreams of making the travel basketball team, but his hopes are crushed when he is cut due to his size. Heartbroken, he seeks solace in his friends and begins to consider forming his own team.

Chapters 6-10

With the encouragement of his coach and friends, Danny starts assembling a group of players to form a new team. He faces skepticism and challenges but remains determined to prove himself.

Chapters 11-15

As Danny's team begins to take shape, they face opposition from other players and teams. The narrative delves into themes of friendship, teamwork, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Chapters 16-20

The newly formed team begins to train and prepare for upcoming tournaments. Danny's leadership and unwavering dedication inspire his teammates, and they start to bond both on and off the court.

Chapters 21-25

The team faces its first competitive challenges, testing their skills and camaraderie. Danny's growth as a player and a leader becomes evident as they navigate victories and setbacks.

Chapters 26-30

As the narrative reaches its climax, the team's hard work and determination are put to the ultimate test in a high-stakes tournament. Danny's journey of self-discovery and the power of belief come to the forefront.

• Danny's heartbreak after being cut from the travel team.
• The formation of Danny's own basketball team with the support of his friends and coach.
• The team's training and preparation for tournaments.
• Competitive challenges and victories that test the team's resilience.
• The climax at the high-stakes tournament, where Danny and his team face their ultimate test.
• Perseverance: The novel explores the theme of perseverance as Danny refuses to give up on his dreams despite facing numerous obstacles.
• Friendship: The importance of friendship and support is a central theme, highlighting the impact of loyal companions like Will in Danny's journey.
• Belief in oneself: The narrative emphasizes the power of self-belief and determination in overcoming adversity.

"Travel Team" offers readers an inspiring and relatable story about the pursuit of dreams and the resilience of the human spirit. Through Danny's journey, readers are reminded of the power of perseverance, friendship, and self-belief in the face of challenges.

In "Travel Team," Mike Lupica crafts a compelling narrative that not only captures the passion for basketball but also delves into universal themes of determination and friendship. The protagonist's journey serves as a source of inspiration for readers of all ages, making the book a poignant and uplifting read.

Travel Team FAQ

What is 'travel team' about.

Travel Team is a young adult novel about a 12-year-old boy named Danny Walker who is determined to form his own basketball team after being left out of his town's elite travel team.

Who is the author of 'Travel Team'?

The author of 'Travel Team' is Mike Lupica, a renowned sports journalist and author of many sports-themed novels for young readers.

What age group is 'Travel Team' suitable for?

The book is generally suitable for readers aged 10-14, but older readers and adults who enjoy sports-themed stories may also find it engaging.

Is 'Travel Team' part of a series?

No, 'Travel Team' is a standalone novel and does not belong to a series.

What are the main themes in 'Travel Team'?

The main themes in 'Travel Team' include perseverance, friendship, teamwork, and the love of basketball. The book also addresses issues of family dynamics and personal growth.

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Travel Team Summary and Analysis

FreeBookNotes found 4 sites with book summaries or analysis of Travel Team . If there is a Travel Team SparkNotes, Shmoop guide, or Cliff Notes, you can find a link to each study guide below.

Among the summaries and analysis available for Travel Team , there are 1 Full Study Guide, 2 Short Summaries and 1 Book Review.

Depending on the study guide provider (SparkNotes, Shmoop, etc.), the resources below will generally offer Travel Team chapter summaries, quotes, and analysis of themes, characters, and symbols.

Travel Team

By mike lupica, full book notes and study guides.

Sites like SparkNotes with a Travel Team study guide or cliff notes. Also includes sites with a short overview, synopsis, book report, or summary of Mike Lupica’s Travel Team.

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Short book summaries.

Sites with a short overview, synopsis, book report, or summary of Travel Team by Mike Lupica.

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More Books by Mike Lupica

FreeBookNotes has 9 more books by Mike Lupica, with a total of 40 study guides.

Travel Team

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The #1 Bestseller! Twelve-year-old Danny Walker may be the smallest kid on the basketball court – but don’t tell him that. Because no one plays with more heart or court sense. But none of that matters when he is cut from his local travel team, the very same team his father led to national prominence as a boy. Danny’s father, still smarting from his own troubles, knows Danny isn’t the only kid who was cut for the wrong reason, and together, this washed-up former player and a bunch of never-say-die kids prove that the heart simply cannot be measured. For fans of The Bad News Bears, Hoosiers, the Mighty Ducks, and Mike Lupica’s other New York Times bestselling novels Heat, The Underdogs, and Million-Dollar Throw, here is a book that proves that when the game knocks you down, champions stand tall.

What Kind of Book is Travel Team

Book lists that include travel team.

The Creative Behind the Book

Mike Lupica is the author of multiple bestselling books for young readers, including the Home Team series, QB 1, Heat, Travel Team, Million-Dollar Throw, and The Underdogs. He has carved out a niche as the sporting world’s finest storyteller. Mike lives in Connecticut with his wife and their four children. When not writing novels, he writes for Daily News (New York) and is an award-winning sports commentator. You can visit Mike Lupica at MikeLupicaBooks.com.

What Has Mike Lupica Said About This Book

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TRAVEL TEAM

by Mike Lupica ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2004

For a small man, Richie Walker casts a large shadow over his son’s life. Danny Walker would like nothing more than to follow in his father’s footsteps. When 12, Richie, a 5’10” point guard phenom, led his ragtag Middletown Vikings from Eastern Long Island to the national finals of the Little League Basketball World Series and became the darling of sportswriters around the country. Problem is Danny didn’t make his travel team. Too small. But, in a story every bit as exciting and tear-jerking as any novel or movie in its genre— Hoosiers , Mighty Ducks , The Bad News Bears —Danny gets his chance at glory. Lupica, a sportswriter at the New York Daily News, has the knowledge of the game and the lean prose to make this a taut, realistic story not just about the game but about heart, character, and family. A winner. (Fiction. 10+)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2004

ISBN: 0-399-24150-7

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Philomel

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2004

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

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More by Mike Lupica

BOOK REVIEW

by Mike Lupica

Awards & Accolades

Our Verdict

Kirkus Reviews' Best Books Of 2020

New York Times Bestseller

IndieBound Bestseller

THIS BOOK IS ANTI-RACIST

20 lessons on how to wake up, take action, and do the work.

by Tiffany Jewell ; illustrated by Aurélia Durand ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 7, 2020

A guidebook for taking action against racism.

The clear title and bold, colorful illustrations will immediately draw attention to this book, designed to guide each reader on a personal journey to work to dismantle racism. In the author’s note, Jewell begins with explanations about word choice, including the use of the terms “folx,” because it is gender neutral, and “global majority,” noting that marginalized communities of color are actually the majority in the world. She also chooses to capitalize Black, Brown, and Indigenous as a way of centering these communities’ voices; "white" is not capitalized. Organized in four sections—identity, history, taking action, and working in solidarity—each chapter builds on the lessons of the previous section. Underlined words are defined in the glossary, but Jewell unpacks concepts around race in an accessible way, bringing attention to common misunderstandings. Activities are included at the end of each chapter; they are effective, prompting both self-reflection and action steps from readers. The activities are designed to not be written inside the actual book; instead Jewell invites readers to find a special notebook and favorite pen and use that throughout. Combining the disruption of common fallacies, spotlights on change makers, the author’s personal reflections, and a call to action, this powerful book has something for all young people no matter what stage they are at in terms of awareness or activism.

Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020

ISBN: 978-0-7112-4521-1

Page Count: 160

Publisher: Frances Lincoln

Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2019

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL SCIENCES

More by Tiffany Jewell

by Tiffany Jewell

by Tiffany Jewell ; illustrated by Nicole Miles

More About This Book

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL

From the school for good and evil series , vol. 1.

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2013

Rich and strange (and kitted out with an eye-catching cover), but stronger in the set pieces than the internal logic.

Chainani works an elaborate sea change akin to Gregory Maguire’s Wicked (1995), though he leaves the waters muddied.

Every four years, two children, one regarded as particularly nice and the other particularly nasty, are snatched from the village of Gavaldon by the shadowy School Master to attend the divided titular school. Those who survive to graduate become major or minor characters in fairy tales. When it happens to sweet, Disney princess–like Sophie and  her friend Agatha, plain of features, sour of disposition and low of self-esteem, they are both horrified to discover that they’ve been dropped not where they expect but at Evil and at Good respectively. Gradually—too gradually, as the author strings out hundreds of pages of Hogwarts-style pranks, classroom mishaps and competitions both academic and romantic—it becomes clear that the placement wasn’t a mistake at all. Growing into their true natures amid revelations and marked physical changes, the two spark escalating rivalry between the wings of the school. This leads up to a vicious climactic fight that sees Good and Evil repeatedly switching sides. At this point, readers are likely to feel suddenly left behind, as, thanks to summary deus ex machina resolutions, everything turns out swell(ish).

Pub Date: May 14, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-06-210489-2

Page Count: 496

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2013

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

More In The Series

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno

More by Soman Chainani

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by RaidesArt

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Julia Iredale

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Travel Team Literary Elements

By mike lupika.

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

Written by Shirley Marina

Children's Fiction

Setting and Context

Present Day within the setting of a high school basketball team

Narrator and Point of View

Third person narrator who tells the story from Danny Walker's point of view

Tone and Mood

Alternately uplifting and inspiring, and downcast and negative.

Protagonist and Antagonist

Danny Walker is the protagonist. His old coach is the antagonist as well as his height being antagonistic factor in his life

Major Conflict

The major conflict in Danny's home life is between his mother and his father whom he desperately wants to see get back together; however his mother is opposed to this because she has suffered much trauma in the marriage due to Richie's alcoholism and impulse control issues

Danny's team scores in the nick of time - a "buzzer beater" - and wins the championship

Foreshadowing

Danny's former coach announces that he is looking to "go bigger" this year. This foreshadows Danny's dropping from the team since he is markedly shorter than the other boys on the team, and under consideration to play, and cannot be a part of any drive to "go bigger"

Understatement

Danny feels his height is holding him back which is an understatement as it is the key factor in his being dropped from the team which is the catalyst for the forming of a new team which indirectly brings him closer with his father too

There are many allusions made to the NBA and its teams and players, particularly those of Richie Walker's generation such as Larry Bird

The imagery is based around basketball and so the author describes the games in great detail, painting an image not only visually for the reader but also including sounds, smells and feelings as well

When Danny gets home from winning the game he finds he has grown significantly when he measures himself against the marks on the wall. This is paradoxical primarily because now that he has grown in stature as a person and in his own eyes, his physical height does not seem so important anyway

Parallelism

There is a parallel between how mean Travis' father is to him and how much he wants to play against his father and on Richie's team

Metonymy and Synecdoche

The gymnasium is used as a phrase to encompass all of the individuals sitting in it to watch the game

Personification

No specific examples in this novel

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Travel Team Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Travel Team is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Did the Warriors win the championship in the end and if they did who did they beat

The boys realize that if Mr Ross extending an olive branch to Richie is possible, then anything is possible, and in true underdog fashion they win the game. The Warriors beat Middletown.

What had Jeff Ross done after the tryouts?

Jeff Ross called Danny personally to tell him that he'd made the team. Danny's parents were old friends of his.

Who is a static character?

I might consider Ali Walker. She is still strong at the end of the book.

Study Guide for Travel Team

Travel Team study guide contains a biography of Mike Lupica, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Travel Team
• Travel Team Summary
• Character List

Wikipedia Entries for Travel Team

• Introduction

TRAVEL TEAM BY MIKE LUPICA

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