The Million Dollar Shot

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1997

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-13

Chapters 14-17

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Themes

The Stress of Navigating Change

The characters of The Million Dollar Shot experience many changes in both lifestyle and personality as the story progresses. Eddie’s multitude of challenges soon reveal that external events often cause internal changes as well. At the outset of the novel, for example, Eddie is ridiculed in gym class for his poor aim. While this incident bothers him somewhat, Eddie maintains his confidence in his ability to aim when there are no distractions present. However, with the introduction of the Finkle contest and the shot Eddie will make at the NBA game, Eddie is forced to face his fear of distractions and must put himself in uncomfortable situations in order to overcome his tendency toward giving poor performances under stressful conditions. By acknowledging the effects of the many stresses in his life, Eddie works constructively to find ways to overcome them, and this process demonstrates healthy coping strategies for the author’s young readers as well. As the novel progresses and Eddie works through his fear, he realizes that he has the power to block out distractions and focus on his actions in the moment.

While the novel illustrates that negative changes can wreak havoc on a person’s life and well-being, the author also makes it a point to emphasize that even positive changes can be stressful and can only be accepted if people maintain a willingness to adapt. In Chapter 8, for example, Annie introduces the idea that her dad and Eddie’s mom are developing a romantic relationship. At first, Eddie refuses to accept this and avoids the issue until Chapter 14, when he witnesses his mom kissing Annie’s dad. His resistance to change causes him to have a negative reaction, but after talking to his mom and Annie’s dad, Eddie begins to realize all the good that could come from this new relationship. Eddie’s mom is happier than he’s seen her in a long time, and despite the shock of the romance, Eddie likes and respects Annie’s dad. At the end of the book, the supportive dynamics between the two families help Eddie to accept the new circumstances, and the author uses this conclusion to suggest that the stress of new life changes can be overcome with the proper outlook.

It is also important to note that Mr. Finkle, the novel’s antagonist, serves as a powerful avatar of disruptive change in the protagonists’ lives, and a great deal of Eddie’s time and energy is spent upon finding creative new ways to deal with these changes. In Chapter 5 after Eddie’s and Annie’s parents get fired, Annie’s dad tells Annie not to worry because sometimes change is for the best; he states that unforeseen events compel a person “to make a change in his or her life that wouldn’t have been made otherwise” (28). While the loss of the parents’ jobs is initially portrayed as a negative change, it becomes a positive one in ways that no one could have predicted. The job loss prompts Eddie to enter the Finkle contest, which he could never have done if his still worked at the factory. Thus, without this initial change for Eddie’s mom, all the changes that follow would never have occurred. In this way, the author shows that a seemingly small event can act as a fulcrum to change the entire orientation of a person’s world. Additionally, this one change brings tremendous positivity for people beyond Eddie’s family. The million dollars that Eddie wins allows him to buy out Finkle Foods and replace a harmful snack food with healthier options. He also rehires the people that Mr. Finkle fired and creates a much better mission and image for the company. From the seemingly negative change of a job loss, a multitude of positive opportunities are made possible, showing that change can have far-reaching consequences despite the stress and upheaval involved.

The Link Between Mindset and Outcome

Throughout the novel, the characters’ collective experiences prove that a change in mindset often results in a change in a situation, and although external forces play a significant part in who Eddie is and becomes, his internal understanding of himself holds much greater sway over his actions and emotions, particularly when it comes to how he chooses to deal with distractions. This issue becomes prominent once Eddie is selected to make the Finkle contest shot, for his practice sessions reveal that he misses as many shots as he makes. Eddie initially believes that his natural talent will ensure victory, but in reality, he doesn’t want to face his fear, and the limitations of his mindset prevent him from improving his skills. However, when he sees the superior skills of Annie’s dad, Eddie realizes that his current understanding of himself isn’t enough. As a result, he chooses to change his mindset about practicing and about facing distractions because he knows that there is a huge difference between making shots under ideal conditions and making shots amidst the chaos of an NBA basketball game. The readjustment of his mindset is what ultimately allows him to reach his goal.

The author also applies the dynamics of this theme to Eddie’s family life, for when Eddie sees his mom kissing Eddie’s dad, this revelation wreaks havoc on his mindset and overwhelms him with emotional distractions right before the big moment on the court. The kiss itself reminds Eddie of his dad, and his anger results from this misguided belief that his mother is betraying the memory of his father, even though he knows that it is unreasonable to expect her not to move on. Beset by this maelstrom of emotions, Eddie’s mindset shifts to the point that he finds himself less able to shoot hoops accurately. In response to this, Annie’s dad knows just what to say; he tells Eddie, “Tomorrow you can punch me, kick me, and call me names. But tonight you gotta put that anger out of your mind” (89). His coaching helps Eddie to rein in his emotions and focus on maintaining a stronger mindset in order to focus on making his shot.

As Eddie gains the ability to regulate his emotions and control his mindset, he realizes that these internal skills can serve as an invisible shield against the distractions of the world. From the moment Eddie is selected as the winner of the Finkle contest, his life changes in ways he never expected. Suddenly, his average, quiet life is thrust into the spotlight. As the NBA game grows closer and the attention becomes more intense, Eddie realizes that he doesn’t want this level of fame and is uncomfortable with the special treatment he receives at school. As the pressure mounts, Eddie steadfastly remembers his reasons for entering the contest and focuses on what he hopes to gain by winning. Holding onto these thoughts lets him maintain a strong, steady perspective on the contest. Rather than getting swept up in the hype, Eddie holds tight to the important things, such as his family’s well-being. Ultimately, this shift in perspective allows him to keep his integrity, and he therefore makes practical decisions when putting the million dollars to use for his family and his community.

The Power of Confidence

Confidence is a central driving force for the characters of The Million Dollar Shot. Whether in their personal or professional lives, they demonstrate the idea that confidence allows them to achieve things would otherwise be impossible. However, Eddie soon learns that confidence is steady, not showy. In Chapter 7, when Annie’s dad starts coaching Eddie, the protagonist becomes frustrated by the man’s criticism. Eddie argues that there’s nothing wrong with how he shoots hoops because he has seen the professionals make similar shots and believes that his current form looks cool and impressive. Upon hearing this, Annie’s dad scoffs and proceeds to consistently get the ball in the hoop with a steady, unflinching style. Although his stance is nowhere near as flashy as Eddie’s, it is far more successful, and Eddie realizes that much of basketball is skill wrapped up in showmanship. By contrast, Annie’s dad shoots with pure confidence after years of honing his skill through consistent practice. The contrast between the two characters shows that true confidence does not rely upon flashy moves or fancy footwork to be effective.

Upon learning the hard lesson that only practice allows for the most authentic form of confidence, Eddie diligently applies himself to learning the methods recommended by Annie’s dad. Prior to this turning point, Eddie was relying solely upon his natural talent, but with coaching, Eddie realizes that his skill and confidence are merely a façade. By making adjustments to his form, Eddie vastly improves his skills. Practice builds Eddie’s confidence, which also increases his focus and his willingness to try new things. At the beginning of the book, when Annie makes a shot with her eyes closed, Eddie can hardly believe it because he cannot fathom the idea of shooting without looking. However, when it comes time for Eddie to make the crucial contest shot, he confidently closes his eyes to block out all distractions, and thanks to his practice, he has the confidence to know that he will be successful because his body knows what to do.

Just as the story’s events champion the virtues of confidence based on honest work and practice, the author also emphasizes the fact that arrogance and overconfidence lead to critical mistakes. Whereas Eddie and Annie’s dad work toward finding a balance between consistency and confidence, Mr. Finkle exhibits all the problems of overconfidence. The most prominent evidence of his mindset is the contest itself, for he has orchestrated the contest out of a desire to bring new attention to his company. However, his conversations with Eddie reveal, the contest is actually a problem because Mr. Finkle’s increasing financial distress means that he barely has the money to fund the winning shot. When bribing Eddie into missing the shot on purpose, Mr. Finkle orchestrates a series of increasingly hostile attacks to Eddie’s own confidence, and after a lifetime of being able to buy his way into whatever he wants, Mr. Finkle becomes overconfident in his ability to beat Eddie at these mind games. This overconfidence ultimately leads Mr. Finkle to ruin, for he is so sure of himself that he doesn’t make any contingency plans for what will happen if he fails. Thus, when Eddie makes the contest shot, Mr. Finkle is caught completely off-guard and is forced to change everything about his life because he let his overconfidence get the better of him.

Ultimately, the novel proves that when confidence is based on a solid, consistent foundation, it becomes a powerful, stable force that leads to success. However, as seen through Eddie’s early development and Mr. Finkle’s ultimate downfall, overconfidence leads to sloppy mistakes. When used correctly, confidence brings power, but when exploited, it becomes a liability.