Malcolm Ater has been the special education reading teacher at Harpers Ferry Junior High and Harpers Ferry Middle School for 23 years. He is most proud of the fact that between 2005 and 2009, his students had the highest combined special education reading achievement test scores of any middle school in West Virginia during that four-year period. He was also the assistant wrestling coach at Harpers Ferry Junior High for five years, and the head coach from 1997 to 2001. He was the fastest coach in West Virginia secondary school history to win 100 games or matches in any sport, with a four-year record of 110 wins and 14 losses. Over the years, he has frequently contributed human interest stories to Goldenseal, the official state
Magazine of West Virginia. Malcolm has also written over a hundred human interest stories for the local newspapers, along with three 16-page educational comics. Two of the comics were distibuted nationally by the American Cancer Society, 'So You Want to Stop? You Can!' and 'Taking a Chance, With No Chance to Win.'His other comic, 'What You Know About AIDS Can Save Your LIfe' was endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General and distributed by the Centers for Disease Control. All three comics reached a distibution of well over one million copies each. Malcolm earned his B.S. in Education from Old Dominion University where he was a varsity baseball pitcher. He earned his master's degree in Special Education from West Virginia University. He lives in Shepherdstown, West Virginia with his wife, two dogs and a cat.
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
One of the best books I have ever read! You don't have to be a sports fan to like this book because you will bond with Tyler from the very beginning. The author goes right into Tyler's mind, and it's almost like you are a part of him throughout the whole story. The book gives the reader a very deep appreciation of what children with cystic fibrosis go through every day and how much their own personal ambitions in life mean to them. If there ever was a character to cheer for, it's Tyler Moore.The author does a great job of building the tension and excitement as the boys from Harpers Ferry use friendship and courage to hold on to the important things in life during their last year together. I laughed and I cried. You never knew what was going to happen next. I've never cheered so hard for a team to fulfill their "impossible dream" the way I did for the Harpers Ferry boys from Blue Ridge Mountain.
What is so amazing is that it's based on a true story! It reminds me of "Hoosiers", "Rudy" and "Remember the Titans" all in one. Really, one of the most inspiring stories I've ever read! GREAT, GREAT READ! Tyler's Mountain Magic
