GAME CHANGER by Tommy Greenwald

g

Upcoming Visiting Author

Game Changer by Tommy Greenwald

Sports, Football, Hazing, Coma, Feelings, Friendship

287 pages; 2017

Book Trailer

Description

"Thirteen-year-old Teddy Youngblood is in a coma fighting for his life after an unspecified football injury at training camp. His family and friends flock to his bedside to support his recovery--and to discuss the events leading up to the tragic accident. Was this an inevitable result of playing a violent sport, or was something more sinister happening on the field that day? Told in an innovative, multimedia format combining dialogue, texts, newspaper articles, transcripts, an online forum, and Teddy's inner thoughts, Game Changer explores the joyous thrills and terrifying risks of America's most popular sport." - Amazon

My Comments

The format is engaging and portrays what feel like realistic interactions between friends, teachers, and parents. The story is chilling, especially since I have a son who played football through 4 years of college. I don't know if I would have supported that after reading this book. An excellent recommendation for all readers.

THE WALK ON (Series: The Triple Threat Book 1) by John Feinstein

 

The Walk On by John Feinstein
Series: The Triple Threat Book 1)

Realistic Fiction, Sports, Perseverance, Conduct of Life

359 pages

Description
Alex Myers, a student athlete who tries to take on the sports establishment in his new town, is a triple-threat athlete, great at football, basketball, and baseball. But he'll have to fight for a spot on the varsity team. Alex is a quarterback, but from the first day of football practice, it's clear that that position is very much filled by the coach's son, Matt. Alex has the better arm, but Matt has more experience and the coach's loyalty. But just as his star is rising, Alex gets blindsided, the state has started drug testing, and Alex's test come back positive for steroids. Alex know that's not right. But he doesn't know if it's a mistake or if someone wants to make sure he can't play.

My Comments
Great page turner not only for football fans. This is a sure bet for a wide range of kids. Not a difficult read even though the number of pages may seem daunting for some readers. Middle to high school.

LIFE IN THE BALANCE by Jen Petro-Roy

 

Realistic Fiction, Softball, Friendship, Family, Alcoholism

Description

After Mom’s alcoholism has created anger within the family and a problem at work, she leaves to spend eight weeks in rehab. Dad takes a second job and has little time for Veronica. Just when she’s worked up the courage to tell Claudia, her best friend, about the situation, Claudia preempts her with the news of her parents’ divorce. Reluctant to add to her friend’s distress, Veronica doesn’t tell her, but when Claudia discovers the secret, she feels hurt that Veronica didn’t confide in her. A heart-to-heart talk sets their friendship back on course, but it will be a long time before Veronica feels that her family is right again. Still, a support group offers a gleam of hope. Petro-Roy, whose Good Enough (2019) portrays a 12-year-old at a treatment center for anorexia, writes with clarity and avoids suggesting that alcoholism is easy to manage or to live with. Given that Veronica’s a sixth-grader whose family is in distress, it seems natural that friendship lies at the heart of this very readable story.

My Comments

The plot has suspense involving making the team, friendship, family secrets, and what's happening with Veronica's mother. The story is accessible and age appropriate. This is a great realistic fiction choice for all middle schoolers.

BLACK BROTHER, BLACK BROTHER by Jewell Parker Rhodes

 Realistic Fiction, African American, Racism and Prejudice, Fencing, Coming of Age

239 pages.

Description
Booklist starred (March 1, 2020 (Vol. 116, No. 13))
“Grades 5-8. A profound treatise about institutional racism for the middle-grade set, Rhodes’ (Ghost Boys, 2018) latest elevates beyond simple moralizing into a penetrating look into the soul of a young person struggling with how to become a Black man of character in a world that expects him to be less. Dropping the reader directly into a tony prep-school office where Donte anxiously awaits judgement for an offense he did not commit, Rhodes dials readers immediately into the boy’s acute dread as he cycles through feelings of shame, anger, and confusion, ultimately leading to a nonconfrontation that causes him to be arrested. As we learn more about Donte and his biracial family, including his lighter-skinned brother, we come to root for him and his pursuit of redemption as he seeks to prove his self-worth to his bullies and his school community through fencing. His coach, one of the first Black Olympic fencers, helps him refine his talent and his ability to deal with the inequities he experiences on a regular basis. An entertaining story and happy ending does not take away from this powerful examination of how the educational and justice systems punitively treat children of color—and how this bias impacts their self-perception and esteem. A powerful work and a must-have for children’s collections.”

My Comments This is a powerful story that skillfully weaves a classic Rocky-like story with serious messages about the effects of cruel and undeserved racism. Rhodes incorporates valuable lessons about redirecting hurt and anger into positive action. Dante comes from a tightly knit, loving family who helps him deal with racist bullying by standing beside him and validating his emotions. Discovering a way to channel his emotions and to develop his confidence through fencing brings the story to a new level that can resonate with all readers. The afterward provides information about the effects of racism on children with links to further reading. An excellent choice for all middle schoolers. Pair this with Stamped by Jason Reynolds, a YA remix of Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi.

THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander

 

Novels in Verse, Realistic Fiction, Basketball, Fathers and Sons, Twins, School and Education, Grief

218 pages

Kwame Alexander

Description
Horn Book Guide starred (Fall 2014)
Twelve-year-old twins Josh and Jordan (JB) are a well-oiled machine on the basketball court. But then JB gets a girlfriend, and before Josh knows it, things start to change. Josh's narration is a combination of exciting play-by-play game details, insightful observations on middle school, and poignant meditations on sibling dynamics and familial love. This verse novel has massive appeal for reluctant readers.

My Comments

Beautiful writing. Lyrical. Brilliant. Slam dunk! Recommend this book!

CHECKED by Cynthia Kadohata

 

Realistic Fiction, Father-Sons, Grief, Sports (Hockey), Dogs, Character, Determination and Grit

408 pages.

Description

From Follett

"A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book." "To help his dog through cancer treatment, Conor gives up hockey and finds himself considering who he is without the sport that has defined him, and connecting more with his family and best friend"--Provided by publisher.

From the Publisher

"Kadohata's slapshot is the heart-swelling narrative of a father and son...Truly powerful." --Jason Reynolds

"A deeply poignant story about a boy sorting out his priorities." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A vivid, memorable portrayal of a boy within his family, his sport, and his gradually broadening world." --Booklist (starred review)

From Newbery Medalist Cynthia Kadohata comes a brilliantly-realized novel about a hockey player who must discover who he is without the sport that defines him.

Hockey is Conor's life. His whole life. He'll say it himself, he's a hockey beast. It's his dad's whole life too--and Conor is sure that's why his stepmom, Jenny, left. There are very few things Conor and his dad love more than the game, and one of those things is their Doberman, Sinbad. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor chooses to put his hockey lessons and practices on hold so they can pay for Sinbad's chemotherapy.

But without hockey to distract him, Conor begins to notice more. Like his dad's crying bouts, and his friend's difficult family life. And then Conor notices one more thing: Without hockey, the one thing that makes him feel special, is he really special at all?

My Comments

Love, love this book! I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to all the characters: Sinbad, Conor and his efforts to be an amazing hockey player, the father's depression, and how the family's deep connections and love bring healing and joy to not only their own little family, but to those around them. I just wish Kadohata had made Conor 13 instead of 11, but the age doesn't really matter so I would recommend this for grades 5-8.

TRACK SERIES by Jason Reynolds

Realistic Fiction, Sports, Friendship, African American, Courage

From the Publisher

 "Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team--a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves."

My Comments

Absolute winner for middle school. Put this right up there alongside other sports authors, Walter Dean Myers, and a wide range of realistic fiction authors.  

HOW OSCAR INDIGO BROKE THE UNIVERSE (and put it back together again) by David Teague

Adventure, Science Fiction, Sports/Baseball, Courage, Time, Friendship, Divorce
Interest Level Grades 3-62017 - 246 pages

From the Publisher
"Oscar Indigo has never been good at baseball, so naturally he's nervous when he has to fill in for his team's injured All-Star, Lourdes. Luckily, Oscar has a mysterious gold watch that can stop time, which he uses to fake a game-winning home run. Now Oscar's the underdog hero of his town and even Lourdes wants to be his friend.

Oscar wants nothing more than to ask Lourdes for help, but what would a baseball star like her think of a guy whose fake home run actually destroyed the universe? But as he and Lourdes grow closer, Oscar understands that it isn't always what you do that makes you special--but who you are. And that confidence just might be the key to fixing the universe.

But the universe is a precarious place, and you can't just steal time without any consequences. If Oscar doesn't find a way to return the time he stole, the universe will unwind completely."

My CommentsWacky, fun, out there. I think it could be a hit (no pun intended) with upper elementary and middle school students. Would be a fun read aloud.

SPORTS AUTHORS

SPORTS FANS

Sports—Fiction Popular Authors

• Matt Christopher
• Carl Deuker
• Thomas Dygard
• John Feinstein
• Tim Green
• Derek Jeter
• Mike Lupica
• Robert Lipsyte
• Jerry Spinelli

SUMMERLAND by Michael Chabon

Middle-High School, Baseball, Fantasy

500 pages.

Book Description

"The ferishers, little creatures who ensure perfect weather for Summerland, recruit Ethan Feld, one of history's worst baseball players, to help them in their struggle to save Summerland, and ultimately the world, from giants, goblins, and other legendary, terrible creatures."

My Comments

This is a book of amazing one-liners. Michael Chabon is a genius at crystallizing a universal truth, or at least a zinger, a "YES" in a single sentence. I have resolved to start a web page, a list of fabulous sentences that capture the essence of my favorite books. Here's a good one:

"You better be ready kid," said a voice just behind him. "Pretty soon now you going to get the call." Chiron Brown (Ringfinger) page 21.

What a fabulous book. It just got better and better. A GREAT CHOICE for one of those long car rides or a read-aloud or a read alone! Now, I HAVE to read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay!