Game Changers (Game Changers Series #1)

by Mike Lupica

Overview

Mike Lupica delivers a New York Times bestselling middle grade series!

Ben McBain is every football team's dream player. He's a jack-of-all-trades guy that can handle almost any position. When the game is on the line, Ben's number is the one being called for the final play. But Ben wants to be the starting quarterback and the one thing standing in his way is the coach's son.Shawn O'Brien looks the part. He has been groomed by his father, a former professional quarterback. But despite his size and arm strength, Shawn is struggling. Ben is torn between being a good teammate and going after his own dream. As Ben finds out, Shawn isn't the easiest person to help. And when Ben gets an unexpected opportunity, the entire game will change for the both of them.Best-selling author Mike Lupica kicks off a winning new series about sports and friendship that will captivate readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545443159
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	05/08/2012
Series:	Mike Lupica's Game Changers Series , #1
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,018,392
Lexile:	870L (what's this?)
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Mike Lupica is a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of several books for young readers. His NEW YORK DAILY NEWS column is syndicated nationally. Mr. Lupica lives in Connecticut with his wife and their four children. You can visit Mike Lupica at www.mikelupicabooks.com.

Read an Excerpt

The other guys trying out for quarterback had made some good plays tonight. And some great throws. Just not like this one. Not off the kind of busted play that Ben had turned into pure money.It was why Ben couldn't help himself now, had to steal a look over at Coach, see what his reaction was.Only there wasn't one.Coach O'Brien was over on the sideline, back turned, showing Shawn the proper way to pivot away from center and make the handoff he'd messed up earlier.Coop saw where Ben was looking.“He didn't see,” Coop said.“They never do,” Ben said.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 4–7—Ben McBain, 11, knows that he has what it takes to be a great quarterback, although he can't convince his coaches to see beyond his small stature. So he's not surprised when Coach O'Brien tells the team that his own son, Shawn, will get the position. Outwardly, Shawn has it all-the size, the arm, the speed. But he doesn't have a deep love for the game, and, when plays don't go perfectly, he spirals out of control. Determined to make the season the best it can be regardless of the position he plays, Ben tries to befriend the temperamental boy. Shawn slowly opens up about the pressure he feels from being coached by his father, a retired NFL player, and how he can't relax and enjoy the moment. When the team loses the first two games of the season and Coach O'Brien puts Ben in as quarterback halfway through the third game, the Rams go on to win. This is the start of a turnaround for the team, and further wins put the championship back in their sights. But as their team does better, Shawn retreats into sullenness and wants nothing to do with Ben. While the ending of this engaging story is predictable, Lupica has a great ear for dialogue, and even the minor characters are fully developed. The tone is inspiring without crossing into didacticism, and there is plenty of football action throughout.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

School Library Journal

In praise of GAME CHANGERS"Ben is a strong character, surrounded by a great group of sidekicks. Readers who, like Ben, live and breathe football, will enjoy." -KIRKUS REVIEWS

From the Publisher